What You Should Know:
Orijen dog food is “Biologically Appropriate”, according to their website. What does that mean? They say that it means their food mirrors the freshness and variety of meats that dogs are evolved to eat.
They choose where they get their ingredients carefully, and set quality and nutritional standards to meet their own standards. They are based in Kentucky and have regional and other areas around the US, farmers, ranchers and fishermen whose values match their own to provide their ingredients. These suppliers provide fresh and other ingredients that are GMO free, and ethically produced. Their fruits, vegetable and botanical ingredients are of table quality. All the meats come from animals that are fit for humans to eat.
Both Orijen and Acana foods are made by Champion Petfoods. And are cooked in their custom-built kitchens in Auburn, Kentucky. Their freeze Dried foods and treats are produced in their kitchen in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. They don’t allow anyone else to make their food and they only make pet food.
The animal testing that they conduct are only tests that they would allow their own dogs and cats to participate in. Their position is that if it is not okay for their own pets then it’s not okay for any other pets.
When it comes to their senior dog foods the relationship between carbohydrates and protein is important to them. They believe that carbohydrates are simply sugars and should be low in a dog’s diet.
In 2015-2016 they were awarded Excellence in canine pet food and in 2009-2012 they were named pet food of the year.
The ingredients:
Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, yellowtail flounder, whole eggs, whole atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, whole atlantic herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated mackerel, dehydrated chicken liver, dehydrated turkey liver, whole green peas, whole navy beans, red lentils, chicken necks, chicken kidney, pinto beans, chickpeas, green lentils, alfalfa, lentil fiber, natural chicken flavor, chicken cartilage, herring oil, ground chicken bone, chicken fat, turkey cartilage, dried kelp, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, whole carrots, apples, pears, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product.
What I like:
I really like the fact that it is an organic dog food and it is sourced and made in the US. The first ingredients listed are protein sources. I like that they add things like apples, pumpkin seeds and some vitamins and minerals. However, although they are healthy ingredients, some dogs may not tolerate the added ingredients, so please be aware of that.
What I didn’t like:
I have to admit that it really stinks. I can’t say whether that is good or bad. Dogs love strong smells that we may not enjoy so much, so maybe that’s good for your dog and bad for you. It is a little on the pricey side, but it is also organic. Even people organic food is more expensive.
Summary:
I give this product 4.5 stars. I think it is a great dog food, but expensive. I didn’t give it 5 stars because it has ingredients that some dog won’t be able to tolerate.
I personally feed this to two of my dogs. I feed the senior formula to my oldest Chi and also feed the adult chicken flavor to my youngest. They are both thriving on it.
Most dogs will gain weight as they get older because of being less active. My oldest, however was just the opposite and started to lose weight. I changed him to the Orijen for seniors and he has gained back the weight he had lost and is now looking healthier than ever!
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To find out more visit their website
