Blue Buffalo vs Royal Canin

Bottom line: Across 384 independently scored formulas, Blue Buffalo leads overall (83.1 vs 77.4 average VetKriter™ score), while Blue Buffalo scores higher for kittens and puppies (87.1 vs 80.5). The life-stage and species breakdown below shows which brand fits your pet.

Blue Buffalo and Royal Canin are compared using the VetKriter scientific scoring system. Blue Buffalo has 308 products with an average VetKriter™ score of 83.1, while Royal Canin has 76 products with an average VetKriter™ score of 77.4.

Blue Buffalo leads with a 5.7 point higher average VetKriter™ score.

Higher Score

Blue Buffalo

308 Products
83.1
Average VetKriter™
Protein 18.6%
Fat 9.9%
VetKriter™ Min–Max 65.00 – 93.30
VS

Royal Canin

76 Products
77.4
Average VetKriter™
Protein 18%
Fat 8.6%
VetKriter™ Min–Max 65.80 – 87.00

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Blue Buffalo vs Royal Canin for Dogs

Average VetKriter™ score of dog formulas, excluding veterinary diets: Blue Buffalo 82.3 (192 formulas) · Royal Canin 76.4 (35 formulas).

Blue Buffalo vs Royal Canin for Cats

Average VetKriter™ score of cat formulas, excluding veterinary diets: Blue Buffalo 86.0 (98 formulas) · Royal Canin 78.2 (40 formulas).

Veterinary diets: BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet vs Royal Canin Veterinary Diet

Veterinary (therapeutic) diets are formulated for specific medical conditions and should be fed under your veterinarian's guidance; some retailers ask for veterinary authorization. VetKriter™ scores them on a separate therapeutic scale, so these scores are not comparable with the everyday formulas above. “—” means no product for that condition is in the VetKriter™ catalog yet; the brand may still offer one.

Veterinary diets for dogs

Condition BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet Royal Canin Veterinary Diet
Digestive (GI) +1 more in the VetKriter™ catalog
Kidney
Urinary — +1 more in the VetKriter™ catalog
Food allergy / hypoallergenic +1 more in the VetKriter™ catalog
Weight management —
Diabetes —

Veterinary diets for cats

Condition BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet Royal Canin Veterinary Diet
Digestive (GI)
Kidney — +1 more in the VetKriter™ catalog
Urinary — +5 more in the VetKriter™ catalog
Food allergy / hypoallergenic
Diabetes —

Frequently Asked Questions

According to VetKriter analysis, Blue Buffalo has an average VetKriter™ score of 83.1 (308 products), while Royal Canin has 77.4 (76 products). Individual products should be compared based on your pet's specific needs.

Blue Buffalo products average 18.6% crude protein, while Royal Canin averages 18%. Both values should be evaluated in the context of the overall nutritional profile.

Both Blue Buffalo and Royal Canin contain products evaluated by VetKriter using AAFCO, FEDIAF, and NRC standards. We recommend consulting your veterinarian to find the most suitable food for your pet.

For kittens and puppies, Blue Buffalo leads: Blue Buffalo averages 87.1 VetKriter™ score across 39 formulas, while Royal Canin averages 80.5 across 15.

For senior pets, Blue Buffalo leads: Blue Buffalo averages 83.9 VetKriter™ score across 28 formulas, while Royal Canin averages 80.9 across 6.

For adult dogs and cats, Blue Buffalo leads: Blue Buffalo averages 82.9 VetKriter™ score across 232 formulas, while Royal Canin averages 76.4 across 51.

For cats, Blue Buffalo leads: Blue Buffalo averages 85.9 VetKriter™ score across 101 formulas, while Royal Canin averages 78.3 across 41.

For dogs, Blue Buffalo leads: Blue Buffalo averages 82.3 VetKriter™ score across 197 formulas, while Royal Canin averages 76.4 across 35.

Related Pages

Scientific Analysis by
Doc. Dr. Mehmet COLAK
VetKriter™ · AAFCO / FEDIAF / NRC 2026

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