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While buying dog food, some people will focus on the ingredients, other nutritional value, and some look for the most affordable. At the end of the day, everyone goes home satisfied as every pet food brand targets its consumers using a different angle. Just like when going over Royal Canin Vs Blue Buffalo dog meal, you’ll notice several differences between them.
Both providers claim that they create diets that support the health and nutritional needs of your pet, for sure. But after an in-depth crosscheck, you will come to find one or two contested theories. Thus, becoming quite tricky to choose the one to consider.
You may also interest: Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness
Luckily, this article will be discussing all the vital info you ought to consider while buying food for your furry friends.
We duly hope you will find the differences you’re looking for to make your buying decision.
Introducing Royal Canin and Blue Buffalo Companies
While comparing Royal Canin Vs Blue Buffalo, or any other brands for that matter, sometimes it’s good to look at their histories. Even if it’s not crucial, it can help you understand the depths a provider has gone to satisfy your pet’s needs.
Royal Canin
For a model, the Royal Canin Pet food company is often focused on maintaining your dog’s health with precise and effective nutrition. The brand began in 1968 through the efforts of Jean Cathary, a veterinarian. At the time, the French-born introduced the Yellow Soup for dogs after coming to believe that most animals he treated were affected by the consumed food.
Although they have undergone several different holders, the Royal Canin has still managed to observe its core goal. As of now, the brand is under the ownership of Mars Incorporated, an American global provider of animal care services. But since they have multiple plants around the world, we can’t, therefore, say all their products are only made in the USA.
Blue Buffalo
As for the Blue Buffalo, the company started in August 2002 through the efforts of Bill Bishop and his family. Following the tragedy that caught their darling Airdale, they decided to create diets using only the finest healthy ingredients, from natural sources. The group even went ahead and hired top veterinarians and highest-PhD animal nutritionists to help ensure they offer only what your pet needs.
For around 16 years, Blue remained family-owned, but in 2018, General Mills acquired it to expand its operations. The acquisition was not a bad idea at all as in the year that followed, the company registered an 11% growth in sales.
Comparing the Royal Canin vs Blue Buffalo Dog Food
Ingredients Use
While buying food for your dog, the first thing you should check is the ingredients label. Even if the particular meal has been recommended by your vet, the contained components will prepare you for the benefits to expect.
With our two providers, their choice of ingredients does differ at a very significant scale. As for the Royal Canin, the brand largely use chicken by-product meals as the source of protein and grains for the carbs.
Of course, the majority of consumers take the two as inferior components in dog food, but that’s not true. A poultry by-product meal is high in nutrients as it usually comprises rendered parts, including liver, heart, bones, and undeveloped eggs.
As for the Blue Buffalo, every of their dog food line features real meat as the main source of protein and tubers for starch. Also, the brand does rely on product meals in [almost] all of their recipes. Hence, their recipes have higher protein and fiber content.
Nutritional Value
This is a measure of the essential nutrients contained in a certain dog food formula. Also called guaranteed analysis, its purpose is to help the consumer know the ratio of the vital nutrients to expect.
While looking at Royal Canin vs Blue Buffalo, it’s quite hard to state the guaranteed analysis of each as it varies. The two brands have a wide range of dog food formulas, each featuring different ingredients and nutrient ratios.
Even so, Blue Buffalo dog meals tend to have a higher content of protein and fiber than its counterpart. This is so due to the use of both real meat and product meals, plus the tubers, which contain more fiber than grains.
Product Safety: Royal Canin and Blue Buffalo Recall History
Technically, product recalls are not something new. It’s a part of manufacturing processes in every industry, including electronics, motor industries, and then food. Of course, it comes when there have been some issues, but it helps show the standard and accountability of a brand.
With our two companies, Royal Canin has bettered the Blue Buffalo due to their fewer recalls. Their first was in February 2006 when the FDA issued the recall due to excess Vitamin D3 in multiple Royal Canin Veterinary Diets.
A year later, in 2007, the brand was amongst those affected by the wide recall due to melamine contamination. The recall came in two phases, whereby the first one included the specialty Veterinary Diet and the Sensible Choice dog food line. For the second spell, only the latter was affected, but still, the brand recalled the affected batch.
From the recent Blue Buffalo review, we saw that the company has issued around five recalls, with the majority being voluntary. The first one was the 2007 melamine contamination, which the FDA had issued to several pet food brands.
In 2010, the company now issued a voluntary recall after they noted several recipes had exceeded the required levels of Vitamin D. The dog food formulas that were involved were the Blue Wilderness Chicken, Basics Salmon, and Life
Protection Large Breed Adult Chicken.
In 2015, while conducting routine testing, the Blue team came to notice part of Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chews Bones had salmonella contamination. Again, the company called up their consumers and requested them to refrain from giving to their pets. Although no fatalities were ever reported, the swift response surely helped reduce potential risks of diarrhea and skin disease.
Royal Canin vs Blue Buffalo Comparison Table
| Facts | Royal Canin | Blue Buffalo |
| Launch date | 1968 | 2002 |
| First Ingredient | Chicken By-Product Meal | Real Meat |
| Dry Dog Food | 88 Formulas | 98 Formulas |
| Wet Dog Food | 46 Formulas | 101 Formulas |
| Dog Treats | No | 49 Formulas |
| Life Stage Formulas | Four [Puppy, All Life stages, Adult & Senior] |
Three [Puppy, Adult & Senior] |
| Price Per Pound [Kibble] | Average $3.62 | Average $2.75 |
| Price Per Pound [Kibble] | Average $3.62 | Average $2.75 |
| Price Per Pound [Canned] | Average $6.50 | Average $4.30 |
As for the question about the pricing, we could come up with an exact figure since both brands have various dog food lines. Therefore, included in the table is an average cost from a few products that have closer price tags.
For a more definitive approach, let’s look at six recipes from both Royal Canin and Blue Buffalo Company. Then, collate the values we have highlighted so that you can decide on which fits best for the dog’s current needs.
Royal Canin Health Nutrition Medium Breed Adult Dry Dog food
Simple but high performance, this recipe serves Golden Retrievers and other medium breed dogs aged 1-7 years old. It contains no extras as it’s mainly to meet the daily nutrition needs of your canine.
The dog food has chicken by-product meal as the source of protein, and there’s starch to boost help energy levels.
Pros
- It’s well-balanced, with excellent levels of proteins, carbs, fiber, and vitamins
- Includes natural omega -3 & -6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat
- It’s highly palatable [chicken fat] and easy to digest
- Can help reduce constipation with the contained Psyllium husk
- Has Vitamins A, D, and potassium to support strong bones and teeth
- The kibble contains natural sweeteners and preservatives from sources like rosemary, mixed tocopherols, and citric acid.
Cons
- Unfit for a dog with sensitivity to wheat or corn
- It’s quite expensive
Royal Canin Health Nutrition Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
This diet aims on satisfying the playful nature of your small breed dog. It has high energy levels from the contained grains, including corn, rice, and wheat. The dog food even has L-carnitine, which usually helps improve the athletic performance of both humans and animals.
On top of that, it has fish oil to provide the essential omega fatty acids and leave your Chihuahua or beagle with an admirable clean coat.
Pros
- Rich in starch for energy
- Has excellent levels of proteins from chicken by-product meal
- Uses natural sources to sweeten and maintain freshness
- Features fatty acids, like EPA & DHA, to support healthy skin and coat
- Comes in small, palatable kibble for miniature jaws
- Includes vitamins A, D, and Manganese to keep your dog strong
Cons
- Not recommend for a dog with gluten intolerance
Royal Canine Health Nutrition large Maxi Dog Food
This t is primarily formulated for large breed dogs that weigh at least 56 pounds. It has a chicken by-product meal as the first ingredient and the main source of protein.
The dog food does have an excellent ratio of starch from sources like brown rice, and minerals like glucosamine and chondroitin. It aims on supporting the active lifestyle of your pooch. Thus, it can be a better choice for your working German Shepherd or Siberian Husky.
Pros:
- It comprises 24% protein to enhance muscle development
- Rich in carbs to boost high energy levels
- Contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin to support healthy bones and joints
- Maintains freshness with natural sources like citric acid, and rosemary extract
- Has excellent levels of fiber to promote a healthy digestive tract
- The kibbles include essential fatty acids to boost healthy skin and shiny coat
Cons:
- The large-sized kibble are unfit for small dogs
- Unfit for a dog with sensitivity to gluten
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Chicken Adult Dry Dog Food
The dry kibbe can surely make a great company if the difference you’re expecting is on growth or muscle development. It consists of about 34% protein content, which comes from a real deboned chicken, chicken meal, menhaden fish meal, amongst others.
The dry dog food is also high on digestible starch from sources like peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. So, it gets to satisfy your famished dog while at the same time supporting his weak digestive tract.
The nutrition uses only natural flavors and preservatives like parsley, rosemary, and mixed tocopherols. Hence, it’s hard to trigger stomach disorders and other common allergic reactions.
Pros
- It features a real deboned chicken. Hence, savory and easy to digest
- Has high protein content to enhance overall growth and muscle development
- Contains highly digestible, healthy carbs
- Includes the exclusive LifeSource Bits to support immune system health
- Rich in essential fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat
- Has glucosamine to support bone and joints health
- The kibble vitamins A, D, and Manganese supplement to help keep your dog strong.
Cons
- It can easily cause obesity if uncontrolled
- Some owners complained of smelly gas
Blue Buffalo Basic Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Potato Recipe
The Blue diet can be a great choice for your dog with sensitivity to grains and gluten. It features a real turkey as the first ingredient and the main source of protein. While peas, potatoes, and pumpkin provide starch for energy.
In this diet, there is also omega -3 and -6 fatty acids from the contained canola and fish oil. Thus, leaving your pooch with healthy skin and a clean shiny coat to envy.
Pros
- It’s rich in protein to promote muscle growth and tissue repair
- Includes highly digestible starch from sources like potatoes, peas, and pumpkin
- Rich in hardworking antioxidants from natural sources like blueberries and cranberries
- Features the exclusive Lifesource Bits to support a robust immune system
- It contains no grains or gluten
- Free of artificial flavors and preservatives
- Has small size kibble. Therefore, easy to pick from the bowl
- The dry dog food is fit for any adult dog. Hence, an excellent choice for your home multiple dog breeds.
Cons
- None we can say at the moment
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken &Rice Adult Dog Recipe
Overall, this diet is the number #1 bestseller from our list, with over 5000 five stars on only Amazon. The dog food features real chicken as the main source of protein, but there are other components like Chicken meal and pea protein.
Just as its name suggests, this diet focuses on promoting a healthy immune system of your furry companion. Hence, the reason it has multiple sources of antioxidants, including carrots, cranberries, blueberries, and parsley.
Still, the dog kibble has the exclusive LifeSource BITS, which usually consists of a precise blend of vitamins, minerals, and also antioxidants. Thus, ensuring your dog’s overall health is at par.
Pros
- It ‘s a real deboned chicken as the first ingredient. Hence, highly delicious and rich in protein.
- Rich in quality natural antioxidants to support immune system health
- Has the exclusive Lifesource Bits to promote the overall health
- Includes essential fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a clean, glamorous coat.
- Features no corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives or flavors. Thus, an excellent pick for your dog with a sensitive stomach.
- Has Vitamin A, D, calcium, and phosphorous supplements to promote strong teeth and bones
- The dog kibble has Glucosamine to support joint health and mobility.
Cons:
- Contains rice, which is a controversial ingredient due to arsenic content
FAQ
What’s The Healthiest Dog Food On The Market?
Generally, it will be a plain lie if we can say Food A is the healthiest dog food available. Most brands don’t do the whole production themselves and those who do, they still source ingredients from the farmers.
In simple words, what we have in the market is a better choice of nutrition for your dog. And both Royal Canin and Blue Buffalo are healthy diets but in different ways.
What Dog Food Do Vets Recommend Most?
Sadly, some vets are biased in their opinions and they will choose what they feel is best for them. For a model, Royal Canin Health Nutrition Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food is one of the recommended diets. When you come to consumer votes, however, you’ll now notice Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Chicken Adult Dry Dog Food is the winner.
So, for sure, this one depends on your instincts and what brings out the difference you were expecting to see.
Is Blue Buffalo A Good Dog Food?
Besides the various controversies and lawsuits, Blue is a spectacular brand. If not all, most of the diets from the provider features only what your dog needs, plus they are budget-friendly.
Final Verdict
As we conclude, choosing the right diet for your dog is surely crucial. It not only helps boost your dog’s health but also helps prevent the risk of future complications.
While going over Royal Canin vs Blue Buffalo, you probably have noticed the latter uses the main ingredients while its counterpart relies on by-products. Also, Blue products are quite higher on protein and fiber content, plus they’re less expensive.
On the other hand, both brands have a wide customer base and most of their products have a similar crude fat ratio.
So, if the difference you are looking for is on mineral content, you certainly now know Royal Canin is the best. And if your focus is on the affordability and high protein ratio, then the Blue Buffalo is your brand.
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