Blue Buffalo vs Diamond Naturals Dog Food: Premium vs Value Nutrition

Great for: Dog owners wanting AAFCO-complete nutrition, anyone managing a dog with allergies, and puppy owners needing life-stage-specific formulas

Not ideal if: Your vet has recommended a prescription diet — OTC food, even premium, may not meet your dog's medical needs

Blue Buffalo produces grain-free, high-protein pet food using real meat as the first ingredient rather than corn, wheat, or soy. Their Wilderness line targets the "ancestral diet" concept — higher protein ratios closer to what wolves and wild cats eat than standard commercial pet food. The key specs to evaluate on any premium pet food: first ingredient (should be a named protein like chicken, salmon, or beef), absence of artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin), and absence of chicken by-product meal as the primary protein source.

What Sets This Food Apart

Grain-free diets were popular for several years, but the FDA issued an advisory in 2019 noting a potential correlation between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The research is ongoing and not conclusive, but many veterinarians now recommend discussing grain-free choices with your vet, particularly for large-breed dogs. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Dry Cat Food — Chicken, 12 lb at $46.98 is a high-protein formula for adult cats. Cats are obligate carnivores with a genuine nutritional need for high dietary protein, making high-protein formulas more aligned with feline biology than equivalent dog food claims. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken and Salmon Grill Wet Dog Food at $37.16 provides wet format high-protein food for dogs — the higher moisture content supports hydration and palatability, particularly useful for dogs with lower water intake or those transitioning away from dry-only diets.

Ingredient Quality

Transitioning pets to new food: mix 25% new food with 75% old food for 3 days, then 50/50 for 3 days, then 75% new for 3 days, then full transition. Rapid switches cause digestive upset in most animals. Not sure which food type is best for your dog — kibble, raw, or wet? Our complete dog food type guide breaks down exactly what each does well, what it costs, and which dogs benefit most from each. Choosing the right food starts with knowing how to read the label — our complete pet food label guide decodes AAFCO statements, ingredient lists, and marketing language.

Related Guides

• Kibble vs Raw vs Wet Dog Food Complete Guide
• Understanding Pet Food Labels Guide