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Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan are well-known brands that sell a wide variety of dog food. At a quick glance, both brands look very similar. However, a closer examination will reveal several key differences between these brands.
It’s important to make an informed decision when it comes to your dog’s diet and nutrition. To help you determine which brand is better for your dog, we’ve completed an in-depth comparison and analysis of each one.
A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Purina Pro Plan
While both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan have their own pros and cons, Purina Pro Plan is the ultimate winner because of the use of high-quality ingredients and the wide variety of recipes. Purina Pro Plan also makes selecting food an easy experience for dog owners. You can simply use its MyPlan1 questionnaire to find the best fit for your dog.
Our favorite recipes are the Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula with Probiotics Dry Dog Food and Purina Pro Plan Adult Weight Management Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about each brand.
About Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo had its start in 2003 and was founded by Jackie and Bill Bishop. They wanted to develop healthy dog food with high-quality ingredients after their own dog, Blue, passed away from cancer. Many of Blue Buffalo’s early recipes were made for researching links between cancer and diet and nutrition.
Today, Blue Buffalo has several different lines of dog food and produces recipes for all life stages and special diets. You can find both dry and wet dog food with formulas that help with common health concerns, such as food allergies and weight management. Blue Buffalo also has a veterinary diet line that offers prescription food for dogs with more acute conditions and chronic illnesses.
While you won’t find as much variety as Purina Pro Plan, Blue Buffalo excels in selling recipes that are easily digestible for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It’s also known to be a popular choice for picky eaters.
Blue Buffalo is marketed as premium dog food and is more expensive than many other dog food brands. For the price you pay, you’re ensured to feed your dog recipes that are free of artificial flavors or preservatives. You also won’t find any soy, wheat, or corn additives.
While Blue Buffalo has a reputation for providing holistic dog food made with natural ingredients, accusations of false advertising and lawsuits have shaken up the brand’s credibility. One significant issue is the discovery of animal by-products in some of its recipes.
Blue Buffalo also has a good number of recipes that are grain-free and high-protein. While these diets may seem more palatable to dogs, research shows that there may be links between grain-free diets and heart disease. So, it’s important to do your research before selecting new dog food.
- Wide selection of recipes for all life stages
- Popular choice for picky dogs
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- No soy, wheat, or corn additives
- Brand has accusations of false advertisement
- Grain-free diets aren’t always healthy for dogs
About Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan is a line of specialized dog food that was developed by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. While the company as a whole has been around since 1894, the Purina Pro Plan line made its first appearance in 1986. It was the first dog kibble in the pet food industry that contained real meat as the first ingredient.
Today, Purina Pro Plan sells many kinds of dog food with advanced nutrition for all stages of life. You can find a wide variety of specialized formulas, such as healthy digestion, hypoallergenic recipes, and high-performance food. So, if your dog has specific dietary needs, you’ll find more options with Purina Pro Plan than Blue Buffalo.
Purina Pro Plan also has some prescription veterinary diets, including hydrolyzed and gastroenteric dog food. It also has a couple of supplements to further enhance your dog’s food.
You’re more likely to find poultry by-product meal in Purina Pro Plan recipes than Blue Buffalo recipes. Purina Pro Plan also tends to have more vague ingredient lists, while Blue Buffalo has specified ingredients. However, Purina Pro Plan has a cleaner recall history, which can indicate that it has more thorough quality control.
- Food for all life stages
- Wide variety of specialized formulas
- Has line of veterinary diets and supplements
- Cleaner recall history
- Some recipes contain poultry by-product meal
- Can have vague ingredient lists
The 3 Most Popular Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recipes
Blue Buffalo has many kinds of dog food, so we’ve selected and reviewed three of the most popular recipes. These reviews will help you get a better grasp of what Blue Buffalo dog food is like.
1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Food
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Food is one of the most popular standard dog foods for adult dogs. It has deboned chicken and chicken meal as its first two ingredients, and it contains other nutritious ingredients, like brown rice, barley, and oatmeal.
The formula is also fortified with calcium and phosphorus to support dental health and joint health. It also contains essential nutrients to support daily functioning and boost the immune system. While this recipe is marketed as free of fillers, it does contain a significant amount of pea and pea products.
Dogs can safely eat peas and legumes, but ongoing research may find a link between peas and heart disease in dogs. The amount of peas in dog food isn’t regulated, so it’s important to be cautious about peas in dog food, especially if your dog already has chronic illnesses that affect heart health.
- Chicken is first ingredient
- Calcium and phosphorus support bones and teeth
- Supports immune system
- May contain too many peas
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Adult Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Adult Food is a high-protein diet, so it can keep up with very active and athletic dogs. It may contain too much protein for some dogs, so make sure to check with your veterinarian to see if this type of diet is suitable for your dog’s lifestyle.
Salmon is the first ingredient, and it’s a great source of omega fatty acids that help maintain healthy skin and coat. The food also contains LifeSource Bits, which include a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support the immune system and daily functioning.
It’s important to note that the second ingredient is chicken meal. So, if your dog has chicken allergies, it won’t be able to eat this recipe.
- High protein diet for active dogs
- Salmon is first ingredient
- LifeSource Bits add valuable nutrients
- May contain too much protein for some dogs
- Not for dogs with chicken allergies
3. Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Adult Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Adult Dry Dog Food offers food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This particular recipe uses turkey as its only source of animal protein. It also contains easily digestible food, such as potatoes and pumpkin.
The ingredient list also contains various sources of starches, including pea starch, tapioca starch, and potato starch. While potato starch and pea starch contain some valuable nutrients, these starches and tapioca starch are often used as fillers in dog food.
The formula also contains a special blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that support your dog’s immune system. It’s free of common allergens, like chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs.
- Turkey is only source of animal protein
- Contains easily digestible food
- Contains a special blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
- Free of common allergens
- Contains a lot of starch
The 3 Most Popular Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Recipes
1. Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dry Dog Food is one of Purina Pro Plan’s standard recipes. It’s a palatable recipe that’s suitable for most adult dogs. It uses chicken as the first ingredient, and the formula contains live probiotics to support the digestive system. It also has vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids to help dogs maintain healthy skin and coat.
Keep in mind that this recipe also contains poultry by-product meal, which is an ambiguous ingredient. It also contains beef fat, so it’s not the best option for dogs with beef allergies.
- Chicken is first ingredient
- Contains live probiotics
- Contains vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids
- Uses poultry by-product meal
- Not safe for dogs with beef allergies
2. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food is one of Purina Pro Plan’s most popular sensitive skin and stomach formulas. It contains easily digestible ingredients, such as salmon and rice, and it omits corn, wheat, and soy. Salmon is the first ingredient, and the formula also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These nutrients support the digestive system and immune system and nourish the skin and coat.
The formula is also fortified with live probiotics and prebiotic fibers to aid with digestion. Just keep in mind that this is another recipe that contains beef fat, which may not be safe for dogs with beef allergies.
- Contains easily digestible ingredients
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Salmon is first ingredient
- Fortified with live probiotics and prebiotic fiber
- Beef fat may not be safe for dogs with allergies
3. Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food is a high-protein diet that has chicken as its first ingredient. It has a protein-to-fat ratio that helps your dog maintain lean muscle mass while it undergoes weight loss.
The recipe contains prebiotic fiber naturally sourced from wheat bran. Prebiotic fiber helps dogs feel full for longer periods of time, and it nourishes beneficial bacteria found in the digestive tract.
Even though this recipe is primarily meant for weight loss, it’s still a tasty meal for dogs. It contains shredded chicken bits mixed with the kibble, so the taste and texture is more palatable for dogs. However, some dogs may become picky and only choose to eat the chicken bits and ignore the kibble.
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Contains prebiotic fiber
- Tasty shredded chicken bits
- Dogs may only eat chicken bits
Recall History of Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan
Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan have recalls. Blue Buffalo has had several recalls over the years. Its first recall was in April 2007 for traces of melamine in rice protein concentrate in some of Blue Buffalo’s pet food. There was another recall in October 2010 for a sequencing error.
In May 2016, Blue Buffalo dog food containing sweet potatoes was recalled due to the possibility of mold. A year later in 2017, Blue Buffalo recalled its Homestyle Recipe dog food because of potential aluminum contamination and its wet dog food cups due to packaging errors.
Blue Buffalo’s most recent recall was in March 2017. Canned dog food was recalled due to the possibility of high levels of beef thyroid hormone.
While Purina as a whole has had several recalls, Purina Pro Plan has had two recalls so far. The first recall occurred in March 2016 for Pro Plan Savory Meals due to inadequate vitamins and minerals. The next recall was in July 2021 for potential plastic pieces found in the Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Tuna Entrée.
Blue Buffalo VS Purina Pro Plan
Now that we’ve gone over each brand, let’s see how they compare side-by-side.
Taste
When it comes to taste, dogs seem to prefer Blue Buffalo. Blue Buffalo uses high-quality meats and a blend of ingredients that are typically tasty for dogs. Purina Pro Plan isn’t as palatable for picky dogs. So, it’s a pretty safe choice if your dog isn’t very fussy about its food. If your dog has particular tastes, you’ll probably have better luck with Blue Buffalo.
Nutritional Value
Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan use a lot of high-quality ingredients. Blue Buffalo also goes the extra mile and is more specific with its ingredient list.
If you’re looking for specialized diets, you’ll find a lot more options from Purina Pro Plan. Many specialized diets come in both dry and wet forms.
Price
Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan have similar price points. They have basic recipes that are cheaper than their specialized recipes. Both brands also have a line of veterinary diets, which are the most expensive of all types of food that they offer.
Selection
Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan offer dog food for dogs of all life stages. You can find plenty of recipes from both brands for dogs that don’t have any special dietary needs.
Purina Pro Plan has a slightly wider selection of specialized diets than Blue Buffalo. However, Blue Buffalo has many diets for dogs with food allergies and sensitive stomachs. So, if your dog has trouble digesting food, you’ll find more options with Blue Buffalo.
Overall
Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan produce high-quality dog food. However, Purina Pro Plan has a slight edge and is the winner for a few reasons. First, it has a lot more options for food that can support your dog throughout its entire life. It also has a cleaner recall history and has maintained a steady reputation over the years. Blue Buffalo has had some more controversies in recent years, so trust in the brand has fallen slightly, especially in the realm of false marketing.
Conclusion
Purina Pro Plan is the overall winner because it offers so many more recipes that can meet your dog’s specific needs. If your dog isn’t a fan of a particular recipe, you can try switching to a different flavor that has the same special diet. This brand also makes the search for the right dog food a much easier process.
However, when it comes to food allergies, Blue Buffalo has the upper hand. So, if your dog has difficulty digesting food or has food sensitivities, you might find more success with Blue Buffalo dog food.
