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Public ReviewGrade BKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior Chicken & Brown Rice

3.5★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Key points

Protein source

Watch

Whole plant protein source observed early

Top 3: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice

The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.

Ingredient guide

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide
Omega-3Skin and joint support ingredientFish oilSkin and joint support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientChicoryGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTurmeric/curcuminAntioxidant and joint support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient
Solid build

Ingredient grade

B

Grade B

Top ingredient profile

Deboned Chicken
Chicken Meal
Brown Rice
Fresh-meat leadNo plant booster
Crude protein23%
Crude protein23%
Crude fat13%
Other 64%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Lower
query_statsFat position
Typical
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Lower

This food offers a stable basic protein structure.

The first and second ingredients are both animal-based, so baseline protein quality stays stable. A whole-grain ingredient appears in the third slot, so this reads more like a mixed recipe than a fully animal-led one.

Nutritional strengths

  • 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.

What still needs work

  • 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.

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 2002 in the United States. This brand has multiple confirmed recall events. The most recent public case in this research was the 2017 thyroid-hormone issue.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

B4.5/6
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Deboned Chicken
Fresh Meat · Top
2Chicken Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Brown Rice
Whole Grain · Upper

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Deboned Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •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.
  • •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.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood

Full collected ingredient list

63 ingredients
Deboned ChickenChicken MealBrown RiceOatmealBarleyPeasDried Tomato PomaceNatural FlavorChicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids)Dried Egg ProductFish Oil (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid)Dried YeastMiscanthus GrassPotassium ChlorideSaltCalcium CarbonateDirect Dehydrated Alfalfa PelletsDried Chicory RootCholine ChlorideAlfalfa Nutrient ConcentrateDicalcium PhosphateTaurineVitamin E SupplementL-Threoninepreserved with Mixed TocopherolsDL-MethionineDried Sweet PotatoesCarrotsL-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)L-CarnitineZinc Amino Acid ChelateZinc SulfateVegetable Juice for colorGlucosamine HydrochlorideFerrous SulfateIron Amino Acid ChelateBlueberriesCranberriesBarley GrassParsleyTurmericDried KelpYucca Schidigera ExtractNiacin (Vitamin B3)Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)L-LysineCopper SulfateBiotin (Vitamin B7)Vitamin A SupplementCopper Amino Acid ChelateManganese SulfateChondroitin SulfateManganese Amino Acid ChelateThiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)Vitamin D3 SupplementVitamin B12 SupplementPyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)Calcium IodateFolic Acid (Vitamin B9)Sodium SeleniteOil of Rosemary
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

D tier

Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.

Where it sits in the same processing cohort

Kibble (Extruded) cohortTop tier

Within the Kibble (Extruded) cohort, this recipe sits in the top tier band.

Final word

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.

Back to all foods

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Joint criteria

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