Orijen Dog Food
September 21, 2008
Filed under Dog Food Reviews, Orijen
Orijen Dog Food Review
If you prefer a grain free dog food, Orijen should be at the top of your list of dog foods to research. Orijen is amongst the best grain free brands of dog food out there. Orijen produces food for your puppy, adult dog and even cats.
The reformulated Orijen Dog Food products have hit the shelves towards the end of 2010. Compared to their old dog food recipes, the reformulated products have been noted to contain positive changes in terms of the amount and type of ingredients, particularly meat, which have been incorporated in each Orijen dog food formula. All Orijen products also possess a low glycemic index to help prevent or control Diabetes mellitus in dogs.
Orijen products are now formulated with up to 80% more meat and no grains. Quality is maintained by ensuring that the meat used in their products has not been previously frozen or raised in a farm. Rather, meat which is incorporated in each kibble Orijen product comes from the meat of game birds or free-ranged.
To add variety, fresh liver has also been added to most Orijen products except Orijen Regional Red which contains beef liver and Orijen Six Fish which does not contain any liver.
Although more than 80% of the ingredients are now completely animal-based, much of these are boneless in an effort to lower the mineral or ash content.
Orijen dog food products are grain-free. Instead, its carbohydrate component is obtained from sweet potato which is a good source of complex carbohydrates.
Orijen states that the fish meal which has been incorporated in their dog foods are preserved with NATUR-OX, which is a natural blend of Rosemary and tocopherols.
Since there is less meat meal concentrates which have been added, there is lower protein content in Orijen products. In the old formulation, the high protein content was linked to several deaths particularly those dogs which were not big enough to metabolize the high amounts of protein in the diet.
Many dog owners have positively rated Orijen dog food. High ratings were given to the dog food’s palatability as well as the different ingredients that make up each formula. This is one of the most highly rated and most recommended dog food brands that we have reviewed. We can confidently say that we believe that Orijen is one of the best dog food brands available.
There were also a few negative feedbacks from owners whose dogs throw up when their food was switched to Orijen. A few dog owners also reported of digestive upsets and skin problems after switching.
Although more expensive compared to most brands, many dog owners have commented how their dogs’ health improved and how pets suffering from skin allergies and digestive upsets bade goodbye to these problems upon shifting to Orijen. Many also reported that their dogs now possess healthy shiny hair and do not suffer from any dental or digestive problems.
Please visit the links listed below for Orijen dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about this dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
Orijen Dog Food Reviews:
Orijen Dog Food Formulas:
- Orijen Puppy Dog Food
- Orijen Puppy Large Dog Food
- Orijen Adult Dog Food New Formula
- Orijen Adult Dog Food
- Orijen 6 Fresh Fish Dog Food New Formula
- Orijen 6 Fresh Fish Dog Food
- Orijen Regional Red Dog Food New Formula
- Orijen Regional Red Dog Food
- Orijen Senior Dog Food
Orijen Dog Food Consumer Rating
| Title | Votes | Rating | Review |
| Orijen 6 Fish Dog Food - New Formula | 40 | 9.1 | -1.0 |
| Orijen 6 Fresh Fish Dog Food | 99 | 8.3 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Adult Dog Food | 198 | 7.4 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Adult Dog Food - New Formula | 38 | 8.0 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Dog Food | 364 | 7.8 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Puppy Dog Food | 151 | 7.5 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Puppy Large Dog Food | 155 | 7.7 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Regional Red Dog Food | 100 | 7.8 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Regional Red Dog Food - New Formula | 37 | 8.4 | -1.0 |
| Orijen Senior Dog Food | 53 | 7.6 | -1.0 |
Anyone feeds their chihuahua Orijen (6 fish)? Tks
Can’t wait to try this food for my pups (2 yr old Mini Poodle and 6 month old Mini Yorkie). Did not realize how bad most foods were until researching for new food (even the so-called premium brands!). I have no real issues with my pups or with their eating preferences, I really just want the best nutrition for them. They are small, so cost is not an issue. I happen to have a retailer less than a mile away (shocking since there are only 2 retailers in my state!). Will update with the results, but I think my experience will follow the positive posts on this and every other blog/site I’ve seen on Orijen.
Wow! This Orijen stuff sounds like it’ll do the trick for my dog. I got a mini schnauzer about 2 weeks ago. He has dermitis and an ear infection. The girl who gave me the dog said the vet said to give him some Iams “healthy” stuff. I talked to a friend who’s did research for her Westie and told me Science Diet was the best thing I could find at a large chain pet store. I’m so glad I didn’t buy that today. The vet I saw said that it’s probably a food allergy from grains that has him with his ear infection and skin. However, she told me to keep him on the Iams. I think I’ll for sure be getting Orijen for him tomorrow. Good thing I did some of my own searching for food and comments.
hi everyone!
we acquired a 1 year old black 5 days ago who was eating some purina dry food. we immediately switched him over to orijen because there was no purina left to mix it in to gradually switch him. he ate well the first night, day and next night but after that, nothing.
i believe he was used to eating off a plate (i know…) so to see if our new dog bowls were affecting his eating, we tried it on a plate and still nothing. i went to the local food store (ren’s pet depot) too see if i could get some help and the girl suggested acana because it’s got a lot of the same ingredients but it was less hardcore. we tried ‘light and fit’ and he ate it for a night, a day and a night but now he hasn’t been eating again!
we have a vet appointment tomorrow night but it’s just upsetting seeing the dog sniff the food and walk away!!!! he’s drinking okay and getting exercise but maybe he’s too hot?? any suggestions??
We are getting a Boxer puppy. She is only 4 weeks old, so she won’t come “home” for 4 more weeks…so she is still with the breeder… after reading and researching dog food, I am mortified! The breeder is feeding her Pedigree! EEEEEKKKKK! My poor sweet puppy. I can’t wait to get some Orijen in her!! Do I have any ‘say-so’ as to what the breeder feeds the puppies?
Zea mays is indeed the scientific name for corn, and when someone says “we should stop producing GMO corn” without facts to back it up, that pretty much sums it up….
I have a golden retriever rescue. Bad coat. Bad ears. Have put him on the Orijen Adult. Is the fish better for allergies?
Updating an earlier post… My dogs LOVE this stuff!!!! Their coats look better, stools are better, I know their health is better because of the pure ingredients… Very happy with this food.
Zea mays is indeed the scientific name for corn SILK!!!
What does “Zea mays” have to do with Orijen Dog Food??? IT IS NOT IN ANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. Do you clowns work for another dog food manufacters?
I tried Orijen and really liked it but I have reservations. My dog is a GSD and very active in training and such. I feed him about 8:00 in a.m. and 5:00 p.m. I gave him morning feeding and about 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. went out to do some training. This is about 6 hours after he had eaten, he drank water and then threw up. Normally I wouldn’t be too concerned about the throwing up because he tanked up on the water but he threw up the Orijen, which wwas now swollen but not at all digested. To me this is not a good sign for breeds of dogs that are prone to torsion. Could somebody explain why this food takes so long to show any signs of digesting and is this a legitamate concern on my part.
Would appreciate any information anybody has on this.
Zea mays is the Latin name for corn silk, which is a safe, mild, soothing, natural diuretic. The manufacturers of Orijen took it out of their formulas because of the controversy around fools challenging the food as not being grain-free! What a shame….. It is beneficial to the urinary system. My 7 yr.old Boxer Girl has been eating Orijen for nearly 3 yrs. She loves it and I love her on it.
I tried my GSD on Orijen and she just did not do well. Her energy was lacking, she looked and acted dull and lethargic on it. I have had her on EVO red meat for about 3 wks now, and in the first 2 wks she was so energetic and happy, and now she has some issues with softer, mucousy stools and has seemed just not as peppy as she did the first couple wks. She loves the EVO red, but I’m thinking between the Innova EVO and the Orijen, they may both be just a tad TOO high in protein for my dog. She doesn’t do well on low protein, and too high protein is not ideal, so now I have to find something inbetween. Also, high protein premium grain free brands are a little tricky when dealing with cats or dogs that tend to gain weight and shouldn’t. So I’m thinking of trying out Van Patten Ultra dog food or maybe Acana for a few wks and see how it goes.
Louise Miller, I also have a German Sheperd. I mix the Orijen with California Natural puppy and Innova large breed puppy, I wet them. The Orjien is very high in protien and could cause some problems if you have a young dog. My dog is the best looking dog at any park I go to and he gets at least 5 comments every time. Try this out slowly and I know you’ll like the results. If your dog keeps throwing you should see a vet. The California Natural has very few ingredients and works well with the other two.
I highly recommend the caifornia natural as your GSD #1 food, it is really great stuff. I feed my GSD mostly the natural.