Rating: 
Blue Buffalo Wilderness canned dog food gets the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness product line lists 6 canned dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Beef and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trout and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon and Chicken Grill
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Turkey 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
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 9% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 46% | 41% | 6% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 66% | 4% |
The first two ingredients in this food include turkey and chicken. Turkey and chicken are considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of poultry”.1
Poultry is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third item is chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. 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 and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient lists potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
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, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With one notable exception…
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 Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Wilderness looks to be an above-average canned dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content 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%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 46% and a mean fat level of 36%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 10% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. High fat. And low carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a meat-based canned dog food using a significant amount of poultry, salmon or beef as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Due to the significantly higher fat content of this product, those seeking lower fat diets should look elsewhere for another dog food.
Pet owners looking for a good kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
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? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
11/29/2009 Original review
05/23/2010 Review updated
12/23/2010 Review updated
02/17/2012 Review updated (3 new recipes)
02/17/2012 Last Update
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for poultry published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.