History Of The Four Brands

Blue Buffalo History

Blue Buffalo is a very big brand in the pet food market, and they were established back in 2003 in Connecticut by the Bishop family. The company got started thanks to a dog named Blue. The Bishop family adopted a young pup by the name of Blue, who was their loyal companion for many years until one fateful day that changed the course of their lives.Blue was diagnosed with cancer.After heroically battling the illness, Blue died, but the family never forgot their loyal pet and decided to create better dog food. They worked with veterinarians and nutrition experts to come up with natural formulas with complete and balanced nutrition.Blue Buffalo was the result. The food Bishop created was so high quality, it quickly became in demand by owners in similar situations. Word of mouth quickly spread, and in less than twenty years, the brand went from inception to becoming the top natural pet food brand in America.

Today, Blue Buffalo has several different lines of dog food and produces recipes for all life stages and special diets. You can find both dry and wet dog food with formulas that help with common health concerns, such as food allergies and weight management. Blue Buffalo also has a veterinary diet line that offers prescription food for dogs with more acute conditions and chronic illnesses.The company still uses high-quality ingredients, with no animal by-products or cheap fillers. However, they’re not always as good as other foods in their premium price range.

A Quick Look at Blue Buffalo Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan History

Purina Pro Plan is a line of specialized dog food that was developed by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.Nestlẽ Purina Petcare is a pet food company based in St. Louis, Missouri. The firm has specialized in manufacturing pet foods, treats, and meal enhancements. While the company as a whole has been around since 1894, the Purina Pro Plan line made its first appearance in 1986. Purina Pro Plan takes credit for being the first dog food brand to ever incorporate real meat as the first ingredient in their products. Another reason that attributes to this brand’s popularity entails their invention of grain-free,sports performance formulas. Purina recently changed the names of many of its Pro Plan products and organized its formulas by life stage. Its Pro Plan adult product line has 19 dry dog foods.As of 2024, Purina is the largest pet food company in the US and the second-largest worldwide.

Today, Purina Pro Plan sells many kinds of dog food with advanced nutrition for all stages of life. You can find a wide variety of specialized formulas, such as healthy digestion, hypoallergenic recipes, and high-performance food. So, if your dog has specific dietary needs, you’ll find more options with Purina Pro Plan than Blue Buffalo.Purina Pro Plan also has some prescription veterinary diets, including hydrolyzed and gastroenteric dog food. It also has a couple of supplements to further enhance your dog’s food.

A Quick Look at Purina Pro Plan Dog Food

Nutro History

The company started in 1926, when a man named John Saleen bought a dog food manufacturing company to make healthy kibble for the residents of southern California. The company was family-owned and -operated for 50 years.In 1976, The Nutro Company was bought by Mars, Incorporated, the owner of the Pedigree brand of dog foods (and the largest pet care company in the world).Not only are they known for their natural ingredients overall, but they were actually the first brand to create their own line of natural dog food and treats.Nutro touts a “Feed Clean” label for its recipes, focusing on non-GMO ingredients.

Soon after being acquired by Mars, Inc., the company opened more manufacturing plants across the United States. Their foods are still made domestically, with plants in California, Missouri, and Tennessee.Nutro enjoys a nice reputation among pet parents, mostly because they have adopted the method of educating you as a parent on the nutritional needs of your dogs.Nutro also provides you comparative literature on ingredients that highlight the quality of their dog food over other competing brands. Actually, this has become their mode of advertising as opposed to mainstream media.Throughout the many years that Nutro has served its customers, they have built a loyal fan base who swear by their products. They continue to provide pets with food that’s not only delicious but also provides complete nutrition. This makes them well-respected among their peers and beloved by pets and their owners worldwide.

A Quick Look at Nutro Dog Food

Royal Canin History

Royal Canin was founded by Jean Cathary in France in 1968,as he saw that many skin problems in dogs were caused by poor diet. He first created his first recipe, appetizingly called yellow soup.The recipe successfully alleviated pet complaints, so he registered it under the name Royal Canin. The company’s reputation continued to spread, and it soon became the most recognized pet food manufacturer in France. 

From the 1970s, the brand began to spread throughout Europe. Cathary sold the company to the Guyomarc’h Group in 1972, which was a much larger animal feed company. In 1980, Royal Canin released their first recipe for large canine pups, which served as a reference food for developing nutrition for dogs in cats within a decade.Royal Canin reached American shores in 1985, and shortly after, Guyomarc’h Group sold Royal Canin to the Paribas Group who then expanded Royal Canin into a globally recognized brand.

Royal Canin has a wide range of products for different types of pets, including puppies and kittens, as well as senior cats and dogs. In addition, their diets are formulated to support certain health conditions such as kidney disease or obesity. They also have special formulas for smaller breeds like Chihuahuas or Pomeranians.Royal Canin’s mission is to make a better world for pets by improving their health through nutrition. Royal Canin has won many awards for its top nutrition and specialized animal clinics. A huge reason why veterinary practices sell this food.

A Quick Look at Purina Pro Plan Dog Food

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Blue Buffalo vs. Purina Pro Plan vs. Blue Wilderness vs. Royal Canin: Comparison Side by Side

1.Type of Dog Foods

2.Food Ingredients

A healthy, balanced diet is a fundamental component of your pet’s life. Even though our canine companions are carnivorous, they also need plants within their diet.The necessary nutrients for the normal functioning of the dog:

• Proteins 
  

• Fats
  

• Carbohydrates
  

• Mineral substances
  

• Vitamins
  

• Water

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo only uses natural ingredients in their recipes.They promise never to use by-products, and only real meats.The brand does not add artificial preservatives, fillers, or flavors to their foods. Their recipes are formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists to produce foods that the owners would be happy to feed to their own families.They use the typical meat sources such as:

• Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Beef and Lamb
  

• Alligator, Rabbit, Quail, Sardines and Shrimp
  

They also have Chicken free recipes which many brands do not offer.Most formulas also add various vegetables, fruits,  probiotics, and dried tomato cakes. Each of their formulas is enriched with added vitamins. They also include recognizable fats, such as chicken fat. It is an excellent source of fatty acids.Unlike other companies, Blue Buffalo does not use ambiguous language when describing the ingredients in its products.

Purina Pro Plan

Purina Pro is considered one of the Purina premium lines. With starring real meat and optimal nutrition in each of their diets, this line claims to be at the top of the list of premium pet foods on the market. Most of their recipes are grain inclusive using sensitive grains, but they do offer some grain free options as well for dogs with sensitivities. By doing this, they are able to cater to dogs of all kinds.

One feature of their diets that some pet owners do not approve of includes their use of meat byproduct meals. However, Purina Pro claims that these byproducts are made using only organ tissue, all of which are packed with beneficial nutrients. If this is truly the case, this should not impact their reputation of only offering high quality diets.

Nutro

Nutro prides itself on its special dog food formulas. They only use natural, non-GMO ingredients and don’t use artificial colors or flavors. Nutro also avoids using wheat and soy products to reduce the gluten included in the formulations. They also use interesting side ingredients to supplement their nutrient-packed main ingredients.

Nutro is full of awesome ingredients that truly set their formulas apart from the competition. Great ingredients like these help provide your dog with a diet that’s well-rounded and complete.Nutro is also known for their many grain free diet options for our canine friends. Though they have multiple grain free options, they also have grain inclusive diets that include sensitive grains that are not as prone to causing allergies. These options cater to dogs with stomach and skin sensitivities, as well as help to aid in digestion of the dogs that still consume grain.

Royal Canin

Royal Canin uses real meat on occasion, but they mainly use meat by-products and by-product meals. It’s not entirely clear what goes into their by-products. Still, they claim that it is safe and nutritionally beneficial for dogs. For example, animal organs are often used, and although it might sound revolting to you and me, Fido should love it. And it is rich in nutrients too.

They also use corn, wheat, and soy in many of their recipes. Although this can irritate some dogs’ digestive systems, most dogs are completely fine with them. 

3.Nutrition

According to the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) , each pet food package must have labels with a guaranteed analysis of the nutrient content. In each recipe, the minimum content of raw protein and raw fat should be noted, as well as the maximum content of raw fiber and moisture.

• Crude Protein: Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.The minimum protein intake for an adult dog is approximately 18%.

• Crude Fat: Fat is another essential compound for dogs as it delivers energy and fat-soluble vitamins as well promoting good blood pressure and a healthy and strong body. The average adult dog needs a minimum of 5% fat in their diet to stay healthy.

• Crude Fiber: Higher fiber content can assist to satiate a dog’s appetite keeping them feeling fuller for longer as it is an easier way to bulk out food without adding calories. Fiber is also an aid to digestion and keeps your dog’s bowel movements regular and healthy. Fiber in the gut assists with the breakdown of food and allows the body to absorb more of the nutrients and vitamins.

Blue Buffalo(average)

Purina Pro Plan(average)

Nutro(average)

Royal Canin(average)

4.Price

Price is an important factor to consider when choosing a kibble for your pooch. Whilst you certainly pay for what you get, you do not have to spend hundreds on a bag of kibble or buy the most expensive one. Decide on your budget and dependent on what nutritional needs your pooch has, choose between kibbles that fall into your budget.Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference among the four brands.

Blue Buffalo(average)

Purina Pro Plan(average)

Nutro(average)

Royal Canin(average)

5.Number of Recalls

Blue Buffalo has been recalled 7 times:

• April 2007: Rice protein was contaminated with melamine

• October 2010: elevated levels of Vitamin D

• November 2015: Potential Salmonella contamination with chew bones

• May 2016: excessive moisture and mold

• February 2017: aluminum contamination

• March 2017:  issue with the foil packaging

• March 2017: elevated levels of the naturally occurring hormone

In 2014 Purina filed a claim against Blue Buffalo for false advertising. They discovered poultry by-product meal ingredients in their recipes, despite Blue Buffalo claiming to never to use by-products. After investigation Blue Buffalo admitted that this was true, blaming their supplier, and they corrected the issues.

Purina Pro Plan has been recalled once:

• March 9, 2016: Incorrect Vitamins and Minerals

Nutro has been recalled 2 times:

• The first happened in late 2009, when they recalled their dry dog food over concerns that there was melted plastic inside. 

• In 2015, they recalled some of their treats due to the presence of mold. 

Royal Canin has been recalled 3 times:

• May 11, 2007: Melamine

• April 19, 2007: Melamine

• Feb. 2, 2006: excess level of vitamin D3

6.Taste and Flavor 

Taste is one of the important considerations while picking the best diet for your dog. Like humans, dogs sometimes get tired of tastes. Some dogs like chicken or other poultry, while others prefer red meat. Fish is also a pretty good option. For this reason, it doesn’t hurt to have a brand with a wide selection in terms of flavors as well. 

The the four brands offer a variety of flavors, and food forms are similar.It’s important to note that if, for some reason, you need to switch between flavors, do it gradually. A rapid change can cause digestive problems in dogs.

Most Popular Dog Food of Each Brand

#Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food

Price: $34.98 to $89.98

Available Size: 6lb,22lb

Feed your pal the finest natural ingredients featured in Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry Dog Food. Made with easily digestible ingredients from proteins, carbohydrates and fats to promote your pal’s optimal nutrient absorption. The veterinary diet contains prebiotic fibers to help balance and maintain your furry best friend’s healthy GI microflora. The healthy holistic formula contains vitamins E and C, plus antioxidant-rich ingredients including blueberries and cranberries to help support a healthy immune system. It’s formulated to meet the nutritional needs of dogs at all life stages. Plus, this wholesome, natural diet has both beneficial nutrition and a taste your furry best friend will love.

Top Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Peas, Potatoes

Guaranteed Analysis:

#Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Price: $18.98 to $131.96

Available Size: 4lb,5lb,16lb,24lb,30lb,41lb

Tend to your furry friend with Purina Pro Plan Salmon & Rice Formula. This high-protein dry food for adult dogs is formulated to nurture your sidekick’s sensitive skin and stomach. It features real, nutrient-rich salmon as the very first ingredient in a highly-digestible recipe with rice and oatmeal. This dry dog food is fortified with live probiotics and prebiotic fiber for your pet pal’s digestive and immune health. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A to help nourish your cuddly companion’s skin and coat and omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy joints and mobility.

Top Ingredients: Salmon, Barley, Rice, Oat Meal, Canola Meal, Fish Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols

Guaranteed Analysis:

#Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food

Price: $39.99 to $119.99

Available Size: 6.6lb,17.6lb,28.6lb

Make your best bud’s mealtime nutritious and delicious with Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food. Specially formulated for adult dogs, these tasty, dry recipes start with real chicken as the main ingredient—no chicken by-product meal here. Add lamb, salmon, and a blend of 15 superfoods and you have a mouthwatering, healthy meal. Sourced from trusted farmers, the high quality, non-GMO ingredients provide a balanced, nutrient rich diet that will help your dog thrive. Plus there are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives and it is free of corn, wheat, and soy protein. Your favorite furball will love to eat this flavorful, nourishing kibble!

Top Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin), Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Barley, Whole Grain Oats

Guaranteed Analysis:

#Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Food 

Price: $39.99 to $119.99

Available Size: 6.6lb,17.6lb,28.6lb

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food is a palatable, digestible low fat dog food formulated for dogs that may have difficulties digesting or tolerating fat. Prebiotics help maintain the balance of good bacteria in the gut. A blend of dietary fibers supports healthy digestion for optimal stool quality. Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, from fish oil help soothe the GI tract. And a precise blend of antioxidants supports a healthy immune system. Ask your veterinarian about Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Wet Dog Food and Gastrointestinal treats as a complement to your dog’s diet.

Top Ingredients: Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Wheat, Barley, Natural Flavors, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat

Guaranteed Analysis:

Final Verdict: Which is Best for Your Dog?

Truthfully, Blue Buffalo,Purina Pro Plan, Nutro and Royal Canin are great pet food brands but in their ways. They are reputable names in the business, plus there are numerous different dog food formulas that you can pick.But they target very different audiences, so the brand you choose probably depends on where you stand on this debate:

Blue Buffalo believes in the power of all-natural ingredients to soothe health problems.Meanwhile, Blue Buffalo is the best when it comes to physical training. The company has been offering higher protein pet foods than almost all brands for many years. So, you possibly will find it a worthwhile option for building leaner and firmer muscles in your dog.

Purina Pro Plan or Nutro can be a better option if on a tight budget and when teaching your dog basic commands and other behavioral/ vocational training. 

Royal Canin sticks to the premise of science-based ingredients and formulas to improve the health of its consumers.It  is a brand that has definitely cemented its place in the industry,and they seem to be going strong.

Whichever kibble brand you choose, you can rest assured that both options will benefit your pup’s lifestyle and nutritional needs.Also, when trying a new dog food, always switch your dog over gradually to avoid stomach upset. You should also see how he adjusts to the new food and make changes if needed, with a special focus on how his belly handles it, how much he likes eating it, and if there are any changes to his coat (such as dandruff, itchiness, or greasiness). 

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