Blue Buffalo vs Nutro: Which Dog Food Is Better?

The health, well-being, and physical form of a dog depends on proper nutrition. However, choosing the best dry dog food is not easy. First, you need to understand the different types of dry dog food that are available for different dogs:

• Age-categories: Puppy, Adult, Senior, all life stages
• Dog breed – there is a division by size (small and miniature, medium, large, giant) and also by specific breeds
• Lifestyle (activity level) – Active, Normal, Light;
• Type (presence-absence of specific needs, health problems in the animal) – basic (every day), preventive (specialized), therapeutic;
• Class (determined by the composition, on which the price largely depends) – economy, premium, super-premium, holistic.

The last criterion is the main one since the composition of the feed and the quality of the ingredients are the first things that the dog owner should pay attention to when buying food. If we talk about the ratio of price and quality, the best dry dog food is premium or super-premium food. Both classes are characterized by balanced composition and a high content of meat products. In super-premium feeds, they are the main ingredients. The premium class may be dominated by meat, cereals, and offal. Such feeds do not contain harmful chemical additives, are made from high-quality raw materials, and are enriched with health supplements.

This article will compare two brands that produce high-quality dog foods. To choose the best manufacturer, we will study the composition of a particular product, focusing on the percentage of the main ingredients, their origin, and functional and technological additives. ^[1]

Nutro vs Blue Buffalo: Overall Difference

When comparing Nutro to Blue Buffalo, you can choose a suitable diet according to the pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, and other characteristics. When choosing dry dog food, the rating is important but not the main criterion. Even highly rated feeds may contain ingredients that individual dogs do not tolerate well. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully study the composition.

	Blue Buffalo	Nutro
Our rating	5	5
Primary Protein Source/ Primary Carbohydrate Source	Deboned Beef/ Peas and sweet potatoes	Chicken/ Whole Brown Rice
First Five Ingredients Listed	Deboned Beef, Fish Meal, Peas, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch	Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Rice Bran
Protein	30.0% min	25.0% min
Fat	15.0% min	14.0% min
Fiber	6.0% min	4.0% max
Moisture (max.)	10.0% max	10.0% max

Blue Buffalo vs Nutro Companies Comparison

The Nutro Company, Inc, a subsidiary of Mars Incorporated, is a developer and manufacturer of dog and cat food. The company is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. Nutro dog food is made from high-quality ingredients and does not contain animal by-products. Nutro offers premium quality products with a high protein content, characterized by excellent taste and composition. Nutro products will provide your dog with all the vital nutrients to support its health and well-being.

Nutro develops several different dietary recipes, including canned soft foods and dry kibble in bags. They have the Nutro Max, Natural Choice, and Ultra lines for dogs. Each line has a set of flavors and recipes for every age range. The Ultra line specially creates high-quality holistic dog food. Nutro dry food is produced through an extrusion process and packaged with vitamin E as a natural preservative. In 2006, it was announced that Nutro’s Adult Lamb and Rice formula had become the # 1 mutton and rice dog food in America.

READ MORE: How Long Does it Take a Dog to Digest Food?

Blue Buffalo also offers various lines of dog food, which include formulas depending on age and size. Feeds are available for puppies, adult, and elderly pets in large, medium, and small breeds. They contain high-quality ingredients to support all the basic functions of the body.

Blue Buffalo feeds are rich in antioxidants, and there are recipes with a limited number of ingredients for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. The Wilderness feed line is the most popular. The company produces feed in a way that preserves the usefulness of all the ingredients. High-quality protein, as well as fruits and vegetables are among the main ingredients. Each brand has a fairly wide range of recipes.

Product	Blue Buffalo	Nutro
Dry dog food	85 recipes	65 recipes
Wet dog food	101 recipes	52 recipes
Treats for dogs	51 recipes	28 recipes

Brands History

Nutro

Nutro was founded in 1933 as a local company that produced its own food for its foxes. Nutro began aggressive marketing in the mid-80s, producing food for dogs and cats. The company was bought out by Mars in 2007, and is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee.

Nutro develops many different types of animal feed. They pay special attention to dogs. Their factories produce soft and hard foods. They have several different feed lines for animals with different nutritional needs. Nutro has grown in popularity over the past decade. The brand is often compared to Blue Buffalo, Science Diet, and other major brands.

Blue Buffalo

The company was founded in 2003 by Bill and Jackie Bishop after their terrier, Blue, died of cancer. Blue Buffalo was created in the study of the connection of nutrition with certain types of cancer. Blue Buffalo is committed to providing high-quality, antioxidant-rich food that will keep your pets happy and healthy.

The food created by  the Bishops was of such high quality that it quickly gained popularity with other dog owners. In less than twenty years, the brand has gone from founding to becoming a leading brand of natural pet food. In the production of feed, natural ingredients are used, such as real meat. The founders believe that a healthy, balanced diet is the key to solving and alleviating serious health problems in pets. The company uses high-quality ingredients without animal by-products and cheap fillers.

Food Ingredients

When choosing a feed, you should always pay attention to the composition. The first ingredient listed is very important as it is what is the most abundant in the feed. High-quality dog foods will have whole meat as their first and main ingredient. They should also contain at least 25-3-% real meat.  The leaders of the best dog foods will always be those feeds where the % of meat components is more than 50% (in the first place or in total).

The quality of the meat plays a significant role. Beef is quite rare, usually, chicken is used. In addition, the source of protein can be lamb, duck, turkey, venison, salmon, trout, herring, and other oceanic fish species. Meat flour can also be a good source of protein. This component can also be listed as dehydrated meat. Fish oil and animal fat (usually chicken) are always a plus for feed. Egg powder or egg is also a source of digestible protein and trace elements.

The source of carbohydrates is cereals: oat flakes, barley, millet, and rice (preferably brown). Corn is a controversial component, but it is quite acceptable if the dog is not allergic to it. However, corn should not be listed as one of the first three to five ingredients. Corn can be listed in different forms such as: corn, corn gluten, corn gluten, corn flour, and so on.

Fruits and vegetables are usually included in the feed of the holistic class. Recently, inexpensive meal, potatoes and peas, have become increasingly common in the composition. Their presence in dry food is controversial for many veterinarians. The following ingredients are useful for dogs: apples, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, tomatoes, wild berries, flaxseed, alfalfa, yucca extract, rosemary, thyme, chicory root, and others. Beet pulp is source of fiber that is necessary for the digestive tract, but the percentage in the composition should not exceed 4 %. Some feeds contain peas which can cause excessive gas in some dogs.

Dog food should also contain a wide range of vitamins, including A, B12, C, + trace elements and minerals. Vitamins E and C as safe preservatives. Supplements for cartilage and joints, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, may also be beneficial.

Avoid buying feeds where the composition is written in very vague terms, such as: vitamins, antioxidants, animal fat, processed vegetable products, aromatic feed additives, oils, cereals, and so on. The composition should be detailed and preferably with percentages.

Substances such as butyloxinazole, butylohydroxytoluene, and ethoxychine are used as preservatives. These products are very controversial because they are may be carcinogenic. Colorants, preservatives, and flavorings should never be included in dog food. For the same reason, avoid feeds with colored kibble. The coloring is unnecessary and is added for human’s appeal with no effect on the dog. Good dog food is always a uniform brown color.

Nutro

Nutro makes dog food from a variety of different ingredients. They also produce many different flavors depending on the product line. Meat is the main ingredient of all Nutro dog food, which is very important. They don’t use artificial by-products. The Wholesome Essentials product line is non-GMO. The company classifies its products as natural dog food. The producer has a relationship with local farmers, from whom he buys the meat ingredients.

Nutro does not add meat offal, artificial flavors, or colorants to its feed. Also, there are no artificial preservatives, corn, wheat, or soy protein. In each formula, the manufacturer adds glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain the health of the joints of dogs. Most formulas have added vitamins and minerals to support the immune system. Cereal recipes contain brown rice, which is a low-GI carbohydrate that helps your dog stay muscular and lean. ^[2]

Controversial ingredients used by Nutro:

• Pea Protein
• Caramel Color
• Iron Oxide
• Pork Plasma
• Whole Wheat
• Brewers Rice
• Wheat Gluten
• Tomato Pomace
• Powdered Cellulose
• Vegetable Oil
• Feeding Oatmeal
• Corn Gluten Meal
• Dried Corn Syrup
• Ground Whole Wheat
• Meat And Bone Meal
• Pea Protein Isolate
• Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
• Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo makes its feed without the addition of preservatives, offal, fillers, or artificial flavors. The manufacturer reports that their food does not contain wheat, soy, or corn. The main source of protein in Blue Buffalo products is chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, salmon, duck, trout, and oatmeal. Most recipes contain a variety of vegetables, fruits, enzymes, probiotics, and dried tomato cakes.

Each of these formulas is enriched with vitamins. They also include recognizable fats, such as chicken fat. It is an excellent source of fatty acids. Unlike other companies, Blue Buffalo does not use ambiguous language when describing the ingredients in its products. Their labels contain comprehensive descriptions, such as real turkey and chicken meat as a source of protein.

Controversial ingredients used by Blue Buffalo:

• Garlic
• Caramel
• Canola Oil
• Pea Protein
• Caramel Color
• Tomato Pomace
• Powdered Cellulose
• Dried Tomato Pomace
• Pea Protein Concentrate

As a result of the analysis, it can be argued that the Blue Buffalo and Nutro recipes have a good composition that meets all the needs of dogs. However, the manufacturer Blue Buffalo uses less controversial ingredients. ^[3]

History of recalls

Companies can recall their products for certain reasons related to the safety of pets. Here we will tell you about all the cases of recalls of Nutro and Blue Buffalo products.

Nutro

Nutro has a small number of dog food recalls. Here is a brief history of their recall:

• 2007 – The company recalled the products due to possible contamination with melamine. This was a global problem that affected not only Nutro.
• 2009 – Product recall due to potential plastic contamination. There were suspicions that there was plastic from a worker’s helmet in the feed bags. No illnesses were reported. Also this year, the products were recalled once again due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in the feed.
• 2015 – Product recall because of mold formation.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has recalled its products 9 times. Using the website of the FDA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), we found out the reasons and compiled a timeline:

• 2007 – The rice protein from the manufacturer they used was contaminated with melamine. After the investigation, Blue Buffalo announced that it would stop trading with the accused manufacturers.
• 2010 – The company recalled some products because they were found to potentially contain higher levels of vitamin D.
• 2015 – Potential salmonella infection. No illnesses were reported.
• 2016 – Product recall due to high humidity inside the packaging, which then led to the formation of mold.
• 2017 – Possible aluminum contamination. No illnesses were reported. This year, another product recall occurred due to a problem with the foil packaging. In addition, an increased level of a natural hormone was found.
• 2014 – Purina filed a lawsuit against Blue Buffalo for false advertising. They found ingredients for poultry by-products in their recipes, even though Blue Buffalo stated that it never uses by-products.

Prices Comparison

Here we will present average price data that will help determine whether there is a significant difference between the two brands.

Nutro

Nutro	Dry Dog Food	Wet Dog Food
Per Pound	$2.20	$5.34
Per Calorie	$0.0014	$0.0125

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo	Dry Dog Food	Wet Dog Food
Per Pound	$2.75	$4.30
Per Calorie	$0.0017	$0.0086

The table shows that dry food from the manufacturer Nutro has a lower price than dry food Blue Buffalo. However, the price of wet Nutro feed is on the contrary higher than from Blue Buffalo.

Pros and Cons of each brand

Nutro

Blue Buffalo

READ MORE: Can you Give a Dog Tums?

Guaranteed Analysis

According to the AAFCO, each pet food package must have labels with a guaranteed analysis of the nutrient content. In each recipe, the minimum content of raw protein and raw fat should be noted, as well as the maximum content of raw fiber and moisture.

Nutro

Nutro	Dry Dog Food	Wet/Canned Dog Food
Crude Protein	27.0%	42.7%
Crude Fat	15.1%	24.4%
Crude Fiber	4.6%	6.0%

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo	Dry Dog Food	Wet/Canned Dog Food
Crude Protein	28.5%	40.3%
Crude Fat	15.0%	25.0%
Crude Fiber	7.1%	7.6%

Blue Buffalo guarantees about 3.67% more protein than Nutro. For wet dog foods, Nutro and Blue Buffalo provide roughly the same amount of protein. There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat  and crude fiber content of the two brands.

Most Popular Formulas: Nutro vs Blue Buffalo Dog Foods

Here we have collected the best feed from manufacturers and analyzed the pros and cons of each diet. Remember that each dog is an individual and you need to choose a diet after a conversation with a veterinarian.

TOP Blue Buffalo Dog Foods

1. Blue Buffalo Baby Blue

Blue Buffalo gives priority to the quality of the ingredients, so this food is made from natural ingredients. Baby BLUE includes chicken as the first ingredient, healthy whole grains, and garden vegetables. There is a detailed explanation of why each ingredient is included in the food available on the manufacturer’s website so that you can better understand your dog’s diet.

All food is produced at the company’s two plants in the United States and meets nutrition standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials and the Global Nutrition Committee of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Key futures:

• Real meat as the first ingredient.
• Specially formulated for puppies.
• BLUE contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals.

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness

Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food is a specially designed diet for adult dogs. The formula of the feed is a complete mixture of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The food is designed to maintain health, as well as strengthen the immune system.

This formula of a grain-free feed with a high protein content is made only from natural ingredients. The main source of protein is natural chicken and turkey meat, as well as sweet potatoes, blueberries, cranberries.

Key futures:

• Complete with antioxidant & mineral rich blueberries, cranberries & carrots.
• Made with quality, protein rich meats.
• Enhanced supplementation

3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Senior

The formula of this food from Blue Buffalo was created for the health and well-being of dogs in old age. The main source of protein is real meat, whole grains, garden vegetables, and fruits.

This chicken and brown rice recipe for older dogs includes all the essential antioxidants and ingredients to support older dogs’ overall health and well-being. The kibble retain the effectiveness of all ingredients.

Key features:

• Delicious, protein-rich, deboned chicken.
• Healthy oxidative balance.
• No artificial flavors or preservatives.

TOP Nutro Dog Foods

1. Nutro Ultra Puppy

Nutro Ultra Holistic Superfood Blend is the perfect combination of high-quality protein, a blend of antioxidants, fresh vegetables, and fruits, as well as whole grains and healthy oils.  The food contributes to the well-being of the pet.

Combined protein sources from high-quality natural and holistic ingredients provide optimal levels of amino acids and an excellent taste. This formula is specially designed for growing puppies. The food is designed to meet the nutritional levels set by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all stages of life.

Key futures:

• Made with high-quality ingredients.
• Blend of 15 vibrant superfoods.
• No chicken by-product meal, corn, soy, or wheat.

2. Nutro Ultra Adult High Protein Natural

Nutro dry dog food consists only of high-quality ingredients and does not contain animal by-products. Nutro offers premium quality products with a high protein content, characterized by excellent taste and composition. Nutro products will provide your dog with all the vital nutrients, support its health and well-being.

Key futures:

• Lots of superfoods like kale and blueberries.
• Provides complete and balanced nutrition.
• Uses a wide variety of animal proteins.

3. Nutro Ultra Senior Chicken

The high-quality dry food for older dogs is made with fresh chicken and is easily absorbed by the pet’s body. The formula is rich in animal proteins and does not contain artificial additives and GMOs.

This recipe contains natural chicken as the first ingredient. The food also includes lamb and salmon, as well as a mix of 15 bright superfoods, such as coconut, chia, cabbage, and blueberries.

Key futures:         

• Made with quality ingredients.
• Trio of protein from chicken, lamb, and salmon.
• Provides complete and balanced nutrition.

Conclusion on Nutro vs Blue Buffalo Dog Foods

Both brands have a good reputation in the market. The company’s feeds are made from natural ingredients. All manufacturers have lines designed to help all types of dogs. Below is a table that highlights the best brands, depending on the buyer’s goals.

What you want	Suitable brand
A balanced diet for all age levels	Both brands
A wider variety of flavors and ingredients	Blue Buffalo
A cost effective option	Nutro
Safety, based on number of recalls	Nutro

FAQ

Article Sources:

1. ​ Arendt, M. “Diet Adaptation in Dog Reflects Spread of Prehistoric Agriculture.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 Nov. 2016, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5061917/.
2. ​ “Non-GMO Ingredient Pet Food,” NUTRO™, nutro.com/feed-clean.
3. ​ Blue Buffalo Natural Pet Food & Treats. bluebuffalo.com.