In this article, we will compare Victor vs Blue Buffalo dog food.
We’re going to dive into detail about the ingredients, product range, quality, nutrient content, taste, safety, and price of these two top-tier dog food brands.
It’s tough to weigh up the two brands. They both enjoy a good reputation and dog parents trust them.
But, we’ll show you the comparisons to see which option is more suitable for you and your pooch.
After all, food isn’t a one-fits-all category.
Continue reading to find out more about Victor dog food versus Blue Buffalo.
Victor Dog Food Vs Blue Buffalo Brand History Comparison
About Victor
Victor dog food company started in the 1940s, but Mid America Pet acquired it in 2007.
The family-operated business has successfully grown and got a reputation for making premium recipes that meet nutritional requirements and giving dogs a taste they love.
Additionally, the company is proud of producing food at its Texas facility and getting most of its ingredients from within a 200-mile radius.
The formulas include different meats, limited ingredients, and grain-free options, as well as canned food for your pooch.
As a matter of fact, Victor Hi-Pro Plus is our favorite pick for high-performing dogs, because it has 30% crude protein from beef, chicken, and pork and it provides your pup with nutrients necessary to stay healthy and active.
This formula is also beneficial for puppies who need a lot of energy and pregnant and lactating females.
Victor is a reputable company and many dog parents choose to feed their beloved pets exclusively with this brand’s food.
Related: The Best Victor Dog Food Alternatives
About Blue Buffalo
This pet food company was founded by the Bishop family in 2003 after their dog, Blue, was diagnosed with cancer.
They dedicated themselves to making food with healthy, natural ingredients, real meat, and no by-products, wheat, soy, or corn.
The Blue Buffalo dog food includes recipes with different meats, hearty veggies, and fruits, grain-free formulas, wet food, as well as grain-inclusive options for canines that need them in their diet.
Our top choice for large breeds like Rottweilers is the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula since it features real meat, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids to boost your big pup’s health.
The brand is well-known and many dog lovers and dog parents are loyal buyers who opt for their formulas among many others out there.
Product Range Comparison
Victor
Most Popular
Victor Dog Food Classic Professional
Crude Protein 30%
Crude Fat 20%
Crude Fiber 3.8%
Best for Active Dogs
Victor Grain-Free Active Dog and Puppy
Crude Protein 33%
Crude Fat 16%
Crude Fiber 3.8%
Best For Extremely Active Dogs
Victor Purpose Performance
Crude Protein 26%
Crude Fat 18%
Crude Fiber 3.8%
There are 20 dry formulas made by AAFCO standards to meet your dog’s nutritional needs and give him the energy to stay active.
In addition, Victor features 5 canned recipes for dogs who eat solely wet food or need it as a topping, and there are 5 grain-free options for dogs who are sensitive to wheat, soy, and corn.
All of the formulas are made with VPro blend, a mix of selenium yeast, mineral complexes, prebiotics, and probiotics to boost digestibility and the immune system.
The most popular Victor Super Premium selection lines are:
The recipes are made for all breeds and all life stages.
Victor’s dog food is based on activity levels, so it depends on whether your dog is normally active, sporting, high-performing,
That’s why one of their formulas, Victor Purpose Ultra Pro is exceptionally high in protein, 42%, and low in carbs, which is suitable for sporting dogs or dogs with high energy demands.
This kibble is made with 89% protein from meat sources which means pups get premium quality protein for building muscle and staying active.
Plus, this is one of the grain-free options that dogs with sensitivities can enjoy without getting an upset stomach or itchy skin.
The brand claims that the proprietary VPro blend provides supplements, vitamins, and minerals to maximize your dog’s potential, no matter the breed, size, or age.
It comes in handy to get the same food from puppy to adult without thinking about breeds, sizes, etc.
However, smaller breeds can use specially-made kibble for them which is easier to swallow.
Nevertheless, one of their most popular kibbles, Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus, features meat, gluten-free grains, and plants to support high-performing dogs, puppies, and pregnant and lactating females.
The kibble is also high in protein (30%) and it is suitable for dogs like growing puppies or sporting dogs who need plenty of this nutrient.
It is worth mentioning that the protein in Victor’s food comes mainly from meat sources, and not from grains or plants.
This is important because some brands boast about their high-protein percentage, but the protein comes mostly from grains and plants.
Meat protein is more beneficial for dogs and it helps them maintain healthy muscles, bones, immune system, brain, and heart.
Furthermore, this formula is made without corn, soy, and wheat so it’s a good choice for dogs with sensitivities and it’s a balanced nutrition for pups, regardless of age, breed, or size.
Victor Hi-Pro Plus is also fortified with vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics to strengthen your canine’s immune system, digestive system, skin, and coat.
Victor surely makes one of the best quality dog foods on the market and takes care of canines’ well-being, but, another vital aspect is product availability.
Although you can purchase Victor’s food online with just a few clicks, it can be a bit hard to find it at your nearby stores.
We don’t know why, but we would like to see them more at brick-and-mortar stores.
Blue Buffalo
Most Popular
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Crude Protein 24%
Crude Fat 14%
Crude Fiber 5%
Best for High Protein
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult
Crude Protein 34%
Crude Fat 15%
Crude Fiber 6%
Best For Allergies
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet
Crude Protein 30%
Crude Fat 10%
Crude Fiber 17%
Blue Buffalo is one of the most widespread dog foods on the market, and unlike Victor, you can easily find it online or at local grocery stores.
More importantly, it has an astonishing number of products for different breeds, specific life-stage, and dog sizes.
With 7 selection lines and more than 170 products, you are certain to find suitable dry or wet food for your fur baby.
The brand made sure dogs with sensitivities can enjoy good food too and it included grain-free recipes, limited-ingredient formulas, as well as no chicken or beef kibble because they may cause allergies.
Their most popular product lines are:
It also features veterinary diets to help dogs with weight management, and urinary, kidney, GI, and mobility problems.
Blue Buffalo includes exclusive LifeSource Bits in every dry formula which is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote health and oxidative balance.
Their signature product line is the Blue Life Protection Formula which offers 21 recipes (4 for puppies, 14 for adults, and 3 for senior dogs) made with wholesome ingredients, real meat, no poultry by-products, and grain-free.
The Blue Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice for adult dogs has a significant amount of protein, 24%, and the first ingredients are deboned chicken and chicken meal.
Deboned chicken provides your furry friend with premium protein because it’s real meat separated from the bones and skin.
Many dog parents avoid meat by-products in their pet’s food due to the poorer quality content.
Moreover, this recipe contains whole grains, veggies, and fruits which contribute to the total amount of protein.
As mentioned above, meat protein is more beneficial for your canine than plant protein.
Nonetheless, the natural ingredients in Blue Buffalo’s formula promote overall health, immune system, skin, and coat.
Another favorite among dogs and dog parents is the Blue Basics Formula which has 13 recipes (1 for puppies, 1 for senior dogs, and 11 for adult dogs) made for sensitive stomachs and skin, using a single animal protein source and easily digestible ingredients to promote digestive and skin health and general well-being.
Some of the recipes feature whole grains while others only veggies to avoid stomach and skin problems.
The Blue Basics Turkey & Potato Formula is a great option for adult dogs with food sensitivities since it features deboned turkey, potatoes, and peas as the main ingredients and it doesn’t contain chicken, beef, wheat, soy, corn, or eggs that may cause issues for some canines.
Hence, in this round, Blue Buffalo gets more points for having a wider product range and you can find suitable food even if you have a picky eater or your dog needs a special diet, plus it’s more convenient to purchase.
Additionally, it makes food for different breeds and sizes at certain life stages, so it offers more options for toy breeds or large breeds, and it has vet diets for canines with health problems. That’s a double win for Blue Buffalo.
However, Victor takes the win for including more meat protein in their recipes and providing a better source of muscle-building nutrients.
Food Ingredients
Victor’s recipes start with chicken meal, beef meal, pork meal, lamb meal, and fish meal to make sure your pup gets enough protein and amino acids to stay active and strong.
One of their most popular recipes, Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus features a beef meal, grain sorghum, pork meal, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal as the first 5 ingredients, so it’s no wonder that it consists of 88% meat protein.
Menhaden fish meal is an excellent source of protein, fatty acids, and amino acids.
They help improve your dog’s skin, coat, immune system, and metabolic function.
The kibble is a terrific choice for high-performing dogs who need a lot of energy.
In comparison, Blue Buffalo’s kibble is made of deboned chicken, deboned turkey, beef, lamb, or fish and has meat meals in addition.
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Formula, for instance, is among the favorite kibbles and it features deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, and oatmeal as the first 5 ingredients.
Deboned meat is a fantastic ingredient, but quality meat meals can be even higher in protein because whole meat is 60-70% water whereas meat meals contain great levels of protein, amino acids, minerals, and other nutrients.
Protein is essential for canines since it helps them build muscle, make enzymes, and have strong bones and a healthy coat.
Grains like barley and oatmeal are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that boost your canine’s health, skin, and digestive system, and Blue Buffalo’s formula is a great option for pups of any breed who need balanced nutrition.
Furthermore, both Blue Buffalo and Victor’s kibble have alfalfa which is rich in protein and fiber to give your pal energy and keep him full longer.
And the two brands include brown rice in their recipes which is beneficial for dogs because it’s a digestible carbohydrate that is also high in fiber and antioxidants.
Fiber helps your dog maintain a healthy weight by keeping him full and it promotes gastrointestinal health, good bowel movement, and digestibility.
Both Victor’s and Blue Buffalo’s kibbles contain carrots and tomatoes which are good sources of vitamins and nutrients.
Note that tomatoes are good for dogs but only in moderation because they may cause an upset stomach.
Moreover, another great ingredient used in Victor’s recipes is whole grain millet, a digestible carb high in B vitamins, iron, and phosphorus.
Phosphorus supports bone health and iron helps form red blood cells and hemoglobin.
Blue Buffalo’s recipes contain grains like oats and barley, but also flaxseed, fish oil, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, blueberries, cranberries, parsley, and turmeric.
Flaxseed and fish oil are amazing ingredients that are stacked with omega fatty acids which are useful for pups’ skin, coat, and brain.
Equally important, sweet potatoes, peas, and pumpkin provide your canine with fiber and nutrients to stay active and fit.
In addition, blueberries are hearty fruits that are loaded with antioxidants to strengthen your fur buddy’s immune system and keep him healthy.
And cranberries can be powerful in the fight against urinary infections which makes the recipe suitable for dogs with UTIs.
Both formulas are fortified with vitamins and minerals to boost your canine’s immune system, digestibility, and overall health.
On the one hand, Victor uses VPro blend to give your pup strong protection against diseases and boost his digestibility.
On the other hand, Blue Buffalo’s formulas are enhanced with LifeSource Bits chosen by vets and nutritionists to support healthy oxidative balance and wellness.
What makes these two brands stand out is the fact they don’t use by-products in their recipes, only real meat and meat meals.
It’s noteworthy that both brands make dog food without corn, wheat, and soy, and dogs with food sensitivities can eat their kibble without getting an upset stomach or skin irritations.
Therefore, we have a tie in this category as well.
Both brands use top-notch ingredients to provide your dog with the necessary nutrients to thrive.
If you have a dog with high-energy demands though, we suggest trying Victor’s recipe made with plenty of meat protein and fewer plants to give your buddy enough fuel and avoid any issues caused by veggies and fruits in some dogs.
Blue Buffalo’s recipe is richer in veggies and fruits, but a bit lower in protein, so pups with normal activity levels can benefit from their kibble abundant in antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory properties from the plants.
| Description | Blue Buffalo Dog Food | Victor Dog Food |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 | 1940s |
| Dog Food Brands | 7 Types | 6 Types |
| Dry Food Flavors | 101 | 20 |
| Wet Food Flavors | 99 | 5 |
| Protein Sources | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, beef, salmon meal, deboned bison, peas, rabbit | Beef meal, chicken meal, pork meal, blood meal, grain sorghum |
| Protein from meat sources | N/A | 81% |
| Guaranteed Analysis | Dry Recipes | Dry Recipes |
| Crude Protein | 29.5% | 31.7% |
| Crude Fat | 15.3% | 17.7% |
| Crude Fiber | 6.8% | 4.3% |
| Price per pound | $3.42 | $1.85 |
Meat Content
Victor’s recipe features a beef meal, blood meal, chicken meal, pork meal, and chicken fat whereas Blue Buffalo’s deboned chicken, chicken meal, and chicken fat in their adult, puppy, and senior recipes, and turkey meal is found only in the adult and puppy formulas.
Victor’s kibble is composed of 81% meat protein from beef, chicken, and pork meals.
In comparison, Blue Buffalo’s kibble contains premium quality deboned meat as the first ingredient, followed by a chicken meal, also a quality protein source.
Neither brand uses poultry by-products in their recipes.
We have to say that Blue Buffalo is the winner in this round due to the higher quality real meat content.
Winner: Blue Buffalo
Nutritional Value Comparison
We decided to compare Victor Classic Professional Dry Formula for dogs of all life stages and Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult/Puppy/Senior Chicken Recipe in this category.
Bear in mind that a dog’s needs may vary and depend on different factors such as age, activity level, size, and general health.
It’s always best to consult your vet for your dog’s unique diet plan.
Protein Content
Protein plays an important role in your dog’s overall health and the benefits are numerous.
Dogs need protein because it provides energy and helps them stay strong and active.
In addition, it strengthens the immune system and helps fight off infections and diseases.
This nutrient is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass and repairing tissues.
It also boosts skin health and makes the coat soft and shiny.
A lack of protein can make your dog weak and tired, also weaken his immune system, and may lead to skin and bone problems.
Note that not all protein sources are equally good and there’s a difference between meat protein and plant/grain protein.
Meat protein is considered to be a complete protein and it’s better for your dog’s health.
Some good sources of protein for dogs are meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.
Both Victor and Blue Buffalo include a minimum of 18% crude protein content which meets the AAFCO nutritional standards for dog food.
The AAFCO also states that you should pay attention to labels to make sure your pup gets high-quality protein from named meat sources like chicken, beef, or lamb, rather than a ‘meat’ or ‘poultry’ ingredient.
Blue Buffalo’s kibble has meat but also grains and eggs to provide protein for your furry buddy.
On average, Victor’s recipes are higher in protein and that’s the case with these two formulas as well.
Victor Classic Professional for all life stages has 26% crude protein content while Blue Buffalo Freedom has 24% for adults, 27% for puppies, and 18% for senior dogs.
Besides, Victor’s recipes include more meat protein sources than Blue Buffalo’s, so Victor takes the win in this category.
Winner: Victor
Fat Content
Fat fuels your dog’s body and it’s an important component of every dog’s diet.
Not only that it provides energy, but it also helps the body absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K which support your canine’s health.
Furthermore, essential fats such as omega-3 and omega-6 have multiple benefits for your dog’s skin, heart, brain, and joint health.
Flaxseed, fish oil, sunflower oil, and chicken fat are good sources of omega-fatty acids for your dog.
Victor and Blue Buffalo provide enough fat in their recipes and meet the AAFCO’s recommended 5.5% min crude fat for adult maintenance.
Victor’s kibble has 18% while Blue Buffalo’s has 14% fat crude fat content.
Although Victor’s kibble is a good fit for dogs with high physical demands, dogs who aren’t very active or a bit overweight need a diet lower in fat to lose weight and maintain health.
In addition, both brands use chicken fat, but only Blue Buffalo’s kibble has flaxseed and fish oil, which are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids that support your pal’s heart, skin, and cognitive function.
That’s why Blue Buffalo is the winner in this category.
Winner: Blue Buffalo
Fiber Content
Your dog needs fiber because it is a vital part of a healthy dog’s diet.
The reasons are plentiful, fiber helps regulate digestion, supports gut health, and it promotes satiety.
Quality fiber promotes good bowel movement, thus it helps with constipation and diarrhea.
Moreover, it helps regulate blood sugar levels which is helpful for dogs with diabetes and weight problems.
Good fiber sources for dogs are whole grains like brown rice, barley, oatmeal, veggies, and fruits like peas, carrots, blueberries, and apples.
Victor’s recipe has 3.8% good-quality fiber from whole-grain millet, grain sorghum, carrots, and seaweed meal.
Seaweed meal and grain sorghum are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and they are easily digestible.
In comparison, Blue Buffalo’s recipe has 6% fiber from sources like peas, flaxseed, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.
These ingredients offer a range of health benefits, including an effective digestive function.
We will give more credit to Blue Buffalo for providing more fiber and featuring wholesome ingredients that are not only high in dietary fiber, but also in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Blue Buffalo is the winner in this round, too.
Winner: Blue Buffalo
Flavors
Dogs love a rich, meaty flavor and that’s why these two brands use meat or fish as the first ingredient in their recipes.
You know how satisfying it is to see your dog enjoy his food and wag his tail when it’s time to eat.
However, not every dog is as enthusiastic when it comes to food, and if you have a picky eater you know what I mean.
That’s why both brands make food with different meats, great textures, and several flavors that dogs find delicious.
Also, the two brands have grain-free recipes that don’t lack flavor making them suitable for dogs with food sensitivities.
Even if your dog likes a certain food, if it causes an upset stomach or itchy skin, you need to switch to a grain-free, or limited-ingredient formula to avoid such problems.
Nevertheless, Blue Buffalo offers a more extensive range of products and flavors and you can find the perfect fit even for a fussy eater.
Clearly, we can’t be the judges of the taste of dog food, so we asked our favorite Pomeranian, Molly, to help us out.
Molly seemed to enjoy Victor’s kibble and ate up every time we served her this food.
She liked Blue Buffalo’s food too, but we noticed that she skipped the little LifeSource Bits and ate around them.
You can find more options in Blue Buffalo’s formulas, but if your dog isn’t a fan of the LifeSource bits, then Victor is a better choice.
Winner: Victor
Price Comparison
Price is something that plays an important role when choosing your canine’s food.
Some dog parents opt for more budget-friendly food, while others buy premium food with more health benefits that pays off in the long run.
When you think about prices you need to consider things like ingredients, protein, fiber and fat content, vitamins, whether you buy solely dry or wet food, and if you add homemade food as well to see what food is more affordable in the end.
Both Victor and Blue Buffalo’s recipes are more expensive than the local store’s brand because they use quality ingredients, added vitamins, and minerals to support health, and the immune system, and provide your pup with necessary nutrients.
Blue Buffalo is pricier than Victor and in our opinion, that’s because they use high-quality ingredients, real deboned meat, lots of veggies, and fruit.
However, Victor’s recipes include more meat protein sources and fewer plants, and still offer premium quality kibble that’s more affordable.
It all comes down to what’s more suitable for you and your pooch since both brands offer terrific food and good value for money.
If you want top-tier food made with real meat as the first ingredient, Blue Buffalo is the right choice.
And if you want food with plenty of protein, amino acids, and fatty acids at a more reasonable price, Victor is your best bet.
Winner: Victor
Customer Reviews
We took the customer reviews at Chewy as our base for this category.
The Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Formula, for example, has a 4.8 rating based on 469 reviews.
That’s a high ranking and most positive reviewers claim that their dogs love the flavor, they don’t need to mix the kibble with wet food, didn’t cause allergies, and it’s suitable for small dogs, too.
Here’s an actual user review:
“My friend’s dog eats the puppy version of this and my 3 year old dog kept trying to steal her food 🙂 My dog would never eat dry food without wet food mixed in so that surprised me. I ordered the adult version and viola. My dog now eats quality dry food without me having to mix wet food in it. She looks and acts healthy, shiny coat, and great consistency in her bowel movements. I’m very happy.“
Read more Blue Buffalo reviews
However, some of the customers think that the kibble is too small for some dogs and some dogs experienced diarrhea.
Victor’s Classic Professional Dry Formula has a slightly lower ranking, 4.3 but it’s based on much more reviews, 728, in particular.
Satisfied customers claim that their dogs are satisfied, their digestion improved, as well as their skin and coat.
Some of the negative reviews state that some dogs got smelly gas and didn’t like the flavor.
So, we have to say it’s a tie in this round.
Some dogs do well on Victor’s kibble while others prefer Blue Buffalo.
Nonetheless, both brands use good quality ingredients to give your pup enough nutrients to stay energized and healthy.
Recalls and Product Safety
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the safety of pet food in the USA and issues recalls when necessary.
The FDA issues a recall when food contains potentially harmful contaminants and the pet food company needs to retrieve or replace it.
Pet food companies produce their products, but often they source products from farmers and ranchers. So, they might get ingredients from suppliers which are already contaminated.
This happens more than we’d want to, but luckily, the FDA reacts promptly and
that’s why it’s important to stay informed about current recalls and what food isn’t safe for your pet.
Victor has an amazing track record on product safety and has never been recalled.
Blue Buffalo, on the other hand, has been recalled 9 times so far from 2007 to 2017.
Also, it is on the FDA’s list of brands associated with a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy.
Nonetheless, the FDA continues to investigate the matter and diet might not be related to DCM.
Blue Buffalo doesn’t have any active recalls at the moment.
Needless to say, Victor is the victor in this category for taking product safety very seriously and never being recalled.
Winner: Victor
Overall Winner
Choosing the best food for your dog is a priority for dog parents and that’s why we need to pay attention to ingredients, macronutrients, safety, and value for money.
The two brands reviewed here offer great-quality food that meets the nutritional requirements of dogs and gives them balanced and nutritious meals.
Victor and Blue Buffalo ended up with a tie in many categories, but, we have to admit that we lean towards Victor as the overall winner.
We appreciate the company’s good reputation, no recalls so far, and the fact that they use quality meat and fish to provide more meat protein, whole grains, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics in their recipes.
Their formulas are a fantastic choice for high-performing dogs who need a lot of energy and nutrients to stay strong and healthy.
Victor makes grain-free formulas as well to suit dogs with sensitivities and the price is another advantage over Blue Buffalo.
However, Blue Buffalo is the brand with a wider product range, more flavors, and more fruits, and veggies, so it can be the perfect fit for many dogs.
Their limited-ingredient formulas and vet diets can be helpful for dogs with skin, stomach, GI, kidney, weight, and urinary health problems.
This article can help you make a good decision, but we suggest consulting your vet for the best advice regarding your dog’s diet.
Do you want to read similar articles? Check out our Dog Food Comparison page!
