The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe is one of the many dog foods formulated by the Blue Buffalo brand.
Blue Buffalo is a pet company that specializes in creating various kinds of food for dogs and cats specifically.
This Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe is from the wilderness line of dry dog foods that happens to be rich in meats and animal-protein in general. Apparently, the wilderness line of dog foods was inspired by the diet of dogs’ ancestors; wolves.
More specifically, we see the product in our review which has salmon as a major product and was formulated with adult dogs in mind.
That said, in this article, we get even more specific by showing you the major ingredients in this food and whether or not you need to be wary of them.
Also, if this isn’t exactly what you are in the market for, don’t go just yet. Towards the end of this article, we recommend alternative foods for puppies, and some others of different kinds.
Ready? Let’s get on with this!
Table of Contents
Who Is The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe For?
First off, this particular dog food was formulated for adult dogs specifically. So, you already know to look to something else if your dog is a puppy or a senior dog.
Furthermore, seeing as this is a grain-free diet, you have to be sure that grain-free is what is right for your dog as confirmed by your dog’s vet.
More so, and even more specifically, this is a salmon diet. So, it could be a nice alternative for your dog if they are not really into protein sources like chicken and beef.
Of course, you have to be sure that your dog is also not allergic to seafood and salmon in particular.
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Ingredients Of Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe
Deboned Salmon
First off, we like that the salmon is deboned so that your dog need not struggle with bones while they munch their way through their food.
Salmon is actually a really good source of protein and the Omega-3 fatty acid. However, a solely salmon meal is not considered nutritious enough for dogs, as it cannot provide all their protein needs.
The reason that is is that Salmon is composed of a lot of water (about 60%). So, despite the fact that it is a good source of protein, your dog will need to eat a lot of it to get all the protein they need from one meal.
This is why it is recommended that you go for foods that have Salmon as a recipe or a key ingredient and not necessarily the only protein source. That is, if you’re getting a Salmon based meal, it should contain other protein sources.
But then again, if your dog is allergic to those other protein sources, speak with their vet and let them prescribe a diet that will take care of that.
Chicken Meal
We already mentioned that it is important that the Salmon based dog food you pick for your dog has other sources of protein, so that you’re sure your dog is getting as much protein as he needs.
Thankfully, this Blue Buffalo Salmon Recipe is one of them. Now what is chicken meal?
Chicken meal is basically chicken that has been rendered, i.e., cooked so that it is dry and retains only about 10% moisture.
This is a pretty interesting way of adding chicken to dry dog food seeing as chicken, as it is, cannot be packaged into dry dog food. And actually, chicken meal is probably a better source of protein than actual chicken.
Here is the thing. Just Chicken is a lot more of water than Salmon is. However, when the chicken has been rendered, there is only 10% of that moisture left and about 65% of protein. So, there is a maximization of the protein value of chicken when it has been rendered.
However, one needs to be careful about what one sees on those food packs. While you cannot exactly tell the quality of chicken used in making the chicken meal, you could have an inkling.
If one of the ingredients of a food is meat meal or fish meal, be careful of those. Go for those ones that are specific like this Blue Buffalo Dog Food Salmon Recipe. It clearly says chicken meal in the ingredients and not some obscure meat meal.
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Menhaden Fish Meal
This is another really specific meal that is in the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe. The Menhaden fish is a kind of oily fish that is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acid.
Now, this kind of fish isn’t the safest for humans. However, when it has been rendered and the oil and moisture removed, it is actually a really good protein source for dogs.
Pea Protein
While plant protein isn’t as high a protein source as animal protein, it doesn’t hurt to have it in your dog’s food.
Pea protein is basically peas that have been rid of their starch, and so, is an impressive plant protein source.
It is a pure protein source. But not enough to be a standalone protein ingredient.
Peas
In addition to pea protein, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe also contains actual peas.
And not only are peas good sources of protein, but they are also a good source of fiber that could help with digestion and bowel movement.
Furthermore, peas contain some vitamins and minerals that you’ll want your dog to have including iron, Vitamin K, some Vitamins B, magnesium, potassium and zinc.
Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is extracted from cassava roots and is used in the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe as an alternative to grains, seeing as this food is grain-free.
It is pretty common to see tapioca used as an alternative to grains, potatoes, and even peas. However, it is important to know whether it is a healthy choice for your dog.
Tapioca happens to be a good source of starch; not too much but then again, dogs need more protein than they need starch.
So between the peas and the tapioca in this food, your dog’s starch needs should be well met.
However, it is important to note that tapioca has been known to increase insulin levels for both animals and humans.
So, if your dog is diabetic or obese, you might want to stay away from this and even other foods that contain tapioca.
Natural Flavors
Now, this is one of the really controversial ingredients in this food. Apparently, the idea of natural flavors is to make the meal even more delicious for a dog.
This is a laudable idea, you must agree. However, the reason for the controversy surrounding this is that one cannot exactly be certain of the source of these natural flavors.
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) are not really clear about what qualifies to be called natural flavor.
That said, natural flavors can be got from a number of different sources, including animals, plants, animal meals, basically anything that is not man-made.
And seeing as manufacturers are not obligated to say where their natural flavors are from, it really could be anything.
That means, you could actually be getting the real stuff or you could be getting derivatives of some stuff that you really don’t want to know about.
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Dried Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is the by-product you get after tomato has been processed into ketchup, tomato soup, and other tomato derivatives. And the dry kind is just basically the tomato pomace that has been dried to rid it of a lot of its water content.
Tomato pomace (dry or not) is another controversial ingredient, chiefly because it is a by-product. Some people are scared that it is mostly roughage without any nutritional value.
Now, while tomato pomace isn’t the highest source of any kind of nutrient, it is a good food binder and a good source of dietary fiber and Vitamin A.
Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Contrary to what some people think, fat isn’t terrible for dogs. In fact, it is important that your dog’s food contains fat enough for his age and size.
That said, animal fat doesn’t have a very long shelf life. This is why foods that contain animal fat also contain some kind of preservative to extend the shelf life of the fat it contains for as long as possible.
You will want to stay away from those artificial preservatives. The natural preservatives, like the mixed tocopherols, are naturally considered to be safe. So, you can bank on the chicken fat content of this Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe.
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Pros Of The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe
i. First off, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe contains only animal protein sources which is laudable. Animal protein sources are a better and more comprehensive source of the necessary amino acids that your dog needs, compared to plant protein.
ii. Also, it is a good thing that no obscure meat is used in this food. The meat sources and ingredients used are clearly tagged.
iii. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe also does not use any artificial ingredients or flavors which is a good thing.
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Cons Of The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe
i. There is a bit of controversy around natural flavors. One cannot exactly be sure of the source of the natural flavors used in these foods seeing as manufacturers aren’t obligated to say.
Alternative Options To The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Foo Salmon Recipe
Would You Prefer Chicken Recipe? Try The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Chicken Recipe
This one is a chicken-based dry dog food. So, if your dog isn’t a huge fan of salmon, you could try out this Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe.
It is also grain-free like our featured product and is created for adult dogs. Bear in mind, though, that this costs a bit more than our featured product.
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Are You In The Market For Wet Dog Food? Check out the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Beef And Chicken Canned Dog Food
Canned/wet food has been known to be a better option for dogs who are losing their appetite, because of the aroma that wafts out of it when the can is opened.
Apparently, if the food appeals to your dog’s sense of smell, they’ll be willing to try it. So, if your dog hasn’t been eating a lot lately, you could give this a try.
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Are You Looking For Something For Your Puppy Instead? Check Out The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Grain Free Chicken Recipe
Our featured product is strictly for adult dogs. So, if you have puppies, you could try out this meal.
It is grain-free like our featured product. But unlike our featured product, it is chicken recipe. Also, it is more affordable than our feature product.
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Quick Comparison Table
| Featured | Different First Ingredient | Canned Variety | Puppy Variety | |
| Product |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe
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|
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Chicken Recipe
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Beef And Chicken Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Grain Free Chicken Recipe
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
| Ingredients | Deboned salmon, pea protein, peas, chicken meal, menhaden fish meal, natural flavors, dried tomato pomace, tapioca starch, chicken Fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols) | Deboned chicken, pea protein, chicken meal, natural flavors, menhaden fish meal, dried tomato pomace, tapioca starch, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). | Chicken, chicken liver, chicken broth, liver, potassium chloride, salt, flaxseed, potatoes. | Deboned chicken, tapioca starch, chicken meal, peas, pea protein, pea starch, menhaden fish meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried egg product, flaxseed, DHA. |
| Kibble / Canned | Kibble | Kibble | Canned | Kibble |
| Sizes Available | 4.5-pound bag, 11-pound bag and 24-pound bag. | 4.5-pound bag, 11-pound bag and 24-pound bag. | 12.5 ounces, case of 12. | 4.5-pound bag, 11-pound bag and 24-pound bag. |
| Best For | All kinds of adult dog breeds that are not into poultry and beef. | All kinds of adult dog breeds that are not into seafood or salmon specifically. | All adult dog breeds, especially those who are losing their appetites or have digestion problems. | All kinds of puppy breeds. |
What Customers Are Saying About The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe
A lot of dog parents and their dogs happen to really like the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food.
A number of them have commented on the positive effects that this food apparently has on their dogs’ skin and coat.
Some others have said that their dogs really enjoy the salmon recipe and have been eating a lot of it. There are also those that are on-board this train because it is grain-free.
More so, if the feedback from customers is anything to go by, picky eaters usually do not have issues with this food.
However, the price seems to be a bit of a controversy. While a lot of people say this food is affordable and the price hard to beat, a few others wish it was a bit more affordable.
Our Verdict
In our opinion, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dry Dog Food Salmon Recipe is a really impressive dog food.
We like that it contains majorly animal-based protein and the meat sources were well stated. The fact that it doesn’t use anything artificial is something else we can really get behind.
Granted, this food won’t be perfect for every dog based on allergies, health status, and just personal preference.
However, if you’ve checked with your dog’s vet and it is OK for them to have salmon, you could go for this.
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