Choosing dog food can sometimes be confusing…
There are just so many brands and types of foods available…
On top of that, few of us are equipped to understand pet food labels and what ingredients are safest or most suitable for our dogs…
Now, 2 extremely popular choices are Kirkland dog food and Blue Buffalo…
So in this Kirkland dog food vs Blue Buffalo comparison, we’re going to pit these too dog foods up against each other and see how they compare…
In the end, you’ll have a good understanding of what each of these popular brands have to offer…
And you should have all the information you need to determine if either of them will be right for you…
Let’s get started!
Kirkland Dog Food Vs Blue Buffalo – A Quick Summary…
Several factors need consideration when comparing Kirkland dog food and Blue Buffalo. Kirkland uses traditional ingredients but is cheaper if bought at Costco. It can be difficult to find and more expensive if bought elsewhere. Blue Buffalo uses novel ingredients and is easier to source but is more expensive. Both offer adequate nutrition for your dog…
Below, I’ll give you more detailed information regarding both of these popular dog food brands…
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What Is The Difference Between Kirkland And Blue Buffalo?
Blue Buffalo and Kirkland dog food have some significant differences. These include:
- The ingredients used to manufacture the Kirkland brand food and Blue Buffalo.
- The nutrients in the two foods.
- The availability of the brands.
- The cost of each of the foods.
- Product safety indicated by the number of recalls of each food brand.
Kirkland is a relatively high-quality food for your dog that costs a fraction of the price of Blue Buffalo and can be a good option for dogs with no health issues…
Blue Buffalo food is also fairly high-quality and offers novel diets for dogs with allergies and options for dogs with specific health conditions.
What Ingredients Are In Kirkland And Blue Buffalo Foods?
Kirkland has twelve dry kibble recipes and one wet food recipe available. They stick to traditional protein sources such as beef, chicken, fish, and turkey…
They use high-quality carbohydrates, such as brown rice, barley, and sweet potato. Grain-free options can be purchased for sensitive dogs…
Blue Buffalo has ninety-three kibble recipes and ninety-four wet food recipes on offer…
They utilize novel animal proteins, which are useful for hyper-allergic dogs that cannot tolerate traditional protein sources. Some examples are duck, lamb, salmon, bison, halibut, and quail…
All recipes in the Blue buffalo range are soy, corn, and wheat free. These ingredients are identified as significant allergens and the major dietary contributors to gastrointestinal problems in dogs…
Blue Buffalo is excellent for dogs with gastrointestinal challenges…
Blue Buffalo uses high-quality carbohydrates that are easy to digest, such as brown rice, barley, oats, vegetables, and fruit…
An identifying feature of all Blue Buffalo kibble is the presence of darker pieces known as Life Source Bits. These kibble bits are filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
What Is The Nutrient Profile Of Kirkland And Blue Buffalo?
Protein is the critical nutrient needed by dogs for healthy growth and metabolism. It is vital to consider the amount of protein in foods when considering a diet for your dog…
Dogs need twenty-two amino acids to maintain cell functioning…
Blue Buffalo kibble has a higher protein content (29.5%) compared to the Kirkland signature kibble, which is 26 to 27.5% depending on the flavor chosen. The fish option has a higher protein content than the chicken…
Blue Buffalo and Kirkland Signature kibble both contain 15.3% fat. This is a good content in the diet, providing the fats necessary for the maintenance of the neurological system and skin health…
Blue Buffalo wet food has 40% protein and 26.2% fat which is less than Kirkland wet food, which has 44.4% protein and 27.8% fat…
Kirkland and Blue buffalo have good protein and fat content in their wet and dry diets, making them good food choices for your dog. The differences are not big enough to significantly impact your dog’s health.
How Available Are Kirkland Dog Food And Blue Buffalo?
Kirkland dog food is manufactured for Costco by Diamond Petfoods, which has been in existence in Missouri for decades. It became available throughout the country after the partnership with Costco was formed…
If you have a Costco near you, there will be no problem accessing Kirkland dog food. You may struggle to find Kirkland food if you are unfortunate enough to live in an area with no Costco store, but there are places it can be purchased online…
Blue Buffalo is available throughout the United States in pet shops and animal feed stores.
What Is the Cost Of Kirkland And Blue Buffalo?
**Prices are subject to change**
The costs vary according to region. Kirkland Signature diet costs $50.99 for a 35-pound bag of kibble at Costco online. Blue buffalo costs $64.98 for a 24-pound pack bought online…
Kirkland, therefore, costs $1.46 per pound compared to $2.70 per pound for Blue Buffalo kibble. Blue Buffalo is almost twice the price of Kirkland dog food. A similar price difference is seen in the wet food products.
How Safe Are Kirkland And Blue Buffalo Dog Foods?
One of the accepted ways to judge the safety is to look at how many product recalls the pet food company has had. This indicates how easily the food is contaminated with toxins or inappropriate levels of ingredients…
Kirkland has had no recalls that we could find listed anywhere. Blue Buffalo has had numerous recalls.
- Salmonella 25th November 2015
- Propylene Glycol contamination 6th November 2015
- Mold contamination 31st May 2016
- Beef thyroid hormone 18th March 2017
- Aluminum contamination 14th February 2017
- A problem with the seal of the foil packages 3rd March 2017
- Toxic vitamin D levels 8th October 2010
- Melamine contamination 19th April 2017
- Melamine contamination 26th April 2017
These recalls may indicate that Kirkland is more safely manufactured than Blue Buffalo.
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Blue Buffalo vs Kirkland Dog Food – Final thoughts…
Kirkland dog food and Blue Buffalo have similar nutrient profiles, with both providing good nutrition for dogs…
Blue Buffalo may be good for dogs that need novel diets, but Kirkland does have some diets, such as their fish range which could also meet the needs of hyperallergic dogs…
In addition to that, Kirkland has a better safety rating and is almost half the price of Blue Buffalo…
Overall though, both foods offer adequate nutrition for your dog, but Kirkland dog food can be the more cost-effective option when found at the right price…
Now if you’re looking for the absolute best diet for your dog, I highly recommend you take a look at my list of the top 8 best dog food brands by clicking here!