âYou are what you eatâ and this adage rings true for humans, as well as for our four-legged companions. Since nutrition influences the health and longevity of pets, pet parents always got me asking, âHey Lara, what is the best natural dog food?â The answer is in this article!
Today, I will compare Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro. These two brands have so many food options for dogs and cats, so it is hard to shift through everything. Therefore, I am going to pick only three of their best-sellers.
- Do you have an adventurous cat who likes to sashay around the neighborhood searching for love⊠and trouble? If yes, the Blue Buffalo Natureâs Evolutionary Grain-Free High-Protein Chicken Recipe would be an excellent choice. A noteworthy fact is that this food increases vitality, especially for those who have hypersensitivity to grains.
- Save your feline princess from digestive distress with Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe with LifeSource Bits! This cat food from Blueâs is one of the best ways to get rid of the tummy blues. The fiber- and prebiotic-rich formula stops the gagging and unsightly diarrhea, so Purrincess can revert back to being dainty and delicate ASAP.
- The average family cat need not settle on an average diet just because he has evolved into a couch potato. Feed El Gato with Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Recipe to make him look great and feel special. He’ll thank you throughout his nine lives!
- Hatin’ the dish, lookin’ for fish? If that’s the case, give your feline diner Nutro Wholesome Essentials Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe to satisfy his discriminating tastebuds. This food is rich in protein, essential fatty acids, and other key nutrients to ensure your pet achieves well-balanced nutrition.
- The Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken, Brown Rice, & Sweet Potato Recipe is the go-to kibble for thousands of pet owners because it provides virtually everything your canine buddy needs to stay healthy.
- I recommend you give the Nutro Wholesome Essentials Lamb & Rice Recipe for Large Adult Breeds a shot because obviously, no dog likes to chow the same food throughout his entire life! This food offers the same health benefits as the other; only this time, it tastes even better!
- Itâs true! Big dogs have humongous hearts and have that extra oomph in work and play. However, their large size can put them at a higher risk for orthopedic diseases if you arenât too careful with what they eat. So it pays to feed Doggo Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, which is specifically crafted for large and giant breeds.
- Is Winnie the Pooch getting a little too fat lately? If it isnât due to a medical condition, feeding him with Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is an excellent choice to trim those fat hanging loose.
Comparing Brand Histories
About Nutro
Nutro was founded by Herben Serois in September 1931 in Sta. Monica, California, although some believed that the company had been established in its infancy in the early â20s. However, in 1942, the founder passed away.
John Saleen, a fox farm owner, renewed the Nutro Dog Food Company trademark in 1952. Unfortunately, the interest of Saleenâs children did not align with his, so he sold his business to a friend in 1975.
Nutro introduced the Max line in 1985. Instead of traditional advertising, the new company owners produced literature on the dietary needs of pets and comparative information about their products versus other brands.
Fast forward in 2007, Mars company acquired Nutro and the headquarters is now based in Tennessee.
Comparison Table – Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro: Similarities & Differences
Feature | Similar | Different |
---|---|---|
Philosophy | Blue Buffalo and Nutro both agree that the best way to feed your pets is to stick to simple, wholesome ingredients. | |
Protein | Blue Buffalo and Nutro use real meat as the number one ingredient and main source of protein. To further increase the protein content of the food, they also use chicken meal. | |
Number of Recalls | However, the LifeSource Bits gives Blue Buffalo a little edge over Nutro. Blue Buffalo has been recalled a few more times than Nutro. | |
Variety | Both brands have five incredible product lines, but neither of the two offers breed-specific formulas as of yet. | |
Price | The majority find Blue Buffalo and Nutro to be expensive, especially if you have multiple pets to feed. |
đ± Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro Cat Foods
Model | Lifestage | Nutritional Info | Top Ingredients | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adult | 443 kcal per cup Protein 40% Fat 18% Fiber 4% Magnesium .14% Taurine .15 % Omega-3 .5% Omega-6 3.5 % | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Peas | Check Price | |
Adult | 422 kcal per cup Protein 32% Fat 16% Fiber 3.5% Magnesium .14% Taurine .15 % Omega-3 .5% Omega-6 3.5 % | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley | Check Price | |
Adult | 378 kcal per cup Protein 33% Fat 14% Fiber 7% Calcium .9% Vit. E 250 IU/kg Taurine .18% Omega-6 3% | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Pea Protein, Whole Brown Rice | Check Price | |
Adult | 414 kcal per cup Protein 33% Fat 16% Fiber 4% Calcium .9% Selenium .35 mg/kg Vit. E 260 IU/kg Taurine .18% Omega-6 3.5% | Salmon, Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Pea Protein, Whole Brown Rice | Check Price |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natureâs Evolutionary Grain-Free High-Protein Chicken Recipe
Inspired by the lynxâs diet, Natureâs Evolutionary Grain-Free High-Protein Chicken Recipe delivers a lavish percentage of proteins to satisfy the needs of the adventurous Genghis Khat!
Deboned chicken is the chief ingredient and main source of protein, followed by high-quality rendered chicken and peas to amplify the amino acids of the food. That way, you can be sure that your coddled cat will chow down his food and receive the nourishment he needs.
But because some cats canât digest grains well, Blue uses gluten-free tapioca starch for this recipe. Also known as cassava flour, it supplies a similar amount of carbohydrates as other grain-based flours. The formula also features the health benefits offered by potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
Each meal also provides your cat with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids sourced from menhaden fish meal and flaxseed, respectively. Mealtime likewise supplies a dose of probiotics.
Since the food is nutrient-dense, you donât have to feed little Genghis Khat excess amounts â a crime many pet parents commit, but only a few will admit. Simply follow the feeding guideline, so your feline obtains his daily recommended dietary requirements.
Furthermore, this recipe is free of wheat, soy, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
- Delivers 40% protein
- Deboned chicken meat is the #1 ingredient, plus chicken meal and digestible pea proteins
- Supplies antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E), B-vitamins, iron, L-carnitine, manganese, and zinc
- Probiotics support digestive health by restoring balance in the gut microbiota
- Offers enhanced supplementation of LifeSource Bits
- Suitable for active cats with food intolerance to grains
- Can be fattening for the lazy housecat
- This cat food is pretty pricey for the average pet owner, especially for a multi-cat household
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe with LifeSource Bits
Cats are proud, elegant creatures and tidy ones to boot. So unless Purrincess has tummy troubles, it is unlikely for you to get a whiff of her odiferous essence and witness melted dookie castles all over your kingdom.
Chances are, your kitty has a sensitive stomach and she can benefit from the Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe with LifeSource Bits.
Thus, it promotes peristalsis and prevents constipation. Bulking up the stool is also one way to prevent diarrhea.
Moreover, this formula capitalizes on probiotics and complex FOS prebiotics that both promote digestive health and nutrient uptake. Whereas probiotics are live bacteria that add up to the population of the gut microbiota, prebiotics are specialized plant fibers that provide nourishment to these preexisting gut-friendly microorganisms.
As with other Blue Buffalo products, deboned chicken tops the ingredients list, followed by high-quality rendered chicken and highly digestible grains. This formula also includes LifeSource Bits that represent antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
- Deboned chicken meat is the #1 ingredient, plus chicken meal
- Features a fiber-rich blend for proper digestion and regular bowel movement
- Includes probiotics and complex FOS prebiotics for gut integrity
- Offers enhanced supplementation of LifeSource Bits
- Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Supplies antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E), B-vitamins, and other key nutrients
- Helpful, but you might still need to see your vet
- This cat food is pretty pricey for the average pet owner, especially for a multi-cat household
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Finding a formula you can feed El Gato throughout his nine lives can be difficult, but if your cat has no issues other than being gluttonous, you can transition him to the Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe.
Crafted with non-GMO ingredients from trusted farmers and suppliers, youâll have the peace of mind knowing your beloved pet is eating well.
The first ingredient is great-tasting chicken meat, followed by high-quality rendered chicken to amplify the protein level of the food.
Excellent sources of complex carbohydrates and fiber are also added to ensure each bowl delivers complete and balanced nutrition.
While this food does specifically target overweight cats, it is a great choice for middle-aged cats that need to maintain a healthy weight.
- Made using simple, recognizable ingredients with farm-raised chicken as #1
- Guaranteed non-GMO and made without wheat or corn
- Contains an ideal calorie content to help cats maintain a healthy weight
- Supplies omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- The kibbles are twice as large as other cat foods, which can be a disadvantage for other kitties
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
If you like the concept behind Nutroâs Wholesome Essentials but your cat is looking for something else other than chicken or beef, your best bet is to make a switch to the Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe.
This food shares a similar formula as the other and likewise, it uses non-GMO ingredients. The food still contains chicken meal as the second ingredient, followed by brewerâs rice, pea protein, and whole brown rice. However, the number one ingredient and the main source of protein is salmon.
This one difference leads to many changes in the flavor and nutrient profile of the food. For one, each meal offers more calories, fat, vitamin E, and omega-6 essential fatty acids. That being the case, this formula is more suitable for adventurous kitties who love to venture into the yard.
- Made using simple, recognizable ingredients with salmon as #1
- Supplies more calories, fat, and omega-6 fatty acids to fuel an active cat
- Guaranteed non-GMO and made without wheat or corn
- Still has chicken, which might trigger allergies to cats allergic to such ingredient
- The kibbles are twice as large as other cat foods, which can be a disadvantage for other kitties
đ¶ Nutro vs. Blue Buffalo Dog Foods
Model | Lifestage | Nutritional Info | Top Ingredients | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adult Large and Giant Breeds | 336 kcal per cup Protein 21% Fat 13% Fiber 3.5% Selenium .35 mg/kg Vit. E 60 IU/kg Chondroitin 850 mg/kg Glucosamine 250 mg/kg Omega-3 .2% Omega-6 2% | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Split Peas | Check Price | |
Adult Large and Giant Breeds | 315 kcal per cup Protein 21% Fat 13% Fiber 3.5% Selenium. 35 mg/kg min Vit. E 35 mg/kg Chondroitin 850 mg/kg Glucosamine 250 mg/kg Omega-3 .2% Omega-6 2% | Deboned Lamb, Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Whole Brown Rice, Split Peas | Check Price | |
Adult Large and Giant Breeds | 353 kcal per cup Protein 22% Fat 12% Fiber 6% Calcium .9% Phosphorus .7% EPA .1% Taurine .1% Omega-3 .75% Omega-6 2.5% L-Carnitine 100 mg/kg Glucosamine 700 mg/kg Chondroitin 500 mg/kg | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley | Check Price | |
All Adult Breeds | 326 kcal per cup Calcium .9% Protein 20% Fat 9% Fiber 10% Phosphorus .7% Omega-3 0.3% Omega-6 1.75% L-Carnitine 100 mg/kg Glucosamine 400 mg/kg Chondroitin 300 mg/kg | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Pea Fiber | Check Price |
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken, Brown Rice, & Sweet Potato Recipe for Large Adult Breeds
What I love most about Nutro is the fact that they use simple, familiar ingredients to craft their mouth-watering formulas, and the Wholesome Essentials Chicken, Brown Rice, & Sweet Potato Recipe.
This food is made with familiar non-GMO ingredients. You wonât find bewildering derivatives and low-quality ingredients, such as by-product meals, artificial additives, and other shady stuff.
As the name suggests, farm-raised chicken is the primary ingredient and main source of drool-worthy proteins for your big guy. Likewise, this food contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which improve mobility as they provide anti-inflammatory effects and pain reduction.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning how this food has helped many pets with diarrhea and other experiences when doing #2. Pet owners are also delighted with how gorgeous their pets are after days of eating this food.
- Farm-raised chicken is the #1 ingredient, plus chicken meal
- A straightforward recipe without GMO ingredients, wheat, soy, and other common allergens
- Enhances mobility and restores joint health naturally
- Improves digestion, bowel movement, and stool quality
- Expensive, but it is worth the cost
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Lamb & Rice Recipe for Large Adult Breeds
Is Sherlock Bones refusing to eat his kibble? The best way to solve this mystery is to see your vet. If he gives your pet a clean bill of health, then there wonât be a problem if you feed your pooch with Nutro Wholesome Essentials Lamb & Rice Recipe for Large Adult Breeds to spice things up.
This recipe is one of Nutroâs best offers. While the nutritional value of this food is similar to the Chicken, Brown Rice, and Sweet Potato Recipe, it is quite more flavored. Made with pasture-fed deboned lamb, it offers a gamey flavor â an earthy taste that most canines will love right off the bat!
Lamb also provides glucosamine and chondroitin for your pooch to help strengthen joints and fight off inflammation. Likewise, this food optimal levels of essential fatty acids.
- Pasture-fed deboned lamb is the #1 ingredient, plus chicken meal
- Gamey taste and aromatic flavor tickles the canine palate
- Offers complete and balanced nutrition for large adult breeds
- Supplies omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- No by-products, what, or soy protein
- Not be used as an alternative diet to dogs with chicken allergies
- Not the most affordable option
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Formula Chicken & Brown Recipe for Large Canine Breeds
Big dogs have different nutritional needs than their smaller counterparts, and it is not because they have colossal appetites. The reason is that large and giant breeds are predisposed to certain health risks, all of which are heavily influenced by their diet. That is why Blue crafted the Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Recipe to cater to the special needs of large and giant breeds.
With deboned chicken having the lionâs share of the recipe, Drool Barrymore will be drooling over her food! There is no way your pooch will refuse that meaty goodness and not receive the nourishment she needs to stay hale and hearty.
This recipe also contains fiber-rich carbohydrates, such as brown rice, oatmeal, and barley, to fuel your pooch and support her digestion.
Since bone and joint health are two of the most important aspects of chunky canines, Blue made sure each meal gives them a dose of glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain and rebuild joint cartilage. The food likewise has sufficient levels of calcium and phosphorus to increase bone density.
As with other Blue Buffalo products, it features LifeSource Bits. These are the brown crumbs made through a process called âcold formingâ to ensure the retention of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in the food.
- Chicken is the most plentiful ingredient, plus high-protein chicken meal
- Supplies adequate calories and contain L-carnitine to maintain a healthier weight
- Contains essential fatty acids from flaxseed, fish oil, and chicken fat
- Glucosamine and chondroitin help keep mobility issues at bay
- Features Blueâs exclusive LifeSource Bits
- Not crafted to be a one-size-fits-all solution for all large and giant breeds
- No added probiotics that some breeds, like GSDs, need
- Expensive as per usual
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Formula Healthy Weight Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe for Small Breeds
Is little Mutt Damon veering towards the chubby side? This grain-inclusive food is formulated with reduced calories and fat, which makes it ideal for canines who need to shed some pounds. Whatâs more, it contains L-carnitine, which plays a crucial role in energy production and fat metabolism.
Deboned chicken is the most abundant ingredient, and following this is rendered chicken, a high-quality concentrated source of protein. Rest assured your canine companion gets a sufficient amount of protein to maintain muscle strength and tone.
Will this food make your pooch feel hungry fast? Nope, and this is where fiber comes into play. This chicken recipe includes pea fiber and fiber-rich grains, such as brown rice and barley. Not only do these healthy ingredients promote digestion and improve stool quality, but they also minimize food cravings and delay stomach emptying.
Like all other Blue formulas, the Life Protection Healthy Weight Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe also includes LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This recipe also supplies your pet omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help ward off skin inflammation and add luster to the coat.
- Deboned chicken meat is the #1 ingredient, plus chicken meal
- Offers enhanced supplementation of LifeSource Bits
- Contains L-carnitine to help with energy production and fat metabolism
- Has glucosamine and chondroitin for cartilage health
- Can serve as a short-term diet for overweight dogs or maintenance food for less active dogs
- No added probiotics for doggies with sensitive tummies
- Expensive as always
Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro: Face to Face Comparison
Now that we are done comparing Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro dry cat food and dry dog food formulations, I want you to move ahead to this section. Hopefully, you can glean as much important information about these two popular brands.
Ingredients
Blue Buffalo and Nutro aspire to stave off food allergies in pets as much as possible by eliminating common allergens, such as corn, soy, and wheat. As expected of premium-quality brands, each of their recipes begins with real meat, followed by high-quality rendered chicken meat to magnify the protein content.
Blue Life Protection formulas source their proteins from chicken, salmon, and lamb. Other product lines may also feature novel meats, such as bison, duck, and rabbit. Meanwhile, Nutro crafts their meals with either beef, chicken, lamb, salmon, or venison.
Moreover, both brands pride themselves on using wholesome, natural ingredients to provide their foods with nutritious flavor. Their straightforward recipes include digestible grains, wholesome fruits, and veggies so that each bowl of kibble will provide your pets with essential vitamins and chelated minerals.
While Blueâs and Nutroâs propositions are admirable, some pet owners are still doubtful. As per usual, pet food manufacturers often fail to elaborate on some of the ingredients they use to make their products, and these two brands are no exception.
- Canola oil: Although the health concerns regarding canola oil remain unfound, some critics believe that it is harmful, especially because it is processed using a solvent called hexane.
- Caramel: This food coloring is highly refined sugar.
- Garlic: Minimal amounts may not directly harm your pet, but it is a known fact that garlic is toxic to dogs and cats.
- Powdered cellulose: This anti-caking agent contains insoluble fiber, which promotes peristaltic movement and prevents constipation. However, Blue did not disclose whether this ingredient came from grain hulls and peanut shells like the ones we use to make parmesan cheese.
- Pea by-products: Peas are rich in vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your dogâs vision, digestion, and immune function, among others. But if Bilbo Waggins has confirmed allergies to peas, you should consider one of the hydrolyzed protein diets.
- Tomato pomace: Tomato pomace refers to the crushed seeds, peels, and pulp residues generated in the industrial processing of tomatoes, such as when making ketchup.
Since these are basically waste materials, people are unsure of their safety. The good part is that these tomato by-products are thoroughly washed, cleaned, and steamed to be used on pet foods.
More impressively, tomato pomace is a terrific source of lycopene.
- Fish: One of their recipes contains an anonymous meat ingredient.
- Feeding oatmeal: There are at least four recipes that have this mysterious ingredient.
- Pork plasma: Pork plasma is the largest component of the blood that appears light yellowish when separated from the others. This ingredient might sound unhygienic, but even Royal Canin uses pork plasma with their foods.
Pet food manufacturers use pork plasma to amplify the animal protein levels of their products. Likewise, this ingredient features natural binding properties, making it a healthier alternative to xanthan, guar, cassia gums, and carrageenan.
Plus, I did a Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro taste test with Baobao, my Chow Chow, and Boboi, an alley cat who showed up at my door before Christmas. Boboi headed straight to Natureâs Evolutionary Grain-Free High-Protein Chicken Recipe, while the other glutton chose the bowl with the Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Recipe.
Recall History and Product Safety
A product recall could undermine a brandâs hard-earned reputation. But on the other side of the coin, the company in the hot seat can use this opportunity to prove its loyalty and commitment.
So far, Nutro has been recalled four times.
- December 2015: PetSmart announced a market withdrawal of Nutro Treats Apple due to potential mold.
- October 2009: Nutro retrieved certain bags of Ultra and Natural Choice puppy foods from a small number of PetSmart and Petco stores, as there were small pieces of plastic found in the production run.
- May 2009: Some dry cat foods were recalled due to incorrect zinc and potassium levels.
- March 2007: Nutro was involved in the Great Melamine Recall, along with other 100+ brands due to contaminated ingredients imported from China. Various cans and pouches of Natural Choice, Ultra, and Max dog and cat foods were recalled.
Blue Buffalo, on the other hand, has also become active on the recall circuit since 2007. - March 2017: A single run of Blue Wilderness canned dog food due to potentially excessive levels of beef thyroid hormone.
- February 2017: The possibility of metal contamination promoted a recall in some cans of Homestyle Recipe dog food.
- May 2016: Sweet-potato flavored dog foods were recalled due to the possibility of mold.
- November 2015: Chew bones and cat treats were pulled from the shelves following reports of propylene glycol.
- October 2010: Blue Buffalo issued a voluntary recall because of a âsequencing errorâ made by an ingredient supplier.
- April 2007: Blue Buffalo pulled all of its manufacturing from American Nutrition after the FDA confirmed their canned foods contain melamine-contaminated rice protein concentrate.
Most Popular Product Lines
Nutro currently has five product lines to cater to the dietary needs of pets depending on their life stage and breed size.
- Wholesome Ingredients
- Ultra Dry
- Grain-Free
- Limited-Ingredient
- Canned Food (Wet Formulas)
Blue Buffalo also has five product lines designed with unique components to meet the specific nutritional requirements of pets.
- Life Protection
- Freedom
- Basics
- Wilderness
- Natural Veterinary
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Blue Buffalo dog food make dogs sick?
What company owns Nutro dog food?
Is Blue Buffalo safe?
Which Nutro dog food is linked to heart disease?
Conclusion
Natural food is more enticing to our pets because it is less processed, which means the aroma and flavor of the ingredients are well retained.
However, Blue Buffalo provides much more protein and fiber than Nutro. So, canines and felines needing such a diet would be better off with Blue Buffalo. Nutro selections, on the other hand, come at a lower cost, so they are often better for families with a smaller budget.