Ingredient library

Doing real work · Novel protein

Bison, venison, and buffalo

Also appears on labels as: roasted bison, roasted venison, venison, water buffalo, buffalo, freeze-dried buffalo

Meat from ruminant game species, farmed rather than hunted for pet food use.

Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.

Where it comes from
Game ranches in the US, New Zealand, and Australia.
Why it's in the product
Protein, plus genuine novelty value for pets that react to the common proteins.
Safety and toxicity
No safety concern. These are leaner than beef, and supply is limited enough that formulas often blend them with beef or lamb.
Interactions and who should be careful
Read the full panel before treating one of these as a novel protein for an elimination trial. Bison formulas frequently contain beef too, and the two cross-react.

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.

Found in 2 scored products

Lowest scores first. Its presence here is not what drove those scores.