Rating: 
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food canned formula receives the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
Currently, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness brand lists three canned dog foods… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon and Chicken Grill
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey and Chicken Grill Dog Food was selected to represent the others for this review.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey and Chicken Grill
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, potato flour, guar gum, dicalcium phosphate, flaxseed meal (natural source of omega 3 fatty acids), salt, carageenan, cassia, potassium chloride, trace minerals: zinc amino acid complex (source of chelated zinc), iron amino acid complex (source of chelated iron), copper amino acid complex (source of chelated copper, manganese amino acid complex (source of chelated manganese), sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamins: vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, niacin supplement (vitamin B3), calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), biotin supplement (vitamin B7), folic acid supplement (vitamin B9), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, choline chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first two ingredients in this food include turkey and chicken. Both meats are defined by AAFCO1 as “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses” of the animals.
Like most meats, turkey and chicken are naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third item is chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many wet products.
The fourth item lists chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient lists potato flour… frequently confused with potato starch. Potato flour is made from the whole potato (even the skins). Potato starch is made solely from the starch.
Potato flour actually tastes and nourishes like potatoes. Potato starch is a flavorless powder used mainly as a thickener.
The sixth item is guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate… used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
The eighth ingredient is flaxseed meal… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax meal is naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
We also note this food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredient quality alone, Blue Buffalo Wilderness has all the markings of a winning canned dog food.
However, ingredient quality alone does not a great dog food make. It’s still important to estimate the amount of meat present in this product… before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46%, a fat level of 41% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 6%.
The the products in the line reveal the same 46% protein reading.
Fat averages 36% for the group… suggesting a mean carbohydrate level of about 10%.
High protein. High fat. And exceptionally low carbohydrates… when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no plant-based protein boosting ingredients, this is the profile of a wet food containing an abundance of meat. This makes Blue Buffalo Wilderness an excellent choice for those wishing to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet.
Bottom line?
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a grain-free canned dog food using a generous amount of salmon or poultry as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand a solid five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a quality kibble from the same brand may want to check out our review of Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food.
A Final Word
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes
11/29/2009 Original review
05/23/2010 Review updated
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Our rescue puppy is 5 mos old. He has been eating Blue Buffalo puppy dry and can food for about 2 weeks. Just recently he has had bad breath. I’m thinking it is from the fish in the can food.
Before I was feeding him Pedigree puppy can and Purina One dry puppy food and he didn’t have bad breath.
Your suggestion would be appreciated! Thank you, Melanie
Hi Melanie… The cause of bad breath in dogs can be very difficult to pin down. In the first few minutes after eating, it’s not unusual for the mouth to sometimes smell like the food itself.
However, longer-lasting odors may be less likely related to the dog food than they would be to germs living in the mouth.
In humans, bad breath usually comes from sulfur compounds (known as “mercaptans”) produced by oral bacteria. Although many do not agree with the science behind using kibble to clean a dog’s teeth, some still believe feeding harder foods can help.
In any case, imagine what your own breath would be like if you only used crunchy potato chips to clean your teeth… and never (ever) brushed.
You may want to try brushing your dog’s teeth (without toothpaste, of course). Although we know this can be very difficult to do (to say the least), it’s a great habit to start while your dog is still a puppy.
For more information about this subject you may wish to read our article, “Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth“.
I was reading through your reviews and noticed that the ingredient carageenan wasn’t highlighted as a controversial ingredient. Carageenan is a food additive that has been linked with digestive distress, migraines, and associated w/tumor growth. It’s been stated that it’s about as wholesome as msg. Unfortunately, it’s in many canned dog foods, but I’m very hesitant to feed anything containing it to my puppy.
Hi Joyce… You’re right. Carrageenan appears to be a controversial ingredient. However, much of the more recent scientific evidence finds the gelling agent safe.
In 2002, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the World Health Organization concluded there was no concern regarding the continued consumption of carrageenan. The scientific organization assigned carrageenan to the category, “Acceptable Daily Intake – Not Specified”.
This classification is used when JECFA has determined a food additive does not represent a hazard to health.
To be fair, though, I’m considering highlighting this ingredient on our dashboard. So, stay tuned.
Bad breath in a 5 month old puppy may be associated with the new teeth coming in. The baby tooth can be loose and let food get under the edge and begin to spoil. Brushing teeth will help and if a loose tooth does not fall out after a week or so, the vet may want to help it along. Just another idea. I can’t imagine that Blue is more likely to be the source of bad breath, especially when compared to Pedigree and Purina.
Hi Becky… With oral health, dogs are like us humans.
That’s because there are two causes of bad breath. First, the kind caused by food (like garlic, onions, coffee, etc.). And second, the kind caused by decaying food (bacteria). There’s probably nothing quite as repulsive as the smell of decaying meat.
Bacteria in the mouth produce sulfur compounds known as mercaptans. And mercaptans creates pungent odors similar to rotten eggs. And they are the primary cause of smelly bad breath in humans (and probably dogs, too).
If you’re not regularly brushing your dogs teeth (and of course, not many of us do), you should first suspect bacteria in the mouth as the cause… not the food. By the way, don’t ever use toothpaste. It’s not necessary and not well-received by your pet.
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to read my article, “Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth“. Hope this helps.
My Pomeranian, Daisy, is doing FANTASTIC since I switched her (from Purina Pro Plan) to Blue Wilderness. I mix a little bit of the canned (I switch up on the flavors) with the kibble and she hangs at my feet until I get the bowl down on the floor! She eats every drop instantly! Her coat has grown three times thicker since the new diet plus she NEVER had fur on her belly since she was spayed and now her belly is COMPLETELY covered in fur! She has way more energy, is more alert and playful. I am thoroughly convinced that feeding my dog a better, healthier diet has made a huge difference.
In response to a bad breath question above, you stated “You may want to try brushing your dog’s teeth (without toothpaste, of course)”. Why without toothpaste? I have been brushing my husky’s teeth with C.E.T. for years. Is this bad???
Hi Liz… As with us humans, dental plaque is the main cause of decay, gum disease and bad breath. As a dentist, I can assure you, it is the physical scrubbing action of the toothbrush that actually removes the sticky plaque. Not the toothpaste.
In my opinion, the real advantage of the C.E.T. is probably the beef or poultry flavors. That may be the single best reason to use it. I’ve never tried C.E.T. with Bailey. But your endorsement of the product makes me want to try it with him. Getting our dog to cooperate when we try to brush his teeth is a nightmare.
I got my collie/lab mix, Indiana, from a rescue group two months ago. He was slightly underweight and his coat was very dry, itchy, shedding heavily and partially matted when we got him. I’ve been feeding him Wilderness/Blue canned food mixed with Authority dry food. Two months of this has put a few (healthy) pounds back on him, and his coat is gorgeous now! His itching and shedding have gone way down and his coat is shiny and soft! Highly recommend Wilderness!