Rating: 
Blue Buffalo Longevity canned dog food gets the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Blue Buffalo Longevity product line includes 3 canned dog foods, 2 claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for one for growth and maintenance (Puppy).
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Blue Buffalo Longevity Puppy
- Blue Buffalo Longevity Adult
- Blue Buffalo Longevity Mature
Blue Buffalo Longevity Adult canned dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Blue Buffalo Longevity Adult
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Whitefish, fish broth, oatmeal, oat bran, spinach, peas, cassia gum, carrageenan, guar gum, tomatos, apples, blueberries, flaxseed (natural source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids), sunflower oil (natural source omega 6 fatty acids), potassium chloride, 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, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, choline chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 18% | 37% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 38% | 32% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is whitefish, a protein-rich freshwater species native to Canada and the northern United States.
Whitefish is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second item is fish broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.
The fourth item is oat bran, a nutritious by-product obtained from milling whole grain oats. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The fifth ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score1 of 91.
The sixth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
Cassia gum is a plant extract used here as a gelling agent. Cassia gum provides no nutritional value to this food.
The eighth ingredient is carrageenan, a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Although carrageenan has been used as a food additive for hundreds of years, there does appear to be some recent controversy regarding its long term biological safety.
The ninth item lists guar gum, one more gelling additive 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 next items include three nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables…
- Tomatoes
- Apples
- Blueberries
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 three notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Next, sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
And lastly, this food also 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 Longevity Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Longevity 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 36%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 37%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 37% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Even allowing for the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing only a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Blue Buffalo Longevity is a meat-based canned dog food using a moderate amount of whitefish as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a comparable kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Blue Buffalo Longevity dry dog food.
Special Alert
Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.
A Final Word
The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.
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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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.
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Notes and Updates
05/26/2010 Original review
12/26/2010 Review updated
04/22/2012 Last Update
- Completeness Score is a measure of a food’s relative nutrient content and is computed by NutritionData.com from the USDA’s National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference ↩
