Blue Buffalo Wilderness?

[Pam111]

What do you guys think of this food?
I picked up the cat version a couple weeks ago because I was at PetSmart instead of a feed store, and they really enjoyed it.
So when that ran out I got them a new bag and got the dog food, too.

http://www.bluebuff.com/products/dogs/wilderness.shtml

 

[Herschel]

Looks really nice! I don't like that they put such trace amounts of all sorts of things in it, but the ingredients are great. Fish meal is the only ingredient that I object to--I would prefer to see a specific type of fish rather than vague "fish meal".

Ingredients:
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potato Starch, Turkey Meal, Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Chicken Fat (preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Oatmeal, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, Taurine, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca Shidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Turmeric, Herring Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Fructooligosaccharides, Monooligosaccharides, Dried Chicory Root, Black Malted Barley, Oil of Rosemary, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron), Copper Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese), Potassium Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Potassium), Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Potassium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Salt, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium.

Crude Protein 42.0% min
Crude Fat 16.0% min
Crude Fiber 3.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 1.0% min
Phosphorus 0.9% min
L-Carnitine* 100 mg/kg min
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.25% min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 3.50% min
Beta-Carotene* 5.0 mg/kg min
Glucosamine* 400 mg/kg max

kcal/kg = 3,745 (calculated)
kcal/cup = 586 calories (as fed)

 

[Pam111]

Thanks, Herschel. I always thought Blue Buffalo was considered a decent food, but I read a comment on here the other day that made me think otherwise. This is a new food by them, though. She seems to really like it.

I really just want to feed what is best, though, out of what I can get. This food is just as expensive, so I wonder if I should just stick with Innova or something else?
I was feeding her Wellness puppy before this and I've tried Solid Gold puppy also.
She has no problems with switching food.

 

[Herschel]

Thanks, Herschel. I always thought Blue Buffalo was considered a decent food, but I read a comment on here the other day that made me think otherwise. This is a new food by them, though. She seems to really like it.

I really just want to feed what is best, though, out of what I can get. This food is just as expensive, so I wonder if I should just stick with Innova or something else?
I was feeding her Wellness puppy before this and I've tried Solid Gold puppy also.
She has no problems with switching food.

We typically only recommend Blue Buffalo if people can't get anything else. Since it is distributed by Petsmart, it is widely available.

I would trust NaturaPet (makers of Innova, EVO, California Natural, etc.) or another independent company a lot more. In other words, Blue Buffalo (especially the new formula) is a quality food, but I wouldn't feed it to my dogs.

Solid Gold is a great food. Why did you switch?

 

[Pam111]

We typically only recommend Blue Buffalo if people can't get anything else. Since it is distributed by Petsmart, it is widely available.

I would trust NaturaPet (makers of Innova, EVO, California Natural, etc.) or another independent company a lot more. In other words, Blue Buffalo (especially the new formula) is a quality food, but I wouldn't feed it to my dogs.

Solid Gold is a great food. Why did you switch?

Well, really just because it was at PetCo, which is farther from my house than PetSmart. I don't think they have it at the other store either. The feed store is also farther away.

I can get Innova at a closer store, though

 

[showpug]

I really like the Blue Wilderness formula. I have thought about giving it a try at some point, but am really liking TOTW right now.

If you are concerned about the fish meal as an ingredient you can email the company and ask what type of fish it is. Sometimes they just say "fish meal" but use a specific type of fish.

 

[Pam111]

I really like the Blue Wilderness formula. I have thought about giving it a try at some point, but am really liking TOTW right now.

If you are concerned about the fish meal as an ingredient you can email the company and ask what type of fish it is. Sometimes they just say "fish meal" but use a specific type of fish.

I'm just wondering why this matters. Are there certain types of fish that wouldn't be good for dogs?

 

[showpug]

I'm just wondering why this matters. Are there certain types of fish that wouldn't be good for dogs?

Go to this link and look scroll down until you see fish meal...it explains it there.

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

 

[Pam111]

Go to this link and look scroll down until you see fish meal...it explains it there.

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

Oh, I see.
Thanks

 

[Shahrazade]

Herschel- Blue Buffalo is actually an independent, family owned company. The guy who started Sobe beverages and his family own it, and all the products are made in Connecticut except for the cans- I'm not sure where those are made. So I'm not sure why they would be any less trustworthy at least on the dry than Natura.

 

[Herschel]

Herschel- Blue Buffalo is actually an independent, family owned company. The guy who started Sobe beverages and his family own it, and all the products are made in Connecticut except for the cans- I'm not sure where those are made. So I'm not sure why they would be any less trustworthy at least on the dry than Natura.

I don't like that it retails at Petsmart with all of the other junk. Natura, Canidae, etc. are more selective about the people that sell their food.

 

[Shahrazade]

That has always seemed to me like six of one, half a dozen of the other, personally- I'm no Petsmart fan, but many dog owners just can't be bothered to find an independent retailer or simply don't get any education in dog food until a chain store employee with a decent amount of knowledge turns over a bag of Science Diet and shows them the peanut hulls and ground corn in the ingredients. I often wish Innova, Canidae, and such would stop being QUITE so selective and try rolling out their products in a few of the chain stores- not everyone has an independent retailer nearby, and the wider selection is pretty convenient.

Full Disclosure: I worked for Blue Buffalo for a while and liked the company- management was friendly and accessible even at very high levels and customer questions and complaints were addressed rapidly, in person, by my boss. My own questions about ingredients were always sent to a nutritionist with the company and answered promptly. Got a great full time job, left Blue Buffalo, but I like the Wilderness quite a lot. Gus is on Evo Red Meat right now, but I'll certainly feed Wilderness again sometime.

 

[Psyfalcon]

I don't like that it retails at Petsmart with all of the other junk. Natura, Canidae, etc. are more selective about the people that sell their food.

Why should they be selective about who sells their food. The more thats sold, the higher their profit margin and the more insulated consumers are from downgrading ingredients and price increases. I wish we could get Canidae in every grocery store and put purina out of business.

As for fish meal, I'm under the impression that its mainly the byproduct of fish oil, ie Sardines, herring, tuna, salmon, or mackerel. I would feed any of those so I'm not worried about whats in the fishmeal.

 

[Pam111]

I don't like that it retails at Petsmart with all of the other junk. Natura, Canidae, etc. are more selective about the people that sell their food.

But you said Solid Gold was a great food, and they sell that at Petco

 

[Herschel]

But you said Solid Gold was a great food, and they sell that at Petco

Blue Buffalo is a great food, too! I never said that it is a bad food. Let's put it this way:
-Did Blue Buffalo have any products recalled because they may have been tainted with melamine? Yes
-Did Solid Gold? No.
-Would I feed Solid Gold? No. It is made by Blue Sky (Merrick), and I don't like Merrick's (lack of) quality control.

Even if Blue Buffalo started making products that were higher quality than Solid Gold, I, personally, would hesitate. It took a while for Solid Gold to become big enough to be sold in PetCo, and they haven't stumbled very much yet. On the other hand, Blue Buffalo started big and when they chose American Nutrition to make their canned diets, it was the wrong call.

More information on manufacturing can be found here: http://thepetfoodlist.com/petfoods_pg1.htm

The goal is to find a food that you are comfortable feeding to your dogs. If you like the ingredients in Blue Buffalo, go for it!

 

[Pam111]

Blue Buffalo is a great food, too! I never said that it is a bad food. Let's put it this way:
-Did Blue Buffalo have any products recalled because they may have been tainted with melamine? Yes
-Did Solid Gold? No.
-Would I feed Solid Gold? No. It is made by Blue Sky (Merrick), and I don't like Merrick's (lack of) quality control.

Even if Blue Buffalo started making products that were higher quality than Solid Gold, I, personally, would hesitate. It took a while for Solid Gold to become big enough to be sold in PetCo, and they haven't stumbled very much yet. On the other hand, Blue Buffalo started big and when they chose American Nutrition to make their canned diets, it was the wrong call.

More information on manufacturing can be found here: http://thepetfoodlist.com/petfoods_pg1.htm

The goal is to find a food that you are comfortable feeding to your dogs. If you like the ingredients in Blue Buffalo, go for it!

I guess for me, I wouldn't consider someone saying a food is great but not something they themselves would feed their dogs to actually mean the food is great.
I was just curious as to why you said it. I'm not trying to be defensive or anything. I don't care about this food or anything.
I'll probably switch it.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I think a lot of us are in that boat. I can name a lot of great companies. Their food is really good. Would I feed most of them.. no. Why? Because my standards are fairly high now.. I've tried many that I'd recommend.. But now that we're on Orijen, I'd only really look at other grain free foods of similar quality.. there's not a lot to choose from, though the selection is getting better.

 

[pup-man]

I don't like that it retails at Petsmart with all of the other junk. Natura, Canidae, etc. are more selective about the people that sell their food.

So what you're saying is: If Natura decided to sell at Petsmart, you would no longer buy/recommend their food?

 

[Herschel]

So what you're saying is: If Natura decided to sell at Petsmart, you would no longer buy/recommend their food?

I don't buy their food as it is, so no, I still wouldn't buy the food.

Reading does wonders:

Blue Buffalo is a great food, too! I never said that it is a bad food. Let's put it this way:
-Did Blue Buffalo have any products recalled because they may have been tainted with melamine? Yes
-Did Solid Gold? No.
-Would I feed Solid Gold? No. It is made by Blue Sky (Merrick), and I don't like Merrick's (lack of) quality control.

Even if Blue Buffalo started making products that were higher quality than Solid Gold, I, personally, would hesitate. It took a while for Solid Gold to become big enough to be sold in PetCo, and they haven't stumbled very much yet. On the other hand, Blue Buffalo started big and when they chose American Nutrition to make their canned diets, it was the wrong call.

More information on manufacturing can be found here: http://thepetfoodlist.com/petfoods_pg1.htm

The goal is to find a food that you are comfortable feeding to your dogs. If you like the ingredients in Blue Buffalo, go for it!

 

[houndlove]

We picked up a bag of BB Wilderness because we've been having some snags in our supply chain for our regular food (Natural Balance--I get it through the food co-op I volunteer with and I am about to go ballistic on the grocery buyer because they can't seem to get my standing order correct) and my dogs have become revolting gas-bags. Seriously, the gas is off the hook, like room-clearing caliber, out of both of them. The regular BB formula they did fine with. As usual, YMMV, but that's been my experience with it. Could just be a transition snag but ugh, it's really foul.