Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food with Fish and Brown Rice

Dry food for dogs · Adult · by Blue Buffalo

See the full breakdown in Beagly

What to watch for

• Peas Moderate risk
  Peas add plant protein, starch and fiber. The FDA has been investigating reports of heart disease (DCM) in dogs eating diets high in peas, lentils and other legumes, often grain-free. No cause has been proven, but it is worth knowing when legumes sit near the top of the list.
• Fish meal Low risk
  Rendered fish. A concentrated protein, but 'fish' does not name the species, so it is harder to avoid if your dog reacts to a particular fish.
• Pea starch Low risk
  Starch from peas, used as a binder in grain-free kibble. Part of the legume load the FDA DCM investigation looked at.
• Natural flavor Low risk
  Flavoring from natural sources. Normally safe, but the term can hide which animal or plant it came from, which matters for allergies.
• Salt Low risk
  Salt supplies sodium and chloride, which dogs need. Pet foods use small amounts; high salt is mainly a concern for dogs with heart or kidney disease.
• Sweet potato Low risk
  A starchy root vegetable that supplies carbohydrate, fiber and beta-carotene. Potatoes and sweet potatoes were common in the grain-free diets reported in the FDA DCM investigation.
• Dried kelp Low risk
  Seaweed that supplies iodine and trace minerals. Too much kelp can push iodine too high, so it should be a minor ingredient.
• Copper sulfate Low risk
  A source of copper, an essential trace mineral. Some breeds accumulate copper in the liver, and vets have raised concern that some dog foods supply more than dogs need.

What it does well

• Named meat first
  First ingredient is whitefish.

Ingredients

Whitefish, Fish Meal (Source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Peas, Pea Starch, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed (Source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Flavor, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Yeast, Chicken Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Direct Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Choline Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, L-Threonine, Vitamin E Supplement, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vegetable Juice for Color, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Blueberries, Cranberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Copper Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), L-Lysine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Sulfate, Taurine, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary.

What the label cannot tell you

• Ingredient order is by weight before cooking; fresh meat counts water.
• Mineral levels are not printed on this label.
• We could not find the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for this product. Scan the bag to confirm it is complete and balanced.

Sizes and barcodes

• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food with Fish and Brown Rice - 15lbs UPC 859610000302

Higher-scoring dry food for dogs

• Acana Wholesome Grains Dry Food for Dogs - Sea to Stream 94/100 · Excellent
• Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 94/100 · Excellent
• Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey & Chicken 93/100 · Excellent
• Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey 93/100 · Excellent
• Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 92/100 · Excellent

More from Blue Buffalo

• Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog Treats - Salmon 83/100 · Excellent
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog Treats - Duck 81/100 · Excellent
• Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dog Treats - Turkey 81/100 · Excellent
• Blue Buffalo Tender Shreds Beef & Chicken in Savory Broth All Life Stages Dog Food Topper 78/100 · Excellent
• Blue Buffalo Tender Shreds Chicken in Savory Broth All Life Stages Dog Food Topper 78/100 · Excellent

Informational, not veterinary advice. The score is our opinion of a food, built from the facts on its label with our published method. No brand pays to rank higher. Recipes change: check the bag you have, or scan it in the app.

Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03