Have you ever found yourself at a grocery store reading the contents off a pack of Orijen on your right hand with a pack of Blue Buffalo on the left, completely conflicted on which one to purchases?
You obviously are here because you need information on Blue Buffalo vs. Orijen, which one is best for your pet.
During the course of this article you will get first-hand information on all the elements that make a pet food nutritious. you will also learn how to choose the best brand for your dog or cat.
We have taken the time to collect the most current information on similarities, differences, prices, flavors; nutritional value, safety, and brand information to enable you make an informed choice.
After you are done with this awesome comparison check out Blue Buffalo and Orijen here to see the different flavors and pricing.
Contents:
- 🤔 Blue Buffalo vs Orijen FAQ
- ⚖️ Blue Buffalo and Orijen Pros and Cons
- 😻 Types Of Pet Food
- 🥕 Nutritional Value Comparison
- 💰 Price Comparison
- 🤤 Ingredients and Flavors
- 🏡 About Blue Buffalo and Orijen
- 🙀 Product Safety and Recalls through History
- 🏆 Blue Buffalo Vs Orijen: And the winner goes to…
🤔 Blue Buffalo vs Orijen FAQ
What is guaranteed analysis?
The concept of guaranteed analysis on pet food products is to assure purchasers of the precise nutrient content of each consumable. Emphasized by AAFCO, guaranteed analysis by food labels must meet certain requirements such as an exact value for the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, as well as the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture on the basis of dry matter obtained. All of the percentages that I use in this comparison are averages of dry matter basis. Learn about dry matter basis here.
Which has more protein?
Orijen boasts of 42.3% protein content on dog food and 45.8% on cat food whereas Blue buffalo has 28.5% dog and 37.0% cat food protein. Orijen lead by 13% on protein content for dog food 8% on cat food.
Which one is cheaper?
Blue buffalo costs $2.61 per pound on dog food and $3.88 on cat meals while Orijen costs $13.61 on dog food whereas cat food costs $6.94. This makes Blue Buffalo the cheaper option for pets.
How is the quality?
Both Orijen and Blue Buffalo are top-rated, high quality pet food products and both are very popular options.
Which one has more flavors?
Excluding treats, Orijen has 8 flavors for dry dog food and 5 dry food flavors for cats whereas Blue Buffalo has 85 dry food flavors, and 101 wet food flavors for dogs as well as 40 dry foods and 47 wet food varieties for cats.
Which one has more recalls?
Blue Buffalo has been recalled 9 times while Orijen has been recalled just once.
Check out the current prices, recipes and flavors for Blue Buffalo and Orijen
⚖️ Orijen and Blue Buffalo Pros and Cons
Orijen Pros:
Orijen Cons:
Blue Buffalo Pros:
Blue Buffalo Cons:
😻 Types Of Pet Food
| Product | Orijen | Blue Buffalo |
| Dog Recipe | ||
| Wet Food | ❌ | 101 types |
| Dry Food | 8 types | 85 types |
| Cat Recipe | ||
| Wet Food | ❌ | 47 types |
| Dry Food | 5 types | 40 types |
| Treats | ||
| For Dogs | 9 treats | 51 treats |
| For Cats | 6 treats | 15 treats |
| 😻 See all Orijen recipes | 😻 See all Blue Buffalo recipes |
🥕 Nutritional Value Comparison for Dog Food
The convenience of processed dog food is not only in its efficiency and ability to satisfy pets but also in its nutritional value.
We can agree that all pet foods do not have equal amount of nutrient, even though there are various food groups involved in one pack.
Nutrient composition for Orijen and Blue Buffalo can be compared by analyzing the percentage content in dry matter for crude protein, crude fiber, and crude fat.
The percentage of these components makes up the nutritional value of the brand. So why are these food components particularly special?
Protein source
Pets such as dogs and cats require high amounts of protein in their diet for tissue repairs, growth and to avoid series of health issues
Fat source
Fats are essential components in the body that stores energy for metabolism and development as well as the regulation of certain hormones. The production of prostaglandins by fatty tissues helps to mitigate inflammations in dogs and also carry out other very important functions.
Fiber source
Digestion is aided by fiber sources in the diet. It helps against indigestion and other bowel related issue.
The percentages represented in this comparison are on the basis of dry content
| Dry matter (Dog Food) | Blue Buffalo | Orijen |
| Fiber | 7.1% | 6.3% |
| Fat | 15.0% | 23.9% |
| Protein | 28.5% | 42.3% |
| 🥕 See more Blue Buffalo info | 🥕 See more Orijen Info |
Orijen contains 13.9% more fat and 44.3% more protein than the Blue Buffalo.
💰 Price Comparison For Dog food
The price of each product may differ variably per product so an ideal way to compare the pricing of both products would be with the use of the two parameters “per pound” and “per calorie”.
The average cost per pound (lb) is influenced greatly by water content of food product when comparing dry food and wet food products, however, the cost-per-Kcal is unaffected by water content of food product whether dry or wet, and so remains the most accurate metric to be used in this analysis.
| Dry dog food | Blue Buffalo | Orijen |
| Cost per Calorie | $0.0016 | $0.0023 |
| Cost per pound | $2.61 | $13.65 |
| 💰 See the best Blue Buffalo prices | 💰 See the best Orijen prices |
These are standard costs and are subject to changes in various seasons or events such as big sales, use of mega coupons, and whole sale purchases with different retailers.
🤤 Ingredients and Flavors for Dogs
Orijen
The Orijen brand has an array of award-winning natural food flavors which mirrors the most exclusive and essential ingredients required for the growth and development of dogs of any age.
The ingredients exclude synthetic supplements and some vegetable proteins often found in dog food. The varieties include Original Flavor, Six fish, Tundra, Fit trim, Regional Red, Angus Beef, Grass-fed Lamb, Kentucky Bison, Free-run Duck, Wild Boar, and other, categorized in dried and freeze dried dog food and treats.
Each made from 100% fresh meat ranging between poultry and fish with adequate ratios of essential condiments to provide your dog with a fun-healthy meal and a balanced diet all year round.
Popular flavors
- Chicken turkey and fish
- Six fish formula
- Pork and wild mackerel
- Beef, Goat, Boar, Lamb, Pork and wild mackerel
Blue Buffalo
There are a ton of rich holistic flavors manufactured by the Blue Buffalo brand categorized as dry and wet foods as well as dog treat.
These recipes are mainly inspired by homemade ingenuity, well formulated to support the complete health, vigor and well-being of your dog.
Blue Buffalo is widely known for its wide variety and diversity of flavor and ingredients, these food flavors include turkey and potato, meat loaf meals, meat chunk in rich gravy, braised beef with veges and rice, chicken pie family recipes, grain-free diets, duck stew, and other unique blend of flavors.
Each delicious recipe comes with the finest ingredients, fillers, and protection formula to boost the immune system as well as its antioxidant properties.
Popular flavors
- Chicken lamb beef stew
- Chicken and brown rice
- Salmon recipe
🥕 Nutritional Value Comparison for Cat Food
Felines have special nutritional needs and they can be a little picky about what they eat compared to dogs. When picking a packaged meal product for your cat there are specifics that affirm that you are making the right choice.
Firstly the product name should be a trusted brand such as Orijen and Blue Buffalo. Next is – how much content is in the container and is there a purpose statement that certifies that this product is made for cats? Like afore mentioned; cats have specific nutritional needs.
One major thing to verify is the ingredients used in the product. These ingredients are often listed according to their weight with the heavy duty moisture-filled goodies at the top of the list such as the protein chunks. Accompanying this list is the guaranteed analysis statement which shows minimum and maximum percentage of essential nutrients such as protein, fat, and fiber.
Protein content
Cats are carnivores by nature and require high-quality digestible crude protein as they are building blocks of muscles and various tissues in the body. They also assist in the build-up of hormones, enzymes and antibodies for health and development.
Fat Content
Fatty acids are an essential composition in cat nutrition as it helps maintain skin and fur texture, reduce arthritic inflammation, mitigates yeast infection, prevents heart problems, improves visual cortex, and supports healthy membrane and general health.
Fiber
Digestive issues are very rampant with pets and therefore the importance of adequate fiber for intestinal health and to aid digestive mechanisms cannot be overemphasized. Fiber provides intestinal cells with energy for bulk mobility.
Here is a tabulated comparison on the nutritional composition of cat food on dry matter basis.
| Cat Food (Dry Matter) | Orijen | Blue Buffalo |
| Crude Fiber | 4.0% | 6.4% |
| Crude Protein | 45.8% | 37.0% |
| Crude Fat | 2.35% | 16.3% |
Blue buffalo leads in fiber and fat content with a difference of 2.35% and 4.79% respectively while Orijen makes up with a significant 8.79% difference in protein mass.
A nutritional adequacy statement is a verification of suitability for felines depending on their age, lifestyle, and other characteristics as cat nutrition specification may change from time to time during their growth.
💰 Price Comparison for Cat Food
Cat food pricing, like the dog food, follows two variables which are: cost per pound (lb) and cost per kcal. However, the cost per pound is often affected by the presence of moisture in terms of accuracy so the most accurate metric remains the cost per calorie
| Cat food (dry) | Orijen | Blue Buffalo |
| Per Calorie | $0.0038 | $0.0023 |
| Per Pound | $6.94 | $3.88 |
🤤 Ingredients and Flavors for Cat food
Orijen
Cats and kittens possess a peculiar biological need for a rich diet that provides holistic nutrition and a unique flavor.
Orijen all-star flavors such as Cat &Kitten, Six-Fish, Regional Red, Fit & Trim, Tundra, and others provide an evolutionary whole-protein meal for the extremely choosy eaters.
The protein content includes Chicken, Turkey, Eggs, Mackerel fish, Herring, Silver hake, Angus Beef, Boer goat, Lamb, Wild boar, Duck, Venison, Mutton and others
The wide variety of whole prey percentages of fresh protein nourishes your cat and provides a fun tasty meal.
Orijen comes with no grains, no synthetic supplement s and 90% protein.
Blue Buffalo
Natural ingredients and a wholesome nutrition for a healthy life is what Blue Buffalo promises for growing kittens, adult cats and seniors.
Blue life protection formula offers unique health and fitness additives, rich in antioxidants for boosting the immune system and suitable for felines of all ages.
The appetizing wet food selection comes in various flavors such as turkey, tuna, salmon, fatty acids, pumpkins and digestible carbohydrates. Only essential ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals are included with the exception of by-products such as wheat, corn, soy, and other artificial additives to minimize digestive issues and other sensitives.
Check out the current Blue Buffalo and Orijen recipes here
🏡 About Blue Buffalo and Orijen
Orijen Information
Orijen is a Canadian pet food brand manufactured and distributed in over 60 countries while the Blue Buffalo is an all American brand originated from a family pet recipe.
The Orijen brand utilizes the best all-natural ingredients and a high protein ratio compared to other condiments; its 70% fresh fish ingredient in its Six Fish Formula provides high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids which are revolutionary in the dog food industry.
Blue Buffalo Information
The Blue Buffalo, similarly, competes aggressively with its high-quality, holistic nutrition, with focus on a high protein diet bolstered with natural ingredients from fiber to gluten-free carbs.
Blue Buffalo comes in 85 recipes for dry dog food, 101 recipes for wet dog food and 51 treats where as Orijen has only 8 recipe variations, zero wet food types and 9 dog treats.
Some dog foods are often known to come with a few highly controversial ingredients that may have some kind of long term effect on the health of dogs.
Many of these controversies have no hard data to consolidate the potential of harm. The following ingredients are controversial and used in pet food production by only the Blue Buffalo: Canola oil, Caramel Color, Tomato Pomace, Powdered Cellulose, Pea Protein Concentrate, and Garlic.
🙀 Product Safety and Recalls through History
Companies make scheduled recalls on products that may have a foreseen defect or safety issues. The importance of a recall is to conduct further safety tests in order to effect changes to product to ensure that it is safe for use. Interestingly both products have had recalls.
Orijen Recalls
Orijen has had only one recall throughout its existence in relation to irradiation treatment on the 22nd of November 2008.
Blue Buffalo Recalls
Blue Buffalo, on the other hand has had 9 recalls through history, the dates are as follows:
- Melamine risk: April 19th 2007
- Melamine risk: April 26th 2007
- Extremely levels of Vitamin D with risk of toxicity: Oct 8th 2010
- The presence of a propylene glycol compound on Nov 6 2015
- Salmonella risk: Nov 25th 2015
- Mold contamination risk: May 31st 2016
- Potential for aluminum contamination: Feb 14th 2017
- Packaging quality: March 3rd 2017
- Increased levels of beef thyroid hormone: March 18th 2017
More FAQ on Orijen and Blue Buffalo
Orijen FAQ
How do I store Orijen freeze dried dog food?
- Store in a cool dry place or air-tight container and avoid exposure to light, heat, and moisture.
Will Orijen make my dog overweight?
- No! Orijen is made up of a high protein diet which is essential for repairs and a much lower carbohydrate content which easily converts to energy without storing up as fat.
What feeding pattern works best with Orijen?
- We highly recommend twice a day at 8-12 hours apart. You may adjust portions to suit your dog’s appetite. If transitioning from one food to another, start slowly by mixing old and new food in the ratio 3:1 then slowly increase the proportion of new food. This would allow your dog’s system to get accustomed to this new flavor and to avoid digestive problems.
How much Orijen treats can I feed my dog per day?
- Ideally, treats per day should be no more 10% of the recommended daily diet, given at intervals depending on how you choose to reward your furry friend.
Blue Buffalo FAQ
Does Blue Buffalo offer formulas for pets with sensitive digestive systems?
- Yes! The Blue Basic dog food formula is prepared with either salmon or turkey with the exceptions of controversial ingredients such as wheat, soy, dairy, or corn.
How long do canned foods last once they are opened?
- If well covered and stored in the refrigerator it can last for at least 3 days
Are LifeSource Bits available in all Blue Buffalo foods?
- The LifeSource Bits which contains vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals are only available in the dry maintenance formula with the exception of the canned wet foods. This is due to the preparation process which involves heat.
What differentiates Blue Buffalo products from other pet foods?
- The Blue Buffalo is made with natural ingredients and Lifesource Bits that provide wholesome nutrition as well as antioxidants and immune boosters to improve the health of our family pet.
🏆 Blue Buffalo Vs Orijen: And the winner goes to…
Blue Buffalo is a formidable opponent with a ton of nutritional values, a large variety of flavors to choose from as well as a less expensive option but if you do not mind a higher price tag the quality of the Orijen brand based on nutritional levels, and safety is still unbeatable.
| If you want | Then you should choose |
| Higher levels of protein | Orijen |
| A cost effective option | Blue Buffalo |
| A wider variety of flavors and ingredients | Blue Buffalo |
| Safety, based on number of recalls | Both Brands |
| A balanced diet for all age levels | Both brands |
