Ingredient #1Top
Deboned Chicken
Deboned Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Healthy Weight Chicken & Brown Rice
Editor ingredient insight
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Healthy Weight uses chicken, grains, peas, pea starch, and fiber with low fat and joint nutrients.
It is worth considering for large dogs needing weight control, not for chicken, grain, or pea sensitivity.
Fresh-meat leadFull ingredient check needed
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 22%Fat 9%Other 69%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type
Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.
Protein positionLower
This food is on the lower side for crude protein among extruded foods.
Fat positionLower
This food is on the lower side for crude fat among extruded foods.
Calorie densityLower
This food is on the lower side for calorie density among extruded foods. That alone does not make it a weight-management diet; check portion guidance, fat, and fiber together.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium0.8%
Phosphorus0.65%
Crude fiber10%
Omega-30.3%
Omega-61.75%
Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.
02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE
Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade
The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.
Listed ingredients
Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.
Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · Deboned ChickenTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #2 · Chicken MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #3 · Brown RiceUpper
Whole GrainIngredient #2Upper
Chicken Meal
Chicken Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
Ingredient #3Upper
Brown Rice
Brown Rice is a whole or coarse grain ingredient. It usually plays more of a carbohydrate and fiber role than a core protein role. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Deboned Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsChicken Meal — Support positive ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsBarley — Neutral ingredientsOatmeal — Neutral ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsPea Starch — Neutral ingredientsMiscanthus Grass — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsDried Tomato Pomace — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids) — Neutral ingredientsDried Yeast — Neutral ingredientsChicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) — Neutral ingredientsDirect Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Carbonate — Neutral ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsDried Chicory Root — Support positive ingredientsAlfalfa Nutrient Concentrate — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsPotassium Citrate — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientspreserved with Mixed Tocopherols — Neutral ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsGlucosamine Hydrochloride — Support positive ingredientsDried Sweet Potatoes — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsL-Carnitine — Support positive ingredientsZinc Amino Acid Chelate — Support positive ingredientsZinc Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsVegetable Juice for color — Neutral ingredientsFerrous Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsVitamin E Supplement — Support positive ingredientsIron Amino Acid Chelate — Neutral ingredientsBlueberries — Neutral ingredientsCranberries — Neutral ingredientsBarley Grass — Neutral ingredientsParsley — Neutral ingredientsTurmeric — Neutral ingredientsDried Kelp — Support positive ingredientsYucca Schidigera Extract — Support positive ingredientsNiacin (Vitamin B3) — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) — Neutral ingredientsL-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C) — Neutral ingredientsL-Lysine — Neutral ingredientsCopper Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsBiotin (Vitamin B7) — Support positive ingredientsVitamin A Supplement — Neutral ingredientsCopper Amino Acid Chelate — Neutral ingredientsManganese Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsChondroitin Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsManganese Amino Acid Chelate — Neutral ingredientsThiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1) — Neutral ingredientsRiboflavin (Vitamin B2) — Neutral ingredientsVitamin D3 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsVitamin B12 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsPyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Iodate — Support positive ingredientsFolic Acid (Vitamin B9) — Neutral ingredientsSodium Selenite — Support positive ingredientsOil of Rosemary — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Whole plant protein source observed early
Animal protein · Deboned Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (#2)
Plant protein · Peas (#6)
The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.
This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
ChicoryGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTurmeric/curcuminAntioxidant and joint support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredient
03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG
What to consider before feeding
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Brown Rice, Barley supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
Peas contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber further down the ingredient list. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. Dried Tomato Pomace supply fiber. For stool or satiety considerations, the disclosed crude-fiber amount adds useful context beyond the ingredient's presence.
What works well in this food
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Calorie density is on the lower side.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
Check before feeding
- Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
- Public data trust is usable, but it does not sit in the highest-trust tier.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is lower, fat is lower, and calorie density is lower. This is a candidate for reducing calories per gram. Fat is also lower, but a weight-management choice still needs fiber, portions and total daily calories including treats to be considered together. Stable basic protein structure.
Consider it first when
- Steady protein-first shopping
- Choosing from named animal proteins
- Balanced shortlist building
Choose another food first when
- Weight control comes first
- Fresh-meat-first premium quality matters most
Disclosure depth remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart chicken alternatives
Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.
05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE
Manufacturer background & public information
Blue Buffalo background
Founded in 2002 in the United States.
Disclosure confidence D
Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.
Recall information
This brand has multiple confirmed recall events. The most recent public case in this research was the 2017 thyroid-hormone issue.
May 12, 2026