Skip to main content
snıff
Blue Buffalo Delights Grain-Free Chicken, Top Sirloin & Filet Mignon Variety Pack Adult Small Breed Pate Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz can, case of 24
Blue Buffalo

Delights Grain-Free Chicken, Top Sirloin & Filet Mignon Variety Pack Adult Small Breed Pate Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz can, case of 24

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $8.76/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Blue Buffalo Delights Grain-Free Chicken, Top Sirloin & Filet Mignon Variety Pack is a pate wet food for adult small breed dogs, featuring chicken liver as a primary protein.

Chicken liver provides good protein quality with solid amino acid coverage. The formula also includes dried egg product, adding to the diverse, high-bioavailability protein sources. It's formulated for adult maintenance, which is a good sign for nutritional completeness.

This food contains carrageenan, a thickener that some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation. It also includes guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data, though canine clinical evidence is not yet available.

Good fit for adult small breed dogs. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or inflammatory bowel disease.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

The FDA's 2019 investigation update on diet-associated DCM included 13 reported cases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, making them one of the top 15 most frequently reported breeds at that time  (FDA, 2019) . Strong fit for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Filet mignon flavor in gravy: beef anchors position 1, with 2 pulse-family ingredients in the top 15 (peas at position 9, pea flour at position 10), plus chicken liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor).

Looking at this for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    cardiac · diet composition· cited in 3 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

At 44/100, this formula sits below where we look for everyday picks. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 17.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. chicken liver delivers solid amino acid coverage. The ceiling on this score is 64, set because three or more WATCH-tier ingredients appear in the deck. The cap isn't the binding constraint here. Controversial-ingredient penalty would also need to improve to reach the next band.

What lifted the score

Reasonable protein quality. chicken liver delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF
What pulled it down

Score capped at 64 due to 3 WATCH ingredients.

CAP why?

Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..

CIP

Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Bottom 1% for carb quality in Blue Buffalo's lineup (8/16)
  • Top quartile for DMB protein in Blue Buffalo's lineup (44.4%)
  • Bottom 10% for overall Sniff Score in Blue Buffalo's lineup (44/100)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
True Solutions Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24
Blue Buffalo

True Solutions Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24

63

Scores 19 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Blue Buffalo's Stew Chicken & Beef Variety Pack Wet Dog Food,12.5-oz can, case of 6
Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo's Stew Chicken & Beef Variety Pack Wet Dog Food,12.5-oz can, case of 6

44

$3.75/lb vs your seed's $8.76/lb (57% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • carrageenan
    Seaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 44% ⓘ
Protein
8%
min (as fed)
Fat
3%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
82%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 44%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

105 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    filet mignon flavor in gravy: beef

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    beef broth

    Real broth. Adds flavor and moisture, signals the recipe leans on real meat.

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  4. 4
    chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

    Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  5. 5
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

    Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  6. 6
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

    Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  8. 8
    dried egg product

    Whole eggs with the water removed. Same nutritional value as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.

    Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  9. 9
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

    Position 9. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  10. 10
    pea flour

    Powdered peas, usually used as a binder or filler. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA flagged.

    Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  11. 11
    potato starch

    Refined potato. Pure carb energy, low on other nutrition. Often used as a binder in grain-free recipes.

  12. 12
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →

    Position 12: trace fiber inclusion.

  13. 13
    natural filet mignon flavor
  14. 14
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  15. 15
    sodium phosphate

    Mineral source and preservative. Standard inclusion at small doses.

  16. 16
    cane molasses

    Added sugar from sugar cane. Used for palatability or texture. Dogs don't need added sugar.

  17. 17
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  18. 18
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  19. 19
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  20. 20
    zinc amino acid chelate

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

  21. 21
    iron amino acid chelate

    Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  22. 22
    xanthan gum

    Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag. See why →

  23. 23
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  24. 24
    copper amino acid chelate

    Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.

  25. 25
    manganese amino acid chelate

    Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

Showing first 25 of 105. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.