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Blue Buffalo vs. Purina Pro Plan: Which dog food is best?

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Which food is a good fit for your furry friend?

Giving your dog a complete and balanced diet makes a huge impact on their overall health and well-being. If you're a pet parent stuck between Blue Buffalo dog food and Purina Pro Plan dog food, you might be wondering which is the best option. 

As with most things in life, there isn't a simple answer when comparing Blue Buffalo with Purina Pro Plan. So, you'll have to delve deeper and examine the pros and cons. Also, remember that all dogs are different, so the best dog food for one isn't always the best for another. 

Shop this article: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog FoodBlue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food and Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dry Dog Food

Blue Buffalo dog food

Blue Buffalo dog food is touted as a healthy and holistic brand. It contains high-quality ingredients without unnecessary additives. Complete and balanced, it contains all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy. It's made in the USA, though from globally sourced ingredients. 

You can buy both wet and dry dog food, as well as Blue Buffalo dog treats. Bags of dry food cost roughly $15 to $75, depending on the size and variety, while Blue Buffalo wet dog food costs roughly $2 to $3 a can. 

Blue Buffalo dog food pros

  • Blue Buffalo dog food lists meat as the first ingredient, plus it often includes healthy whole grains and vegetables. 
  • It doesn't contain any artificial flavors or preservatives and stays away from poultry by-product meal, corn, soy and other filler ingredients. 
  • You can choose from a range of varieties, including senior dog foods, small breed dog foods and limited-ingredient dog foods for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. 
  • Most dogs find Blue Buffalo foods palatable and you can select from a wide range of formulas or flavors to appeal to picky eaters. 

Blue Buffalo dog food cons

  • The company sells a range of grain-free dog food, but studies suggest a link between grain-free diets and canine heart disease, so you should avoid them unless your dog has a legitimate grain allergy, which is extremely rare. 
  • Blue Buffalo has had dog food recalls, but only three posed a serious risk. 
  • It doesn't offer quite as many specialist options as Purina Pro Plan, such as high-performance and sensitive skin formulas. 

Best Blue Buffalo dog food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog Food

An excellent choice for active dogs, this Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food is high in protein to give them the energy they need to keep going. Pick one of the versions with healthy whole grains as grain-free formulas may be detrimental to heart health.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food

The perfect kibble for an average dog, you can choose from several formulas with this Blue Buffalo adult dog food. Options include small bite for dogs who like smaller pieces of kibble and weight management for dogs who need to lose weight or who gain weight easily.

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Wet Dog Food

This tasty Blue Buffalo canned dog food can be fed alone or mixed with kibble. Meat is the first ingredient and it also contains a blend of nutrient-rich veggies.

Purina Pro Plan dog food

Purina Pro Plan dog food is just one kind of dog food from Purina. It's Purina's high-end offering, containing better-quality ingredients than its other foods. For the most part, it contains quality ingredients, though it does contain some fillers and by-products in some of its lines. 

Buyers can choose from a range of formulas, some that suit most dogs and others tailored to need specific needs. It's at a similar price point to Blue Buffalo, with bags of dry food priced from $15 to $70 and cans of wet food around $1.50 to $3 each. 

Purina Pro Plan dog food pros

  • All Purina Pro Plan dry foods and most wet foods contain heart-healthy whole grains. 
  • This food is made at a facility in the USA, though with ingredients sourced from around the globe.
  • There's only been one recall of Purina Pro Plan food, which suggests the company's quality control is good. 
  • You can choose from a wide range of formulas to suit your dog, including small breed, large breed and performance. 

Purina Pro Plan dog food cons

  • Some formulas contain questionable ingredients, such as poultry by-product meal. 
  • You're more likely to find fillers, such as corn gluten meal, in Purina Pro Plan foods compared to Blue Buffalo. 
  • Purina is owned by Nestle, a company known for unethical practices, which some buyers prefer to avoid. 

Best Purina Pro Plan dog food

Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dry Dog Food

A solid all-rounder of a dry food that suits most adult dogs. It has a chicken and rice flavor and comes in a range of bag sizes.

Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog Food

This carefully formulated food is made using easily digestible ingredients and excludes common allergens, making it perfect for dogs with health conditions including sensitive stomachs and skin irritations. It contains a prebiotic formula to help digestion.

Purina Pro Plan Sport Wet Dog Food

As a high source of protein, this Purina Pro Plan canned dog food is suitable for very active dogs and working dogs. It also supports hydration, which is important for dogs who are always on the go.

Should you get Blue Buffalo dog food or Purina Pro Plan dog food?

There's no clear winner between Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan. Blue Buffalo has more consistently high-quality ingredients, but Purina Pro Plan only contains a small handful of questionable ingredients and not in all its formulas. 

Purina has a slightly wider range of options tailored to the specific needs of dogs, but then again, most dogs are fine with a standard adult dog food — plus Blue Buffalo some tailored formulas, such as senior, small breed and large breed foods. 

Ultimately, go with whichever option you think will best suit your dog and don't be afraid to change your mind if your canine companion isn't thriving on their new food after a reasonable transition period.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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