Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food Review 2023: Recalls, Pros & Cons
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We give Blue Wilderness dog food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Introduction
In its inception, Blue Buffalo wanted to create natural foods that are close to what dogs would eat in the wild. The company has come up with multiple recipes that have various nutritional benefits. With the Blue Wilderness line, the formulas include high protein levels that are free of grain in order to mimic better a diet found in a wolf’s normal habitat. If you have an athletic dog who could use an extra protein boost, feed them Blue Buffalo to help them to get in touch with their ancestral needs.
At a Glance: The Best Blue Wilderness Dog Food Recipes
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Our Favorite
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Nature’s Evolutionary Diet |
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High-Protein Grain-Free Wet |
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Rocky Mountain Recipe |
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High-Protein Grain-Free Natural Adult |
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Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Healthy Weight |
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Check Price |
Blue Wilderness Dog Food Reviewed
Who Makes Blue Wilderness, and Where Is It Produced?
Blue Buffalo’s humble beginnings were in Wilton, Connecticut. It got started because the Bishop family had a beloved dog, Blue, an Airedale Terrier, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. This set things in motion for his owners to find a better diet. They worked with veterinary support and dietary specialists to formulate healthier, natural means of sustenance.
Blue Wilderness is a type of dog food made by Blue Buffalo, which focuses on a grain-free, high-protein diet. The company’s mission is to provide excellent food sources that relate as closely to their original nature as possible.
Which Types of Dogs Would Benefit From Blue Wilderness?
While Blue Wilderness does have weight management selections, the recipes are high in protein. That means many of the selections have quite a bit of carb, fat, and caloric content. This can contribute to a weight issue if you aren’t getting the appropriate recipe. If you have a highly active dog who is physically capable, this dog food will help them replenish their bodies, keeping their muscles healthy.
Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better With a Different Brand?
If you would like to purchase the Blue Buffalo brand but think that another recipe may be more beneficial for your dog, there are other options. When it comes to overall nutrition, Blue Buffalo makes a type of food called Blue Life Protection Formula. It caters to a complete diet without an excess of certain ingredients. It is available for various ages, breed sizes, and diet specifications.
Dogs who suffer from certain health problems may also benefit from another diet instead. Too much protein may cause complications in dogs with liver or kidney issues. It will cause the organs to work on overdrive, worsening these conditions. Blue Buffalo makes a line of foods called Natural Veterinary Diet, which you can find here.
Primary Ingredients in Blue Wilderness Foods
In all types of Blue Wilderness food, you will see the main whole meat source listed as the primary ingredient. Depending on the recipe, it can have deboned chicken, types of fish, or red meat as the first additive, followed by meat meal for glucosamine. It may also include fish meal and flaxseed for fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, and pea proteins. These individual components help the product in terms of much-needed protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Is Too Much Protein Bad for Your Dog?
Over 50% of dogs in the United States are considered overweight. Many diets that are high in protein consequently have content that significantly contributes to excessive weight gain. High-protein diets can also adversely affect dogs with liver or kidney problems. It creates too much extra work for their organs, which can worsen pre-existing issues or even create them if a dog is a higher risk for these problems.
It’s important to be well-aware of your dog’s specific dietary needs, as each one is different. If you have any concerns, finding an appropriate selection with the help of your veterinarian can help ensure a stable, beneficial daily diet.
How About the Premium Price Tag?
As with any premium food, you will find the cost of Blue Buffalo products to be higher than many commonly seen brands. However, when it comes to quality, the price is a moderately reasonable expectation. With ingredients, packaging, reputation, and nutrition all considered, it has a middle-of-the-road price.
A Quick Look at Blue Wilderness Dog Food
- High in protein
- Whole meat is the main ingredient
- Grain free
- Dry kibble has LifeSource Bits to help better digest and preserve nutrients
- Most choices are high in carbohydrate and calorie content
- Dogs may be sensitive to certain types of protein
Ingredients Analysis
Calorie Breakdown:
Blue Buffalo recipes always have whole meat protein as the primary part of the food. There are never any artificial flavors, by-products, dyes or coloring, preservatives, or other harsh chemicals. This company also avoids additives like soy, wheat, or corn. Chicken meal or fish meal provides glucosamine. Flaxseed and fish oils contain plentiful omega-3 fatty acids. Pea proteins add to animal protein to give a well-rounded dose. Pea starch is a carbohydrate that also helps give the food extra iron.
Blue Wilderness includes what they refer to as “LifeSource Bits.” They are a specific selection of essential ingredients for optimal health that have as little heat added as possible. It allows the additives to maintain high levels of vitamins and minerals, ensuring that the nutritional content isn’t depleted by too much heat.
Recall History
There has only been one case of a dog food recall for Blue Wilderness. This happened on March 20, 2017.
Products recalled for: Elevated levels of naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormone
Product recalled: Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet dog food (12.5-ounce cans)
The Top 3 Blue Wilderness Dog Food Recipes
Let’s look at the top three Blue Wilderness dog foods so you can get a better idea of whether this is the right pick for your pooch.
1. Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet With Chicken
This Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet dog food has everything you need for your dog to survive and thrive. The main ingredient is deboned chicken, so you know your dog is getting an adequate, wholesome dose of protein with every bowl.
Each serving contains 409 calories per cup. It has 34.0% crude protein. This is a grain-free selection, with LifeSource Bits containing powerful vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This recipe is ideal if you have a gluten sensitive dog who cannot eat grain but loves the taste of chicken.
Chicken is a protein that can cause irritation in some dogs, so that’s something to consider before purchase. Otherwise, this is a nutrient-packed, flavorful selection that your dog is sure to enjoy.
- Deboned chicken is number-one ingredient
- LifeSource Bits
- 0% protein
- Grain free
- Chicken can be an irritant in some dogs
2. Blue Wilderness High-Protein Grain-Free Turkey & Chicken Grill
This Blue Wilderness Turkey and Chicken Grill recipe is a wet dog food selection instead of dry kibble. The wet food can be especially beneficial for extra hydration in the diet. It’s also easier on the teeth, so if you have a dog with a fragile palette, they may do particularly well with softer foods.
This food contains no poultry by-products, only whole proteins and chicken broth. It contains 10.0% crude protein, along with 478 calories per can. Each can is 12.5 ounces. Comprised of turkey, chicken, and chicken broth, along with added vitamins and minerals, this is a healthily formulated food to give your dog a well-rounded diet.
With this selection, dogs could be sensitive to the proteins, so knowing how well your dog can tolerate chicken is advised before purchase. Also, without regular dental maintenance, wet food can cause plaque and tartar buildup. Brushing should be part of your daily routine.
- Can be used in combination with dry kibble, as a treat, or for the main diet
- Grain free
- Great for dogs with sensitive teeth
- Dogs could be sensitive to proteins
- Must apply regular dental hygiene to avoid buildup
3. Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe With Red Meat
The Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe is made from protein-rich beef for a robust flavor. It also includes lamb and venison for a hardy, filling eating experience. It has an aromatic smell, encouraging appetite.
This food has 393 calories per cup and 30.0% crude protein. The first three ingredients are deboned beef, fish meal, and pea protein. This bag has LifeSource bits to ensure that the highest levels of vitamins and minerals transfer to your dog’s digestive system.
This is a particularly good choice if your dog is sensitive to poultry proteins. However, it does have fish meal. So, if you have a dog who is sensitive to fish, you may want to pass this one by.
- Deboned beef is the first ingredient
- LifeSource Bits
- High protein
- Your dog may be sensitive to the meat proteins
What Other Users Are Saying
- HerePup: “No matter the age of your dog, you can never go wrong with the best Blue Buffalo dog foods.”
- Dog Food Guru: “Overall, Blue Wilderness Chicken Recipe looks like a very good food.”
- Amazon: Reading reviews from people using these products firsthand is a wonderful way to gauge how much you and your dog will like the food. You can read those reviews by clicking here.
Conclusion
Overall, Blue Wilderness delivers a high-quality, nutritious diet with premium ingredients. It is well-deserving of 4.5 stars. It may be a bit pricy and may not work for every dog diet, which keeps it from a five-star rating. However, when you consider the wholesome protein-packed recipes, it is worth the cost. If you want a dog food that will replenish your dog’s muscles and keep their coat and skin healthful, this product may be the right choice for your pooch.
Featured Image Credit: Engin_Akyurt, Pixabay
