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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
Wilton, Connecticut us-flag
Parent company
Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product info
Age Range: Senior
Food Form Dry Senior Dog Food
Cost per day: $0.09
Primary proteins
  • Deboned Chicken
  • Chicken Meal
  • Pea Protein

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Pea Fiber, Pea Starch, Peas, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed (Source of Omega 3 And 6 Fatty Acids), Potato Starch, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Protein, Fish Oil (Source of Dha-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Potassium Citrate, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Potatoes, Dried Chicory Root, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Taurine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Dl-Methionine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Garlic, L-Carnitine, 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, Chondroitin Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), L-Lysine, Copper Sulfate, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary.

Breed sizes

size-1 Toy
size-2 Small
size-3 Medium
size-4 Large
size-5 Giant

Overall Score

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60%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 25%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 65%
? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 44%
? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 85%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 91%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 40%
? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 100%

Estimated Nutrient Content

To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.

Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Protein: 20%

Fat: 10%

Fiber: 7%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 53%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 22.22%

Fat: 11.11%

Fiber: 7.78%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 58.89%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 20.56%

Fat: 24.96%

Carb: 54.48%

Our Review

Pros
  • Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
  • Contains dried kelp as a natural source of essential nutrients
  • Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
  • Affordable
  • A good source of omega-3 fatty acids
  • Most customers have good experiences with this food
Cons
  • High in carbohydrates
  • Low in moisture
  • Contains plant-based proteins
  • Contains artificial food dyes
  • The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
  • Some dogs may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Blue Buffalo since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Blue Buffalo - Dog food (10/08/2010) -+
Date:10/08/2010
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Dog food
Recall Reason:Excess Vitamin D
Blue Buffalo - Cat Treats (11/07/2015) -+
Date:11/07/2015
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Cat Treats
Recall Reason:May contain propylene glycol
Blue Buffalo - Cub Size - Wild Chews (11/25/2015) -+
Date:11/25/2015
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Cub Size - Wild Chews
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Blue Buffalo - Dog Food (05/31/2016) -+
Date:05/31/2016
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Dog Food
Recall Reason:Possible mold
Blue Buffalo - Dog Food (02/13/2017) -+
Date:02/13/2017
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Dog Food
Recall Reason:Potential for metal contamination
Blue Buffalo - Dog Food (02/28/2017) -+
Date:02/28/2017
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Dog Food
Recall Reason:Packaging quality
Blue Buffalo - Dog food (03/17/2017) -+
Date:03/17/2017
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Dog food
Recall Reason:Contains beef thyroid hormone
Blue Buffalo - Dog food (02/08/2018) -+
Date:02/08/2018
Company Name:Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Product Description:Dog food
Recall Reason:elevated levels of naturally- occurring beef thyroid hormones

Ingredient Review

Our review of Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Deboned Chicken. Deboned chicken is chicken meat with the bones removed. In pet food, deboned chicken is a valuable source of protein.

The second ingredient is Brown Rice. Brown rice is a name for whole-grain rice with its outer hull removed. The brown rice in pet food can be a source of carbohydrates and fiber. Brown rice also contains omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals

The third ingredient is Barley. Barley is a cereal grain. In pet food, barley serves as a source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

The fourth ingredient is Oatmeal. Oatmeal is made with oats that have had their tough outer hulls removed before further processing into a coarse high-fiber substance. The oatmeal in pet food is a source of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals to support your companion’s overall well-being.

The fifth ingredient is Chicken Meal. In pet food, chicken meal is often listed as a source of protein. Chicken meal is produced by baking and grinding chicken meat and skin. As a dry form of animal protein, it is most often found in kibble and treats.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per lb

Product Price

$2.3

Market Price avg.

$3.8

% From the Avg

-39%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$0.15

Market Price avg.

$0.32

% From the Avg

-53%

Price per day

Product Price

$0.09

Market Price avg.

$0.19

% From the Avg

-53%

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is priced well below the average market price for dry senior dog food.

Nutritional Analysis

Like middle-aged large dogs, senior large breed dogs are prone to conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia.Large breed senior dogs share many of the same health concerns as adults, but they may be further along, i.e. conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia may be worse. For this reason, foods made for large breed seniors often contain joint health ingredients like glucosamine and omega fatty acids. They may also have characteristics seen in large breed foods for dogs of all ages, like larger kibble size and less fat to help reduce bloat.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food to the other 107 dry senior dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

22.22%

All Products avg.

28.59%

% From the Avg

-22%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

11.11%

All Products avg.

13.47%

% From the Avg

-18%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

7.78%

All Products avg.

5.49%

% From the Avg

+42%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

58.89%

All Products avg.

51.73%

% From the Avg

+14%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s low in protein with low fat and high carbohydrate content relative to other dry senior dog foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.

We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.

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