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Dog Food Insiders Rating
4 PAWS
You can find detailed information about theBlue Buffalo company which manufactures Blue Buffalo dog foods in our main Blue Buffalo Dog Food review. There you will also find information about how the food is made, recalls, and their quality control. These mini reviews are designed to cover other foods produced by the same company using the same philosophy. Mini reviews provide some information about the main ingredients and any ingredients that stand out, the guaranteed analysis, and any special concerns about each food.
Ingredients in Blue Buffalo Blue Longevity for Adult Dogs
Deboned Whitefish, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Peas, Egg, Rice Bran, Natural Flavor, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Potatoes, Oat Bran, Carrots, Spinach, Broccoli, Tomatoes (source of Lycopene), Apples,Blueberries, Cranberries, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Barley Grass,Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Alfalfa, Parsley, Garlic, Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Taurine, Oil of Rosemary, Dried Chicory Root, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement,Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Salt, Caramel, Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.
Some Info Regarding “Weight Control” Dog Foods
Blue Longevity for Adult Dogs is designed to help dogs “avoid obesity.” Blue Buffalo has a very similar product called Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight. They also compare the food to weight control dog foods on their site. They seem to be encouraging owners to feed the food not just to overweight/obese dogs, but if you want to prevent your dog from becoming overweight or obese. Even the name of the food – “Longevity” – isn’t about weight but it suggests if you feed the food your dog will live longer.
Before reading about this or any other weight control dog food you should know that neither AAFCO nor the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats by the National Research Council have formulated requirements for weight control diets in dogs. Dog foods made for weight control typically meet maintenance standards and have low fat and/or low calories but there are no standards for these foods. They are formulated by the pet food companies according to their own research or guess work. Weight control dog foods can vary widely in their contents and nutritional percentages so you should always check them out carefully before buying one to make sure the food will be nutritious for your dog. (The same is true for cats.)
Additionally, many foods designed for weight loss in dogs feature less protein, less fat, and lots of carbohydrates. The thought with these foods is probably that the carbohydrates will keep the dogs feeling full so they won’t miss the calories from the fat but this thinking is inaccurate. If the amount of fat is too low, the dog will feel hungry, even with lots of carbs. Plus good sources of fat are desirable for dogs and keep the skin and coat healthy, as well as the heart, brain, and other organs and systems. Even dogs that need to lose weight should have plenty of protein, too. It’s best to look for a weight control dog food that has a good percentage of protein, moderate fat, and lower carbs.
Besides the food you feed your dog, it’s also important to measure the amount of food you’re feeding. That’s the only way to really know how much you’re feeding and how much your dog is eating. Be sure to count the calories in treats and snacks, too, since they can add up quickly.
Overall, Blue Longevity for Adult Dogs looks like it meets some of these requirements for a good weight loss dog food. It has a moderate amount of protein (mostly from fish). It could have higher protein but it’s not bad. It has a lower percentage of fat. It could have a little more fat to keep your dog feeling satisfied but it is not a bad percentage. The carbohydrates in the food are estimated at 42.5 percent which is definitely high. Most of the ingredients in the food look good, though there are a few ingredients that Blue Buffalo commonly uses which cause some concern.
Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown
The first two ingredients in the food are deboned whitefish and menhaden fish meal. Both of these fish are good sources of protein. The deboned whitefish still contains all of the moisture and fat in the fish, as well as the good omega-3 fatty acid. If the moisture was removed this ingredient would belong much lower in the ingredient list. Menhaden is the source of much of the fish meal used in dog foods. It’s been fished in American waters since native American times. As a fish meal, most of the moisture and fat have been removed, leaving a concentrated fish protein which is excellent for dogs.
The next three ingredients are carbohydrates: Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, and Oatmeal. Whole ground brown rice is considered to be more nutritious than white rice but it can also be a little harder to digest. It’s a good source of Selenium and Manganese. Whole ground barley is a good source of dietary fiber and Manganese. Oatmeal is a good source of dietary fiber, Phosphorus and Selenium, and a very good source of Manganese. It also has quite a bit of omega-6 fatty acid. These grains would be filling for your dog from a bulk stand point, and they have some good minerals, but they won’t make your dog feel as satisfied after eating as calories from fat. If you’re thinking that the fat will make your dog overweight or obese, it’s a matter of feeding your dog a food with a moderate amount of fat and portions that are probably a little smaller than he is used to eating. If you feed smaller portions of a food that relies on carbs to keep your dog full, your dog will never feel satisfied. But smaller portions of a food with a reasonable amount of fat should keep our dog satisfied.
Additional Ingredients of Interest
The primary fat source in the food is Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid). This is a good named source of fat that is preserved with natural preservatives. Chicken fat is also very high in omega-6 fatty acid.
The food also containsblueberries and cranberrieswhich are natural antioxidants. Your dog might not be able to taste these berries in the food but many dogs are big fans of berries and they make a healthful snack for dogs.
The food also contains Glucosamine Hydrochloride. This is glucosamine and it’s often added to dog foods for joint support. While it’s doubtful that there’s enough glucosamine added to dog foods to really help a dog that needs this supplement, there is some evidence that seems to suggest glucosamine does help dogs with joint problems such as arthritis or hip dysplasia. We also know that dogs that are overweight and/or obese have more joint problems than leaner dogs. So, if your dog is overweight and/ or obese, you might want to consider adding glucosamine to his diet. There are other joint supplement such as chondroitin, CoQ10, and Sam-E which also seem to help dogs with joint problems.
The food also features Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids). Flaxseed is an excellent ingredient in many ways but it can also be problematic. It’s a good source of Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of dietary fiber, Thiamin and Manganese. It’s also a tremendous plant source of omega-3 fatty acid and a good source of omega-6 fatty acid. However, it has phytoestrogens which can interfere with fertility and hormones so if you breed dogs you will need to be careful about feeding foods and supplements which contain flaxseed.
The food also contains Sunflower Oil (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Fish Oil (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids). Along with being a good source of omega-6 fatty acid, sunflower oil is also a good source of vitamin E, a natural preservative. It’s also one of the fat sources in the food. Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid and certain fatty acids in fish oil (EPA and DHA) have been shown to help with weight loss in both humans and animals (Read More). That’s an important point in this weight control dog food.
The food also features two amino acids and a compound made from an amino acid: L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, and Taurine. L-Carnitine is made from the essential amino acids lysine and methionine. The body can’t make lysine or methionine so they have to be ingested in some way – which makes them “essential.” Carnitine, or in this case L-Carnitine (the specific kind of Carnitine) helps build lean muscle mass. Lysine (or L-Lysine in this case) helps build protein in the body and muscle; it helps calcium absorption; and it helps the body produce hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Blue Buffalo uses these ingredients in most of their dry foods. It’s not always clear why these ingredients are used in their maintenance foods but they seem appropriate in a weight control food.
Taurine is also used here. It’s an amino acid that is often added to dog foods today for heart health. Dogs can make some taurine but when there is a taurine deficiency dogs can suffer from cardio myelopathy and other health problems.
Blue Buffalo says they do not use any artificial preservatives so their fish meal should be ethoxyquin-free. They use several natural preservatives in the food: mixed tocopherols and citric acid with the chicken fat; Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C); vitamin E supplement; and oil of rosemary.
There are several troubling ingredients in the food. It contains peas which are being used by more and more dog food companies as a substitute for corn. Peas have lots of protein as well as carbs, and they provide dietary fiber, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals. They are a natural source of vitamin K. However, some dogs have trouble digesting them and there is currently a lack of research about their digestibility in dogs.
The food also features eggs. Eggs are high in protein and very digestible but some dogs are allergic to chicken eggs. If your dog isn’t allergic to them, this won’t be a problem but you should always check the label for anything your dog might be allergic to, even beyond the meat proteins and grains.
You should also note that the food contains “Natural Flavor.” This is a vague term and there is no indication what this is, what it’s made from, or what kind of “natural” substance it comes form. It could be natural kudzu. There is no way to know. Remember that one of the most important things to keep in mind when looking at an ingredient list is to insist on specificity. Don’t accept vague terms like this one. You always need to know what you are feeding your dog. This ingredient might be something healthy and harmless but it should be identified.
The food also contains turmeric – a spice/herb used in curries, among other things. This ingredient has become popular in human health circles but there seems to be little reason to add it to a dog food. The food also contains caramel which can be either a food coloring or a sweetener. Your dog doesn’t need caramel in either form.
The food also has the usual vitamins and minerals. In this case the minerals are chelated, meaning they have been bonded to amino acids so they are easier to digest and absorb.
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein 24.0% min
- Crude Fat 11.0% min
- Crude Fiber 4.5% max
- Moisture 10.0% max
- Calcium 1.0% min
- Phosphorus 0.9% min
- Glucosamine* 400 mg/kg min
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.6% min
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 2.0% min
- L-Carnitine* 100 mg/kg min
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO Pet Food Nutrient Profiles.
Nutrition Statement
BLUE Longevity Food for Adult Dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated, as fed): 3,384 Kcals/kg, 354 Kcals/cup
Blue Longevity has an estimated 26.67 protein (dry matter basis), 12.2 percent fat, 5 percent fiber, and a whopping 42.5 percent carbohydrates. That’s quite a lot of carbs.
Summary
Despite the rather high carbohydrate percentage, Blue Longevity for Adult Dogs looks like it would be a reasonably good weight control dog food. The protein percentage could be a little higher and so could the fat percentage, but overall the food has good ingredients appropriate for a weight control dog food. There are a couple of questionable ingredients, but this looks like a pretty good food for helping your overweight or obese dog loose some weight.
Blue Buffalo Blue Longevity for Adult Dogs has received our 4 paw rating.
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