Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE wet product range is made up of four recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
This product line is formulated with essential vitamins and nutrients, including DHA, to support the optimal health and development of growing puppies.
Pros
- Quality animal protein as the first ingredient
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Formulated with veterinarians and animal nutritionists
Cons
- A little on the expensive side
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Healthy Growth Formula Chicken & Vegetable Recipe | 4 | G |
| Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Grain-Free, High Protein Healthy Growth Turkey & Potato Recipe | 5 | G |
| Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Healthy Growth Formula Chicken & Vegetable Recipe | 5 | G |
| Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Healthy Growth Formula Lamb & Vegetable Recipe | 5 | G |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Grain-Free, High Protein Healthy Growth Turkey & Potato Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Healthy Growth Chicken and Brown Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, fish meal (source of omega 3 fatty acids), chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried tomato pomace, peas, natural flavor, flaxseed (source of omega 6 fatty acids), dried egg product, dried yeast, fish oil (source of ARA-arachidonic acid and DHA-docosahexaenoic acid), salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, direct dehydrated alfalfa pellets, dicalcium phosphate, dried chicory root, alfalfa nutrient concentrate, calcium carbonate, L-threonine, DL-methionine, preserved with mixed tocopherols, vitamin E supplement, dried sweet potatoes, carrots, zinc amino acid chelate, zinc sulfate, vegetable juice for color, ferrous sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, blueberries, cranberries, barley grass, parsley, turmeric, dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, niacin (vitamin B3), copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), L-lysine, biotin (vitamin B7), vitamin A supplement, copper amino acid chelate, manganese sulfate, taurine, manganese amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium iodate, folic acid (vitamin B9), sodium selenite, oil of rosemary
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 27% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 18% | 44% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 26% | 37% | 38% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
Turkey is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.2
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The seventh 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The ninth ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
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 the product.
This recipe has one notable exception.
This food contains chelated minerals, which have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Grain-Free, High Protein Healthy Growth Turkey & Potato Recipe looks like an above-average, wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46.2%, a fat level of 30.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 11.5%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 40.5% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21.5% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 67%.
This means this Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE product line contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat, when compared to typical wet dog food.
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Blue Buffalo through January 2026.
- Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall Event Number 2 of March 2017 (March 18, 2017)
- Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall of March 2017 (March 3, 2017)
- Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall of February 2017 (February 14, 2017)
- Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall of May 2016 (May 31, 2016)
- Blue Buffalo Dog Chews Recall of November 2015 (November 25, 2015)
- Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall (October 8, 2010)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Wet Dog Food
Blue Buffalo works with veterinarians and animal nutritionists. This product line of Blue Buffalo is certainly worthy of the 5 stars earned in our review as it is packed with quality proteins.
About
Blue Buffalo was officially launched in 2003 by Bill Bishop, who became frustrated with the lack of transparency and poor ingredient quality in commercial dog food at the time. His inspiration came after his beloved Airedale Terrier, Blue, was diagnosed with cancer. Determined to create a better recipe for his dog, Bishop developed his own formula, and thus Blue Buffalo was born.
In 2018, the brand was sold to General Mills Corporation for $8 billion.
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