In today’s article, we’ll be looking at another one of Blue Buffalo’s creations; the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food.
If you do not already know, Blue Buffalo is a pretty popular pet food brand with a number of different lines of cat and dog food. Blue Buffalo could probably best be described as that average brand; you know, the price is within that average range and the ingredients used could not exactly be called premium.
That said, Blue Buffalo’s line of dog foods come in different categories and these categories differ according to type, life stage of dogs, the ingredients used in the meals and even special diets.
The particular meal we are reviewing in this article is a canned food as the name implies. And to properly understand whatever it is you’ll be seeing in this review, we recommend that you check out this exhaustive article on Canned Dog Foods.
The idea of this article is to point out the ingredients used in this meal and explain the roles they play in the meal. Be sure to read through till the very end. Now, let’s get on with it.
Table of Contents
Who Is The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food?
The thing about Blue Buffalo dog foods and maybe even all kinds of dog foods is that you can immediately tell who the food is from the name of the food. And for this particular Rocky Mountain Recipe, we can see that it is specifically for senior dogs.
However, if your dog isn’t a senior yet, there’s no need to run away. Towards the end of the article, we make recommendations for dogs in other life stages; you might want to check it out.
From the name of the meal, we can also ascertain that this is a high protein diet. How? The entire idea of the wilderness line of dog foods is high-protein. So, that’s how we know.
There is also the thing about this meal being grain-free. So, you already know to be sure that your dog is into all of that or your veterinarian says it is OK before you serve your dog this.
However, one thing that you might not be able to figure out from the name of the food is that this food is designed for every senior dog breed. And that’s basically it.
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Ingredients Of Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Beef
It is no news that beef is really high in protein and we like that it is the first ingredient we see on the list. Now, the question is, why beef? Well actually, it could be any animal-based protein and we’d still be OK. But before we go into why animal-based protein is better, let’s explain the significance of beef coming first.
You see, dog food manufacturers arrange the ingredients used in descending order of how much is used. That is, the first ingredient you see is what was used the most and the last is what was used the less.
So, back to why we like the idea of beef (or basically another animal-based protein) appearing first. Plant protein usually does not contain all the amino acids that a dog needs but animal-based protein does.
So, you’ll really want to be wary of dog foods that have plant protein as their primary protein source. If you eventually go for that kind of food, be sure that it is augmented by a number of animal-based protein sources.
That said, there is something you need to know about animal-based protein. Meat, especially beef, has a really high water content. Like, we are looking at between 60% and 70%.
So, the amount of meat used is usually not equal to the amount of protein the eater will get from the meal. As a result, even if the meal you pick has animal-protein as its primary source, you’ll still want for there to be other animal-based sources so that your dog gets all the protein he needs from his meal.
Beef Broth
You’ll only find beef broth (or any kind of broth really) in wet food. The idea of broth is to add some palatability to the food.
Adding broth to dog food is actually like killing two birds with one stone because not only does it add palatability to the meal, it also brings in the moisture. As a result, some manufacturers decide to skip out on adding water after adding the broth.
Turkey
Turkey is another meat which means that it is an impressive source of protein. It also means that it has a lot of water content but seeing as there is already beef in this meal, that’s fine.
Now, in addition to augmenting the beef as a protein source, turkey also contains phosphorus. Like calcium, phosphorus is necessary for teeth and bone formation and health generally. And yes, senior dogs really need their bone and teeth maintained seeing as they are getting old and all.
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Lamb
Lamb is not as common in dog foods as other kinds of meat but it is meat and so is an impressive source of protein.
In addition to the protein it offers, lamb is also rich in certain essential nutrients like minerals and vitamins which could help with your dog’s skin and coat. These vitamins and minerals could also help to develop muscles in puppies and maintain muscle health in seniors.
Potatoes
While this meal is grain-free, it isn’t carb-free. And what this means is that there are a number of other carb sources in here. Potatoes happen to be pretty affordable and this is one of the reasons you’ll find it in a lot of different grain-free foods.
That said, some people are skeptical about potatoes being in dog food because it offers the complex kind of carbohydrates which might be kinda difficult for dogs to digest. However, provided they are not the primary ingredient and are added in moderate quantities, your dog should be fine.
In addition to being a good source of carbohydrates, potatoes also provide a healthy amount of potassium. And dogs need potassium to help regulate their blood pressure and also maintain cardiovascular health and prevent any such related disease. Both of which senior dogs could really benefit from.
Pea Protein
Pea protein is basically what it says it is, protein gotten from peas; that is, it is the byproduct of peas. The basic idea of pea protein is to boost the protein content of dog foods seeing as it isn’t ‘complete’ enough to be a standalone.
However, some people are not comfortable with pea protein because apparently, in addition to containing protein, it also contains insoluble fat. And we already know that insoluble fat isn’t very good seeing as it isn’t easily digested.
Carrageenan
If you’ve read a number of our product reviews, you’d know what our stance on carrageenan is. But is this is your first, you ought to know that we are not ecstatic about carrageenan. In fact, we do not understand why Blue Buffalo decided to add carrageenan to this meal.
Now let’s backtrack. Carrageenan is added to food as a thickener; you know, to ensure that the soup is not to runny and your dog does not require a spoon to eat with. However, carrageenan does not have any nutritional value.
Honestly, that would have been fine if that was all with carrageenan. However, this ingredient comes with some negative side effects including certain gastro-intestinal issues in both dogs and humans. There are a number of other thickeners that are certainly safer.
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Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are a really dense protein source. That is, in a small serving, flaxseeds pack a whole lot of protein. However, you’ll have to bear in mind that this is plant protein and so does not contain all the amino acids a dog needs. So, don’t go picking a flaxseed based meal, if that exists.
In addition to protein, flaxseeds also contain a healthy amount of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. And the good thing about having flaxseeds in your dog’s meal is that while dog’s need these two fatty acids, they cannot produce them themselves. So, the help is definitely appreciated.
Also, flaxseeds contain a healthy amount of fiber which helps with digestion and proper bowel movement.
Cassia Gum
When we talked about better additives, this is one of the additives we had in mind. Like carrageenan, cassia gum is put in food basically as an additive without having any nutritional value. However, unlike carrageenan, cassia gum doesn’t have any serious negative effects.
Guar Gum
Of all the thickeners that we have mentioned, this is probably the best additive. We say this because, in addition to being a thickener, guar gum actually contains a decent amount of dietary fiber and certain other elements that could improve tolerance to glucose. The fact that guar gum also does not have any serious negative effects is another plus.
Potassium Chloride
While potassium can actually be gotten from different sources including meats, potassium chloride is added as that additional source of potassium. Potassium is necessary in dog food because it helps with maintaining muscle and nerve function and could also help with body fluid balance.
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Pros Of The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
i. First off, we like that this meal contains a healthy amount of protein and the animal-based kind for that matter. It shows that the eater will be getting a decent amount of protein from this meal.
ii. We also like the fact that Blue Buffalo decided not to use any artificial ingredients or additives with this one. An all-natural ingredient diet is definitely healthy.
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Cons Of The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
i. Our issue with this particular meal and actually a good number of other Blue Buffalo wet dog foods is the use of carrageenan. It has too many negative effects and there are better alternatives.
Alternative Options To Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
If Your Dog Is Still A Pup, You Could Try Getting Them The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Puppy Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
From the name of this product, it is easy to assume that it contains the same ingredients as our featured product. If you did assume that, you’d be correct. However, the ingredients are not used in the same quantities in both meals. Plus, this one has smaller chunks that can be easily chewed by puppies.
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If, On The Other Hand, Your Dog Is An Adult, You Could Try Out The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Nothing much to say about this; same ingredients as our featured products but used in different quantities. Plus, this one is specially formulated for adult dogs.
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Finally, If You Are In The Market For Food With More Protein Content, You Could Check Out The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Denali Dinner With Wild Salmon, Venison & Halibut Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
From the name of this product, it isn’t difficult to see that this meal has a high protein content. There are about 6 different kinds of meat in this meal (your dog might appreciate the variety) and a number of other plant protein sources.
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Quick Comparison Table
| Featured | Puppy Food Option | Adult Food Option | More Protein Content | |
| Product |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Puppy Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Adult Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Denali Dinner With Wild Salmon, Venison & Halibut Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it on Amazon!
|
| Ingredients | Beef, beef broth, turkey, lamb, potatoes, pea protein, pea fiber, carrageenan, flaxseed, cassia gum, guar gum, potassium chloride. | Beef, beef broth, turkey, beef liver, potatoes, pea flour, lamb, fish oil, dicalcium phosphate, flaxseed, carrageenan, cassia gum. | Beef, turkey, beef broth, lamb, potatoes, pea protein, flaxseed, carrageenan, cassia gum, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt. | Chicken, chicken broth, fish broth, chicken liver, turkey, wild salmon, venison, halibut, pea flour, potato protein, guar gum. |
| Kibble / Canned | Canned | Canned | Canned | Canned |
| Sizes Available | 12.5 ounces, case of 12. | 12.5 ounces, case of 12. | 12.5 ounces, case of 12. | 12.5 ounces, case of 12. |
| Best For | All kinds of senior dog breeds. | All kinds of puppy dog breeds. | All kinds of adult dog breeds. | All kinds of adult dog breeds. |
What Customers Are Saying About The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
We’ve seen a lot of good feedback from dog parents whose dogs have eaten this meal. One customer actually mentioned that they switched their dog to this from a dry food and they saw considerable improvements in the skin and coat health.
A number of others have mentioned that for the price that this meal goes for, it is actually pretty decent.
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Our Verdict
In our opinion, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Senior Grain-Free Canned Dog Food is pretty decent. There is a decent amount of animal-based protein and plant protein as augmentation.
As for the price, this is really affordable especially considering the fact that it comes in a pack of 12. However, at the end of the day, the decision is yours. We do advise that whatever decision you come to as regards what meal to buy be something that your dog’s vet approves of.
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