Rating: 
Blue Seal Dog Food (canned) receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Blue Seal product line includes six canned recipes… each formula designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.1
- Blue Seal Pork and Barley Harvest Supper
- Blue Seal Beef and Vegetable Harvest Supper
- Blue Seal Lamb and Vegetable Harvest Supper
- Blue Seal Salmon and Ocean Fish Harvest Supper
- Blue Seal Chicken and Vegetable Harvest Supper
- Blue Seal Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Harvest Supper
Blue Seal Chicken and Vegetable Harvest Supper was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Blue Seal Chicken and Vegetable Harvest Supper
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, ground barley, rolled oats, carrots, sweet potatoes, ground brown rice, peas, guar gum, carrageenan, minerals (iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), salt, vitamins (vitamin E, A, B12, D3 supplements, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement), choline chloride, potassium chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first item in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.2
Like most meats, chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. This is a quality ingredient.
The second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is 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 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. This is a quality grain ingredient.
The fifth ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in complex carbohydrates, B-vitamins and fiber.
Three of the next four items include a medley of nutrient-rich vegetables…
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Peas
The eighth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
Guar gum and carrageenan are both thickening agents and are found in many “wet” dog foods. They are most likely used here to give the broth a gravy-like consistency.
We note this dog 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 Seal Dog Food… the Bottom Line
The ingredients used to make this Blue Seal Dog Food product are standard fare for any quality canned formula.
But to get a better idea regarding the amount of meat present in this product it’s important to consult its nutrient percentages for help.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 32% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 24%.
Featuring a brand average of 36%, protein percentages range from 36% for most of the the products to a high of 39% for the senior formula.
Solid protein. High fat. And below-average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical canned dog food).
This is the profile of a canned dog food containing a respectable amount of meat.
What’s more, the lack of plant-based protein-enhancers or other Red Flag items encourage us to consider a higher rating for this product line.
Bottom line?
Blue Seal Dog Food is essentially a meat-based canned product using a moderate amount of meat and poultry as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand a solid four stars.
Highly recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
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.
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