Canidae vs Blue Buffalo Dog Food [Side-By-Side]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Did you know that there’s a LOT more to choosing the best dog food for your furry friend than just picking up a bag of kibble at the grocery store?

In fact, there’s so much more that it can be really overwhelming!

That is why we have created a series of articles that compares popular dog food brands, and in today’s post, let’s dive deeper into Canidae vs Blue Buffalo dog food.

6 important factors will be looked into, placing the two companies side by side so that you can make an informed decision.

Let’s jump right in!

Overview: Canidae vs Blue Buffalo Dog Food

If you’re looking for high-quality, all-natural dog food that’s free of chemicals and additives, Canidae and Blue Buffalo are two great options.

But which one is right for your pup?

We’ve done the research so you don’t have to!

First things first: both brands are made in the USA, with no artificial preservatives or flavors—and they’re not even tested on animals!

Both brands have top-notch customer service teams that will be happy to answer any questions you may have about their products or how to feed them properly.

You can also visit their websites for more information about their ingredients and nutritional content.

The sections below will focus on the following factors:

• Brand Reputation
• Ingredients
• Key Nutrients
• Range of formulas
• Product Safety and Recall
• Price

1. Brand Reputation

Canidae

Founded by John Gordon and Scott Whipple in the middle of the 1990s, Canidae is a modest premium dog food company.

The business has received recognition for its dedication to producing high-quality, secure products that are devoid of chemicals and preservatives.

The ingredients they use show the company’s dedication to excellence.

Whenever possible, they use locally produced meats and produce, and the meat they use is free of hormones and antibiotics.

This indicates that Canidae dog food products are free of potentially dangerous compounds to the health of your dog.

They have also contributed greatly to the community, having won the Hunger Fighter of the Year award from the San Antonio Food Bank in 2021.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has made a name for itself as one of the top dog food producers since it was founded in 2003.

Their main objective is to provide high-quality dog foods using only natural ingredients without the addition of artificial colors or preservatives.

They also offer a selection of treats and other products for your dog’s well-being and wellness.

The organization has received numerous honors throughout the years, most recently the Dog Food Advisor’s Award for Best Dry Dog Food Brand, Best Dog Food with Grain, and Best Senior Dog Food in 2022, which reflects the industry’s trust in them.

2. Ingredients

In this comparison of Canidae and Blue Buffalo dog food, we will focus on the following dry food product from each company:

• Canidae PURE Dry Dog Food: Salmon and Barley Recipe with Wholesome Grains
• Blue Buffalo BLUE Life Protection Formula

Canidae

The utilization of pure, fresh ingredients is something that CANIDAE proudly promotes.

All CANIDAE dishes begin with fresh produce and real meat or seafood.

They don’t utilize chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy, and only employ premium ingredients.

This means that there are no unnecessary grains and fillers that your dog doesn’t need.

Blue Buffalo

Real meat is the first ingredient in the BLUE Life Protection Formula, the foundation of all Blue Buffalo dog food.

Fruit, homegrown veggies, and nutritious grains are also included, all of which are beneficial to the growth and health of your puppy.

This recipe only employs the finest natural foods and is complemented with vitamins, minerals, and other substances like DHA for cognitive development.

3. Key Nutrients

AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials) laws state that every pet food label must carry a guaranteed analysis of the nutrients.

To ensure that a product is full and balanced for dogs, it has tight standards.

This means that complete and balanced diets must provide the bare minimum of each nutrient required for canines, as stated in the “guaranteed analysis.”

Minimum crude protein and crude fat percentages, as well as maximum crude fiber and moisture percentages, must all be verified by the analysis.

The tables below will show you the data from the two brands.

Take note: When comparing dog food nutrients percentages, you should remove the amount of moisture to make it a more even comparison.

This is also referred to as calculating its dry matter basis (use this calculator).

This approach is a more accurate way to understand the true nutrient contents of dog food, instead of just relying on the number on the label (which is an ‘as-fed’ basis).

3.1 Canidae vs Blue Buffalo dog food nutrients comparison

Crude Protein

A dog’s diet must have a sufficient amount of protein to be considered healthy and balanced.

Protein is used by the body for a number of processes, including the growth and upkeep of muscles and other tissues.

It is also critical for the development of new muscle, skin, and hair cells.

Enzymes and hormones, two vital physiological components, are also produced with protein.

Finally, it helps maintain a strong immune system and produces energy similarly to carbs.

The other half of the 22 amino acids needed to build proteins must be eaten by dogs as they can only synthesize half of them.

AAFCO recommends that the daily requirements for dog diets should contain at least 22% DM (dry matter) for growth and 18% DM for maintenance.

In the table above, the two brands match up very closely and provides more than the minimum daily requirement.

Crude Fat

Dogs need fats and oils in a balanced diet.

A diet with between ten and fifteen percent fat (a minimum of five percent) is ideal for typical, healthy adult canines.

Fat in the diet is only a problem when dogs are allowed to consume excessive amounts of calories and fat (from additional snacks and table scraps, for example), without getting enough exercise to make up for it.

Both brands have a good amount of essential fats in their kibbles to satisfy your dog’s daily requirements.

Crude Fiber

By increasing mass and absorbing additional water, fiber helps to create solid, well-formed stools and encourages regular bowel motions.

Furthermore, fiber helps maintain a healthy intestinal pH balance, which inhibits the growth of dangerous bacteria in your dog’s digestive system.

Additionally, it enhances the health of their digestive system and makes them feel satisfied, which may curb their desire and prevent overeating.

The amount of fiber in each brand is similar and makes the products well-balanced for your dog’s needs.

4. Range of formulas

If a business gives me more options than another brand of dog food, I’ll probably choose that one since I can buy everything at once.

The good news here is that both businesses have had success offering a wide range of dog food items, including both dry and wet dog food.

Additionally, there are formulae available that are tailored to particular needs, such as alternatives that are grain-free, nutritionally sensitive, and weight control.

Here are some of their best-selling items:

5. Product Safety and Recall

Canidae

There has been one recall in the company’s history, which took place in 2012.

This was due to the manufacturer of their products at that time, Diamond Pet Foods, discovering the presence of Salmonella in their production facility.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has had a few recalls over the last decade or so, with the most recent one being in 2017.

Due to the possibility of high levels of naturally occurring beef thyroid hormones in one production lot of BLUE Wilderness® Rocky Mountain RecipeTM Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs, Blue Buffalo Company voluntarily recalled the product.

Although the Blue Buffalo Customer Care Resource Team did not receive any reports of dogs exhibiting these symptoms as a result of consuming this product, the FDA informed Blue Buffalo of a single consumer who reported symptoms in one dog, which has since recovered completely.

Blue Buffalo launched an investigation right away, and after consulting with the FDA, the company decided it would be prudent to recall the single production lot in question.

6. Price

When selecting dog food, the cost may play a significant role, especially if you have several dogs to feed and a tight budget.

It’s also no secret that costs can differ significantly between brands and product types, so if you want to save money it’s crucial to thoroughly weigh the costs associated with a purchase before proceeding.

The cost per pound for the choices covered in this article is displayed in the table below:

In Conclusion: Canidae vs Blue Buffalo

Overall, dog owners who want to provide their pets with high-quality food can choose both Canidae and Blue Buffalo.

They are both reputable companies with products that ticks a lot of the boxes.

Before making your final choice, it’s crucial to take into account the aspects covered above in each recipe as each brand has unique strengths and limitations.

You really can’t go wrong with either brand in the end.

Both companies are renowned for making high-quality dog food that your pet will adore and enjoy eating.