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Blue Buffalo Tender Shreds Variety Pack Tasty Beef & Chicken Topper Wet Dog Food, 2.5-oz bag, 12 count
Blue Buffalo

Tender Shreds Variety Pack Tasty Beef & Chicken Topper Wet Dog Food, 2.5-oz bag, 12 count

Evidence Fair
wet $10.12/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Blue Buffalo Tender Shreds Variety Pack is a wet dog food topper featuring chicken and beef in broth.

Chicken is the primary ingredient, offering a strong protein profile with high biological value. The guaranteed analysis shows a minimum of 10% crude protein.

The score is capped due to the absence of an AAFCO statement and a lack of declared omega-3 sources like fish or algae oil.

Good fit for owners looking to add moisture and protein to their dog's meals. Less ideal if an AAFCO statement is a priority.

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

Who this is for

In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022  (FDA, 2022) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken: chicken anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15.

Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers 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
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 47/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 25 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with chicken: chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The ceiling on this score is 49, set because the guaranteed analysis falls below AAFCO's minimum nutrient profile. The fix path: a formula update that meets AAFCO minimums. That would lift the cap and put this formula above the B-band line at 60.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with chicken: chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI
What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Score capped at 49 due to CP_DM=71.4%, CF_DM=3.6%.

CAP why?

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI
What sets this apart
  • Lowest fat quality in Blue Buffalo's lineup (4/16)
  • Top 1% for DMB protein in Blue Buffalo's lineup (71.4%)
  • Bottom 1% for crude fiber in Blue Buffalo's lineup (3.6% DMB)

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 71% ⓘ
Protein
10%
min (as fed)
Fat
0.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
0.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
86%
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 71%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

13 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken: chicken

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

  2. 2
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you 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
    tapioca starch

    Refined cassava starch, used as a binder. Easy to digest, low on nutrition.

  5. 5
    vegetable oil

    Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.

    Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  6. 6
    guar gum.beef: beef

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

  7. 7
    beef broth

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

    Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  8. 8
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

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

  9. 9
    water

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

  10. 10
    chicken

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

    Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  11. 11
    tapioca starch

    Refined cassava starch, used as a binder. Easy to digest, low on nutrition.

  12. 12
    vegetable oil

    Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.

    Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  13. 13
    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 13: trace fiber inclusion.

11 of 13 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.