Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food Review 2023: Recalls, Pros & Cons
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We give Blue Buffalo Life Protection dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Blue Buffalo has expanded vastly since its beginnings in 2002. Life Protection Formula dog food is the baseline dog food that they offer. You will find every ingredient to be nutritiously wholesome for the standard diet. These recipes work for most canines, but if you find your pup having sensitivity issues, worry not! We will go over alternative choices as well.
If you are looking for a balanced, nutrition-appropriate diet for various breed sizes or life stages, this selection is one that you will want to consider. Let’s take a deeper look into this Blue Buffalo food.
At a Glance: The Best Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food Recipes
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult |
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult |
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior Dry |
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food |
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Toy Breed Dry |
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food Reviewed
A Brief History Lesson About Blue Buffalo
The company Blue Buffalo was founded in 2002 in Wilton, Connecticut. The Bishop family’s beloved dog, Blue, was diagnosed with cancer, prompting them to analyze his diet. They worked closely with veterinary professionals and nutritionists to come up with wholesome, delicious recipes to combat commercial food. The company has grown tremendously, releasing many top-rated dog food selections. Their recipes are ideally designed for your dog.
Which Types of Dogs Is Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Best Suited For?
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is excellent for normal, healthy dogs with no food sensitivities or health complications. It is ideal for providing a stable form of natural nutrition daily for your dog. Life Protection Formula dog foods cater to each breed size, from toy to large. They also offer life stage foods from puppies to seniors.
Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
If your dog has sensitivities, they may do much better with other Blue Buffalo food selections. For instance, if you have a dog who needs a grain-free diet, Blue Buffalo offers a dog food line called Freedom, which provides grain-free choices for all breed sizes and ages.
If your dog has other sensitivities, requiring precise dietary needs, there is Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet. If you are working with your vet to find a food that can cover all nutritional requirements while helping your dog’s health, it’s worth bringing up.
A Quick Look at Major Ingredients
When it comes to the primary ingredients in this dog food, you will find a few different variables depending on which diet you’re considering.
Meat
- Lamb
- Chicken
- Fish
Grain
- Brown rice
- Barley
- Oatmeal
Other Protein
- Pea protein
Fatty Acids
- Flaxseed
- Fish oil
It’s Not Grain or Allergen Free, So What Does This Mean?
Some dogs have a sensitivity or intolerance to certain elements commonly used in commercial dog foods. Major triggers include:
- Fish, beef, chicken, lamb, and egg
- Soy, corn, wheat, rice
- Dairy products
While Blue Buffalo is void of most allergens, dogs still may exhibit side effects from additives. All the Life Protection Formula foods have brown rice as the grain and chicken, lamb, or fish as the protein. If your dog has any sensitivity relating to rice or specific proteins, they won’t find this food helpful.
A Quick Look at Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food
- Complete nutrition dietary needs
- All-natural ingredients
- No wheat, soy, or corn fillers
- LifeSource Bits
- Contains glucosamine, fish oil, and flaxseed
- Not for dogs who need grain-free diets
- Not for dogs who are sensitive to pea protein
- Not for dogs who are sensitive to lamb, chicken, or fish
Ingredients Analysis
It’s nice to see the necessary main ingredients, but let’s get a better look at them and what they do for the dog’s body. For this selection, we will be using the measurements and ingredients specifically from Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Dog Chicken and Brown Rice.
- Deboned Chicken: Seeing whole meat listed as the first ingredient lets you know that the protein quality will be higher.
- Chicken Meal: Chicken meal is a combination of clean meat and bone from a chicken, excluding intestines, feathers, heads, or feet. It’s dried and then ground into powder. It is an entirely safe additive that is perfectly suitable for your dog’s health.
- Brown Rice: While brown rice needs to be in balance with other ingredients, it is a nutritious additive. It provides extra fiber, carbs, vitamin D, and vitamin B.
- Oatmeal: Oatmeal is typically used as an alternative carbohydrate in dog food. This is perfect for dogs who are sensitive to other commonly used grains. They have linoleic acid and fiber.
- Barley: Sparingly, barley is terrific for your pets. It is low in cholesterol levels and fiber-rich.
- Menhaden Fish Meal: This ultra-digestible meal is full of amino acids and high protein.
- Chicken Fat: Chicken fat has high levels of linoleic acid and adds to the overall flavor of the food.
- Flaxseed: Adding flaxseed is highly beneficial for a diet with an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
Recall History
There have been two recalls on Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula dog food in the past.
Product Recalled For: Allegedly too much Vitamin D
Product recalled: Blue Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food (Chicken & Brown Rice)
Product recalled for: Mold accusation
Products recalled: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula 30-pound bag (Fish and Sweet Potato
Reviews of the 3 Best Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food Recipes
We took the liberty of checking out the best products within the Life Protection Formula line. Below is our list of the three dog foods we feel beat the rest.
1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult (Chicken & Brown Rice)
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food comes in a delicious chicken and brown rice flavor that your dog is sure to love. It includes LifeSource Bits, which is an exclusive mixture of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that haven’t been reduced by high heat.
There are various textures within the food to make it more appealing for the dog. This food is full of protein to help muscle, coat, and skin. It has no corn, wheat, or soy ingredients that have been used as fillers. It was specially designed with larger breeds in mind and tailored to match the necessary energy levels.
While it is well-balanced dog food, not all dogs will be compatible candidates. Be sure to buy the bag that matches best to your dog’s weight and breed for optimal results. If your dog has any sensitivities, be sure to thoroughly read labels, as this food is not grain or allergen free.
- LifeSource Bits
- No soy, wheat, or corn fillers
- Whole proteins
- Not grain or allergen free
2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed (Lamb & Brown Rice)
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula for small breeds is designed with your little dog in mind. They have an exclusive recipe to cater to small dogs’ nutritional and energy needs. It’s also packed with a wholesome combination of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
This dog food contains 397 calories per cup and has 26.0% crude protein. Since it is dry kibble, it has Blue Buffalo’s signature LifeSource Bits for ultimate nutrition. It has fresh texture, and dogs seem to respond well to the taste.
This is not a good option for a small dog who is sensitive to lamb protein. It is also not a grain-free option, although brown rice is easier to digest than wheat, corn, or soy.
- Specially formulated for small dogs
- LifeSource Bits
- Fresh and flavorful
- Not a specialized diet
3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Senior (Chicken & Brown Rice)
If you have a senior dog who needs a well-rounded diet but has no restrictions, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is a great match. It’s formulated with deboned chicken as the first ingredient and packed with tons of beneficial ingredients for optimal health.
This recipe has the signature LifeSource Bits. This will keep your senior healthy with the boost of powerful superfoods and proper levels of nutrition. It has 18.0% crude protein and 357 calories per cup.
When your dog ages, even if they may have been healthy their whole life, this could change. If your senior is experiencing health issues, they may benefit from a specialized diet. This food may not be the best option if they have newly developed health issues or sensitivities.
- Excellent nutrition for healthy seniors
- Proper levels of protein and nutrients for age
- May not work best for newly developed health issues in older dogs
What Other Users Are Saying
To get an honest look into the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula, there is no better way to find out than to look at other users’ experiences. So many people trust Blue Buffalo for their dog’s diets. You can read about their experiences by clicking here.
Conclusion
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is an excellent diet choice for healthy dogs with no known sensitivities. It has the appropriate mixture of protein, antioxidants, and carbohydrates to keep your pooch in shape from the inside out. Whether you have a puppy, adult, or senior, one of these recipes is sure to fit the bill. While it is pricy and not suitable for dogs who have food sensitivities, it is excellent for an overall everyday selection.
Featured image credit: carolynmccu, Pixabay
