Rating: 
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection product line lists sixteen kibbles… all representing the company’s core group of natural and holistic dog foods.1
- Blue Buffalo Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Puppy Lamb and Oatmeal
- Blue Buffalo Puppy Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Puppy Small Breed Chicken and Oatmeal
- Blue Buffalo Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Adult Lamb and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Adult Fish and Sweet Potato
- Blue Buffalo Adult Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Adult Large Breed Fish and Oatmeal
- Blue Buffalo Adult Large Breed Healthy Weight
- Blue Buffalo Adult Healthy Weight
- Blue Buffalo Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Adult Small Breed Fish and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Senior Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Senior Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
- Blue Buffalo Senior Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Blue Buffalo Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, whole ground brown rice, whole ground barley, oatmeal, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), rye, tomato pomace (natural source of lycopene), natural chicken flavor, whole potatoes, peas, whole carrots, whole sweet potatoes, blueberries, cranberries, flaxseed(natural source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids), barley grass, dried parsley, garlic, alfalfa meal, dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, l-carnitine, l-lysine, glucosamine hydrochloride, turmeric, sunflower oil (natural source of omega 6 fatty acids), fish oil (natural source of omega 3 fatty acids), dried chicory root, oil of rosemary, beta carotene, vitamin a supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), biotin (vitamin B7), folic acid (vitamin B9), vitamin B12 supplement, calcium ascorbate (source of vitamin C), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, choline chloride, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, salt, caramel, potassium chloride, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food is chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.
To reflect its lighter mass, this item should more accurately occupy a much lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (most likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely grinding raw oats. Oatmeal is rich in fiber, B-vitamins and (unlike many other grains) is mostly gluten-free.
The sixth item includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product left after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as a cheap pet food filler laden with pesticides found on the skin of the tomato before processing.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Garlic is another controversial item. In rare cases, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
Most of the professional literature we surveyed did not provide any conclusive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Although we see no reason to be overly concerned, we do feel it is a mistake to include such controversial ingredients in any dog food product.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other healthy items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.
The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
The Bottom Line…
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food
This Blue Buffalo Life Protection dog food is a very nice dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.
Average protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).
Featuring a brand average of 27%, protein percentages range from a low of 20% for the senior chicken recipe to a high of 32% for the small breed puppy formula.
This is the nutrient profile of an average dry dog food… but the listed ingredients and the minimal number of Red Flag items compel us to upgrade our initial impression.
Bottom line?
Blue Buffalo Life Protection is primarily a grain-based kibble using a respectable amount of poultry and poultry meals as its main sources of animal protein… earning the brand a solid four stars.
Highly recommended.
Your Comments Welcome
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?
Please feel free to share your comments below.
History of Updates
11/27/2009 Original review published
04/14/2010 Review updated
- Blue Buffalo Dog Food, 4/14/2010 ↩
- Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
My beloved lab, Niko is now a little over 3 years old. He has eaten a variety of food (Canidae, Solid Gold, Healthwise by Natura Pet, Nature’s Logic, and Kirkland by Costco), before I finally tried Blue Buffalo.
The first Blue Buffalo 30lb bag I tried was Fish and Sweet Potato. My lab’s coat is excellent on this food.
The second Blue Buffalo 30lb bag I tried next was Large Breed formula (basically chicken and turkey one). My lab’s coat is also excellent on this food.
Based on everything I have tried, my order of preference (in terms of best result — superb coat and overall health of my dog) is (1) Nature’s Logic, (2) Blue Buffalo or Healthwise
Right now, I am trying California Natural Herring and Sweet Potato.
With any dry food I give my lab, he also gets supplements (fish oil, vitamin e, plant enzymes & probiotics, and his favorites……. toppers like canned sardines, canned herring, canned salmon, egg yolks, and etc…). I like my lab to get more protein. The more protein he eats, the leaner he is (and smaller the poops are…which is a plus!!).
Hi Pauline… Love your idea of topping with carb-free people food (herring, salmon, egg yolks, etc.). Thanks for sharing your delicious “recipe” with our readers.
I ran across your sight while doing some searches. I have dobermans. The particular Blue Buffalo that you used is one of the lesser in there line. I have been researching dog foods a couple years. And I have had my dogs on many. I like the Blue Life protection Puppy in the light blue bag. It has the most of any dog food I have run across. It is only 27% protein so can be used for dogs of any age really. I have dobermans. And they have the best coats since I switched them to the Blue Buffalo and Nutro Max. I used The blue wild once but it did not have as much either. And tho you say that the farther down the line you go the less you have, this may be true but you still have it. I cook for my babies also. I am glad I ran across your sight. But wish you would review the Blue in the light blue bag. As it’s first 9 ingrediants are Deboned chicken, Chicken meal, Whole ground Brown rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye, Whole potatoes, Chicken fat, Menhaden Fish Meal.And then after that is has some wonderful stuff. I have seen many of the ingrediants listed on your different foods and your saying how good they are. Well to me this dog food is simply great. And my kids love it. Thank you for your sight dedicated to our beloved babies. Have a blessed day
Michaelene
Hi Michaelene… Blue Buffalo Life Protection was one of our earliest reviews. I agree with you and believe we could have picked a product more representative of the others in the line. When we update our reviews (later on), I’ll be sure to choose a better example.
By the way… I visited your website and love your Doberman “babies”! Thanks for your comments.
Hi Mike,
I’ve been feeding my six year old Shi Tzu Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice formula at her vet’s recommendation. I’ve seen some frightening reports on various sites regarding possible toxic levels of zinc and other issues with this product. I feel so guilty – couldn’t sleep much last night – I thought I was giving her a high quality product, but after reading some shocking stories, I feel as though I’ve been slowly killing her. I wish I had found your site earlier so I would have been more informed on food options.
In a pet food store, Blue Life Protection Formula with LifeSource Bits (Natural Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe) was recommended. I read your review (the Fish and Sweet Potato formulation represented the other formulations in this line) and it got 4 stars. I didn’t see anything about the LifeSource Bits that are included. I’m concerned about this aspect of the product. Were the LifeSource Bits considered as part of your review on this Blue product? What are your thoughts on the Bits?
I am so confused with all the choices. I know that each pet has different needs, etc. but would you be willing to share info. on your pet’s diet? I’m certain you would have selected the absolute best. Perhaps you can’t because you don’t want to show a bias with your research. I can certainly understand. It’s just that I love my Ali as if she were one of my children, and I want to be certain I am giving her the best possible diet to ensure she will be healthy and with us for as long as possible. Thank you.
Hi Gail… the Nutro zinc and potassium problem you speak of involved only certain batches of their dry cat food… products that were actually recalled by the company on May 21, 2009. So, your Shih Tzu is safe… no worries about zinc or potassium toxicity.
LifeSource Bits is the Blue Company’s proprietary blend of vitamin and mineral supplements added to all their dry foods. Our “dashboard” does include the total nutrient content of the Blue Life Protection example product. And (at this time) I’m not aware of any problems with that formulation.
We feed Bailey a variation of canned meat “toppers” over a number of different four and five-star kibbles. I am probably not a very good role model as I happen to like quite a few dog foods. Choosing one specific brand of dog food over all the others would be unfair to many of the better manufacturers out there… and probably misleading to you, too. Actually, I’m not even sure I have a favorite. Hope this helps.
I just wanted to mention that I emailed Blue Buffalo about their fish sources and they do NOT allow their sources to use Ethoxyquin in the fish they buy.
Hi Carrie… thanks for this important information. I (likewise) contacted Blue Buffalo (last week) and was told they would send me a statement regarding their ethoxyquin policy. But as of yet, I’ve not received any written confirmation.
I have been feeding my springer mix biue buffalo fish and sweet potatoe for a couple of years now. He always had a excellent coat but, the last month or so he has become very dry and dull lots of dander. i wonder if anyone else has n oticed this not sure what to do.
Two questions about blue that concern me…
1 who manufactures blue??(called them would not answer my question )
2 what does it mean on the packaging
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profilers’*
I spent two hours on the floor of petco trying to find a food that was good for my dog … most range from 60$ to 20 $ ..and I found most are the same just packaged different …frustration had gotten the best of me and I came home with Blue LPF chic and brown rice &blue Fish and oatmeal … I felt pretty good about my perches until a second look. Only to take another look to day and notice it not recognized nutrient it this even good for my dog…so frustrating …
Two questions about blue that concern me…
1 who manufactures blue??(Called them would not answer my question)
2 what does it mean on the packaging
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profilers’*
I spent two hours on the floor of petco trying to find a food that was good for my dog … most range from 60$ to 20 $ ..and I found most are the same just packaged different …frustration had gotten the best of me and I came home with Blue LPF chic and brown rice &blue Fish and oatmeal … I felt pretty good about my perches until a second look the next day and notice that is not recognized nutrient is this even good for my dog…so frustrating …
I forgot to add a few things…most of the food you listed on your 5 star rating say: * not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profilers’*
I feel that dog food is at such a low quality and the standards set are well below the bar for even normal standers…It’s very scary to see * Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profilers’ *please revaluate your research to reflect this fact and help me find a food that meets the nutritional needs that is best for my dogs ..
.thank you
Hi Hen… I’ll try to answer your concerns. First, I do not know who actually manufactures Blue Buffalo. It’s not at all unusual for any pet food company to “contract” its manufacturing services to another company.
Second, when you see the statement… “not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles” doesn’t mean that this is a bad ingredient. For example, some of the (healthy) omega-3 fatty acids have no formal profile established yet by AAFCO.
By the way… no carbohydrates (barley, wheat, rice, etc.) are considered “essential” by AAFCO… or anyone, for that matter. So, when you see this statement, don’t be concerned. It doesn’t mean the ingredient is not good for your dog.
So, relax, Hen… you probably made a good choice. Blue Buffalo makes some of the best dog foods out there.
Hi–
Hope you will review the Blue Basics line of dog food. Ours do very well on the salmon & potato. It does have canola oil in it though but fewer ingredients than the regular. It is made for dogs that are sensitive.
Hi Lynda… an excellent suggestion. We’ll post a review for Blue Basics soon. So, stay tuned. And thanks for the tip.
Hi, Mike,
I feed my five dogs Blue Buffalo Chicken & Brown Rice Life Protection formula. They love it. The only problem is that since I’ve been feeding them Blue, they’ve started to eat each others’ poop! Disgusting! I’ve tried all the remedies, including MSG, to no avail.
Is there a high quality dry dog food out there that doesn’t taste just as good after it’s digested?
Thanks!
Hi Pibble… that is one issue I (thankfully) haven’t had to deal with before. Just the same, I know it happens to others all the time. Hopefully, one of our other readers will be able to share their solution to this unpleasant problem.
Thanks, Mike. I’m pretty diligent about picking up after them, but it’s still an awful habit!
Mike
I have found your website and reviews to be very helpful. I have 2 standard poodles that are approaching 1-year of age – and am going to switch to adult food soon. I have them on Wellness large breed puppy now – and would value your opinion on the Blue large breed adult products versus the Wellness large breed products. I was thinking of switching to Blue based on your review and other people/reviews I have read – but thought I’d ask.
BTW – Dogs have no issues with Wellness – other then some soft stool
Again – your reviews are very helpful – thanks!
Hi Gary… both Blue Buffalo and Wellness are some of our favorite products. However, there’s always some controversy as to whether or not you really need a “large breed” version of most dog foods. After puppyhood, we feel it’s much more important to focus on quality than to be overly concerned as to specific breed recipes.
Thanks Mike
Your point on “large breed” is well taken – but since both Wellness and Blue Buffalo have “large breed” formulas – and “what they tell me” is that a standard poodle is considered “large breed” – I thought I was doing the right thing –
Do you have an opinion within these 2 brands that their other adult foods are better formulas than the the large breed formula offered? Just want to do whats best for the pups!?
thanks again!
Hi Gary… actually I like all of them. You really can’t go wrong with quality like this.
Mike,
I have a 7 month old basset hound that keeps throwing up his food. I have tried beneful, purina one, and eukanuba (all puppy formulas). And nothing has gotten better. I am now considering the Blue Buffalo, but I have read on other sites that dogs have had diarrhea with bloody stools. That really concerns me. My poor Fred has been through enough. Any suggestions or comments on what you know might be best for Basset Hounds?!?!
Hi Lynn… vomiting is not always the sign of a bad dog food. Vomiting may actually be a symptom of an undiagnosed health condition. Be sure to consult a veterinarian for a healthy solution.
That said, the foods you have tried are not our higher-rated products. Once you select a good one, try feeding more smaller meals to see if your baby can hold down his meals better. Also, be sure you are feeding the correct size serving. Overfeeding can result in vomiting, too.
And of course, never introduce a new food suddenly, all at once. Ease into the new dog food VERY GRADUALLY over 10-14 days or so. Hope this helps Fred.
I absolutely love Blue Buff, the ingredients, and the wholesome feeling it gives me when feeding my dogs such quality food. This food helped my 3 year old Blue Heeler with her itchy coat and dry skin, much of which I attribute to allergies (mostly seasonal). I did a lot of research before switching to Blue Buffalo and was impressed with what I saw, considering I had been feeding my dog a “1-star dog food” previously.
That said, when I got a new puppy, an Aussie Collie mix, I put him on Blue Buff puppy formula. Poor thing had diahrea for months… I asked the vet about it, I had him tested for worms and various other things, and he was a healthy dog, with constant diahrea. Potty training was impossible. In addition to this, his farts were clear-the-room-horrible. I have never experienced anything so foul. I switched him and the other dog back to (a different) one of the “1-star dog foods” and no more diahrea, or nasty farts! I have not seen any negative reactions to the 1-star food and the coats of both of my dogs are beautiful.
I suppose it is not for all dogs.
Hi I was looking at the Blue Wilderness food and am interested in grain free. I notice though that alot of grain free dog foods are high in protein and recommend for high energy dogs or for endurance. Are high protein foods not good for a dog that does not have alot of activity? I am so confused.
Hi Brad… you are correct in your observation that many grain-free dog foods are high in protein. That’s because as you decrease the amount of carbohydrates in ANY food (canine, human or otherwise) you automatically increase either fats or protein… or both.
Many high quality dog foods tend to mimic a dog’s natural diet… which is a biologically appropriate meat-based menu.
So, your question “are high protein diets good for all dogs?” is a valid one.
Although some would argue differently, we believe any diet which satisfies a dog’s built-in bias toward eating meat (high in protein and fat and yet low in carbohydrates) is a healthy one… even for dogs of average activity.
Hi I noticed this food seem to have Garlic high on the list. I heard garlic was bad for dogs. Is the amount of garlic in this bad? Will it accumulate over time?
Hi Cindy… when you consider ingredients are always listed in descending order of their precooking weights, garlic is actually fairly low here. Most of the reports presented appear to describe large (acute) doses of garlic like the one footnoted in our review. For this reason, I wouldn’t worry.
However, if you’re still concerned, there are plenty of highly rated, garlic-free dog foods to choose from.
To PIDDLE:
A dog will eat it’s and other dog’s feces when it is not getting enough enzymes …
Try adding Digestive Enzymes to your dogs food …. as MOST all canned and dry dog food are VOID of Digestive Enzymes …..
Re: GARLIC : PETCO sells a product called Brewer’s Yeast – Garlic for the dog’s coat … also helps keep fleas etc off and from biting …
Is this product “BAD” for my 67 pound Pit Bull Terrier ?
Sorry I ask on the Blue Buffalo site ; but did not know how else to go about asking ….
Hi High Shaman… Garlic is considered a controversial dog food ingredient. Although many swear by its purported anti-flea benefits, in high enough doses garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia ind gos.
Since I’m not a veterinarian, you may need to check with your dog’s doc for a definitive answer.
We have 3 dogs – 2 mutts and 1 pure breed Doberman Pinscher. For the longest time we feed all 3 dogs Nutro Max, but noticed our Dobie coat was not shiny/healthy looking. one day we found Blue Buffalo – we noticed a huge difference when we changed the food that we give our Dobie. His coat is so shiny, he is more energetic. As far as his ‘waste’ is concerned – let me just say we have dung beetles where we live, and within minutes of our Dobie completing his waste removal, the dung beetles will leave the pile they are working on start going to work on our Dobies pile. I joke w/ my spouse by saying our Dobie must have some “really good s#@t!”. We have since decided to mix some Blue into our other dogs food, and noticed a difference in the other’s coats and energy as well. We are so happy we found Blue Buffalo!
Our 2 year old english setter lost over half of her liver to a serious leptospirosis infection. After cooking for her for 4 months we were able to move her onto the Blue Buffalo Whitefish and sweet potato. Those are two key ingredients in her diet, along with a handful of daily liver support drugs. For the last 12 months she has thrived on the food. When compared to cooking cod and veggies and sweet potatoes daily, it’s cost effective. Most importantly, it keeps her healthy and she looks great.
I have a 12mo. old golden retriever who was born close to death from worms. Fortunately, she survived and has been on blue buffalo large breed puppy since about 4 mo. old. She really started thriving after the switch from Iams. Now I am trying to decide what adult food to give her. On the blue buffalo, her stools have been rather soft. Is it better to keep her on a large breed formula or is it ok to go with the adult formula as long as it is a premium food like blue buffalo?
Thanks for your valued opinion!
Hi Esther… Since large breed dogs are usually considered adults at about 12 months of age, your pet qualifies for some form of adult diet. Some of the best dog foods available aren’t even available in large breed formulations.
Although there may be some special features in large breed recipes, most of the time I’ve found these differences to be subtle. That’s why it’s probably better to focus on the quality of a dog food rather than on its breed size design. Hope this helps.
Mike,
I switched my 8 month old Cattle dog from Science Diet to Blue Buffalo puppy. He loves the food but has been scratching/itching since the switch. Should I try the Basics or Wilderness?
Hi Angela… Two suggestions. You may want to try a grain-free puppy food OR look for a puppy food with more omega-3 fatty acids (claimed by many to be good for skin and coat). This could include foods made with oily fish, or added fish oils or even ground flax seed. Hope this helps.