Getting a new puppy is both an exciting and terrifying time. What’s the best food? How much does it cost? Well, you’re not alone. Pugs are brachycephalic dogs that thrive on high-quality dog food to keep them happy and healthy. So is Blue Buffalo good for Pugs?
Is Blue Buffalo Good For Pugs?
Yes, Blue Buffalo is a little pricey, but the price is well worth it. It comes with a variety of high-quality ingredients, nutrients, and added “life bits” that dramatically enhance the food’s nutritional value.
In fact, Blue Buffalo comes recommended by many dog food websites, including Stop That Dog, The Notorious Pug, and Dog Struggles.
Furthermore, all of these reviews apply specifically to smaller dogs, like Pugs. As such, there seems to be little doubt about it: Blue Buffalo is great for all dogs, but for pugs in particular.
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Be sure to read about some of the other dog food brands such as Merrick, Pedigree, and Nutro in case your Pug doesn’t the Blue brand.
So let’s take a closer look at this dog food brand to help you decide if it’s right for your furbaby.
Why Do So Many People Like Blue Buffalo for Pugs?
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Adult is popular for many reasons. It is ideal for maintenance diets and noted for its nutritional balance.
Many dog foods are particularly laden with grains. Grain is acceptable in dog food (indeed, unless otherwise specified, Blue Buffalo foods do have grains), but as has been noted by many experts, foods with too much grain can be bad for a dog’s overall health and digestive system.
That’s why it is so important that grain is in dog food, but not too much grain.
The first five ingredients in Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Adult are Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, and barley.
Obviously, some of those ingredients are grain, but the first two are meat, indicating that the dogs are getting the nutrition that they need.
Other websites have also noted that their dog food is not a lower quality: Blue Buffalo advertises that they use human-grade deboned chicken in their ingredients.
Unlike other dog food options for small dogs, the type of food served to pugs is small, designed to be easily chewed, swallowed, and digested by Pugs. This is one of the specific accommodations that Blue makes for small dogs and Pugs.
It is also worth noting that Blue Buffalo is one of the only dog food companies that offer multiple options for dog food. In other words, if you have a dog that is a picky eater, there are plenty of types of dog food that they can eat. There are also a variety of wet and dry dog food options.
Not to mention they have great commercials, check out this commercial they created in 2017.
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Brands
Blue Buffalo offers several different recipes for both dogs and cats. Here are some of the formulas you can find on their website.
Dry Dog Food Formulas
- High-Quality Meat
- Meat Rich, High Protein
- Limited-Ingredient Diet
- Grain-Free
- Prey Feeding Perfected
- Prescription Formulas
- Support Specific Health Needs
You can even find wet dog food as well as treats for your furry four-legged friend.
Blue Buffalo Small Breed Formulas
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed
Is designed specifically for the well-being of small dogs. The Life protection formula contains a precise blend of nutrients to provide your pooch with the essential vitamins and minerals they need.
Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredients Senior Dog Food
As your dog ages, so will their diet. The Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredients dog food has fewer ingredients and is designed specifically for seniors. It’s a great alternative for senior Pugs that deal with food sensitivities.
It also contains Taurine to support hearth health, and glucosamine to keep your pups joints healthy.
Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe for Small Breeds
Blue Buffalo Wilderness with Red Meat Grain-Free dry dog food is formulated specifically for small breeds. The bit-size kibble makes it easy for small mouths to chew.
This formula is a great alternative to a raw-food diet and provides your pooch with protein from real meat such as venison, lamb, bison, and deboned beef as well as a healthy amount of vegetables and fruits.
Nutritional Content of Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed Adult
The nutritional content of Blue Buffalo’s Small Breed Adult is relatively healthy.
According to Dog Food Advisor, 29% of the overall content is protein, 17% is fat, and 46% are carbs. In addition, the 58% fat-to-protein ratio is relatively low, when compared with similar dog food brands.
Of course, the type of food is not the only type of nutritional asset in Blue Buffalo’s dog food for small dogs and pugs. They go out of their way to add a variety of nutritional benefits, including many types of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
You won’t find any artificial flavors, poultry by-products, corn, or wheat.
Excessive use of these types of food can also cause numerous health problems in pugs, such as allergies.
Blue Buffalo Picks for Small Breeds
Blue Buffalo offers many different foods for small dogs – too many to innumerate here! A quick look at Chewy.com reveals that Blue Buffalo has 179 options for small dogs. This includes a variety of dry food, wet food, dietary restrictions, food toppings, and more.
One of the more commonly sighted reasons that people liked Blue Buffalo was their massive breadth of products. Indeed, their offers are so broad that it’s almost impossible not to find something that your dog will like. There is also a wide array of packaging options and variety, so you can buy a combination of different foods. This can be ideal if you have more than one Pug!
The History of Blue Buffalo
There’s a lovely story behind the history of Blue Buffalo. It began with an Airedale pooch named Blue. Blue belonged to the Bishop family. Unfortunately, Blue developed cancer. As a result of his illness, the Bishops began to look into pet health, and particularly, Pet Food.
Finding that they didn’t find a selection of food that they liked, the Bishop family founded Blue Buffalo, a company dedicated toward the creation of a premium dog food brand that used the highest quality ingredients.
The company itself was founded in 2002. It has only grown since then.
Blue Buffalo: Other Facts & Information
Blue Buffalo may have started out as a family business, but they certainly have evolved to something much bigger. Recent information revealed that the company sells at least ten million bags of dog food on a yearly basis. They have used this money to enhance their marketing efforts, recently embarking upon a $50 million advertising campaign.
Blue Buffalo sells more than just dog food – they also sell high-quality cat food.
Blue Buffalo is also involved with many pet-related charities. According to their website, Blue Buffalo works Sierra Delta (Service Dogs for Veterans), the Canine Cancer Genome Project, and the Helen Woodward Animal Center. They also created their own Pet Cancer Awareness charity.
Is There Any Controversy with Blue Buffalo?
Despite their reputation for serving high-quality animal products, Blue Buffalo is not without its controversy.
In 2014, after tests were conducted, Blue Buffalo reluctantly admitted that some of their advertising was not accurate. They had previously said that they used no chick by-product in their meals. However, lab results revealed that was a lie, their foods did contain that product.
Interestingly enough, the tests that caught Blue Buffalo in this lie were conducted by one of their big competitors, Purina. Purine then filed a lawsuit against Blue Buffalo.
Furthermore, Blue Buffalo was one of sixteen dog food companies named by the United States Food & Drug Administration as being potentially being linked to canine heart disease.
Later it was found that the heart disease was linked to specific types of grain free foods.
In a statement, Blue said that they were working on finding out just how their food was linked to the heart condition and would make any changes accordingly.
Are There Any Important Recalls with Blue Buffalo?
Like all major dog food brands – and, indeed, most major food companies – Blue Buffalo has had its share of recalls.
The most recent ones were in March 2017. They recalled certain types of canned dog food because they contained heavy levels of beef thyroid hormones. In the previous month, a recall occurred because of contamination from aluminum.
Other recalls had happened previous to those, and all involved relatively similar reasons.
It is important to note that a recall is not necessarily the sign of a bad product. Indeed, they are relatively common throughout most food industries, and it is almost impossible to find a brand that has not had a voluntary or forced recall.
Furthermore, Blue Buffalo has not had a recall since March 2017. This speaks well of their ability to safely make their product.
At the moment, Blue Buffalo has no active recalls.
Where To Buy Blue Buffalo
Virtually anywhere. As Blue Buffalo has become more prominent and larger, its products have become more widely available. As a result, you can purchase Blue Buffalo on virtually any website that sells dog food. It is also commonly available in many Big Box and grocery stores, including Target and Giant.
Final Word On Feeding Pugs Blue Buffalo
Based on our overall research, Blue Buffalo is a good food to feed a Pug. Every dog is different and some will react differently to different types of foods.
When you make start feeding or make the switch to Blue Buffalo, make sure you monitor your dog for any changes in behavior, or health issues.
If you notice any major changes in behavior, vomiting, or diarrhea, be sure to stop feeding them immediately. You may also want to consult with your veterinarian to find the best food for Fido.
References and Further Reading
Rover – Cecily Sailer – Grain-Free Dog Food: Is It Always Better, and Which Brands Are Best?
Blue Buffalo – Why Choose Blue?
I Heart Dogs – Kristina Lotz – Breaking News: Blue Buffalo Admits To Lying About Ingredients – Here Is Why You Should Care