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 |
I used this food for quite a while and my dogs loved it initially and then refused it. Its very high in sodium, especially the 6fish and they couldn’t get enough water. Have switched to raw and they’re doing much better.
Mary,
Yes Origen is a good food but it does not have very much salt in it all. The high protein content in Origen cause Dogs and Cats to drink more than normal amounts of water. Raw is truly the most superior way to feed your pets but some people are not prone to doing it or have been ridiculed by their vet for making the switch.
Good luck
S
My 3 month old english bulldog was on innova for seven days after being on rolay canin. My dog had bad loose stools for the whole time with innova. immediately after switching to orijen problem with stool resolve.
Just want to diffuse a few myths or misconceptions…:
Orijen is not harmful to a growing puppy as long as it is not overfed. The protein count on the bag is INCLUSIVE of its water weight, and so the actual amount of protein per cup once water weight is removed is likely lower than 23%. 23% kibbles are considered low-protein. Also consider that with such a high quality food, you are feeding so much less than you would of a lesser quality grain-inclusive kibble. So all that said, do you really think they are getting more protein? Many people do not reconcile this fact. I would not mix Orijen with multiple other foods – it is so nutrient-dense and complete that there is absolutely no reason for doing this unless you are doing it for variety. I will add eggs, yogurt, coconut oil, olive oil, tripe, peanut butter, etc. to my dog’s kibble but only for variety although each of these things does have dietary benefits.
6Fish is an excellent option for dogs with allergies or sensitive tummies. That is what I started my girl on for her sensitive stomach and now we have moved onto Orijen Regional Red, which is way better than the 6Fish. I never would have thought that possible!
As for throwing up after eating and drinking, that sounds to me like an isolated incident or perhaps the food just does not work for your specific dog. I raised my great dane puppy on Orijen and continue to feed it. Danes are the #1 breed prone to bloat. My dane has thrown up undigested kibble (several hours after eating) only once and it was due to summer heat, exercise, a large intake of water, and part of a toy that she had swallowed.
Orijen is so close to RAW that many raw feeders will feed Orijen when traveling, etc. I agree that it is not exactly the same thing, though.
I do agree that Orijen tends to cause dogs to drink a lot, but danes drink so much as it is that I can’t tell the difference.
More people need to read the Orijen White Paper! http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/ORIJEN_White_Paper.pdf
I absolutely love Orijen red meat for my 2 year old lab mix. She is about 30 pounds. I tried fish fish and she really liked and I found red meat and have stuck with that and she is so excited to eat. Wakes me up at 5:30 to eat at 6:00 and waits by her food cupboard at 4:30 to eat at 5:00. Best stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!
Question: I have 3 chihuahuas. One is 11 mnths old and weighs 7.5lbs, one is 7mnths old and weighs 11.5lbs and one is 1.3yrs and weighs 2.6lbs. All of them have been eating Royal Canin mixed with Go Natural wet. All of them poop a lot, have bad breath, itchy flaky skin, goopy eyes and stinky gas. A month or so ago, I decided to give them better food and tried to switch to Orijen. They gained a lot of weight, were always hungry and none of the above symptoms improved much. So my question is: Should I have tried the Orijen longer or is it too high a protein for chihuahuas, even my bigger guys?? I would really like to switch to grain free food. HELP!!
i have a dachshund/shitzu and he’s been on orijen for 6 months now and he absolutely adores it! either as just dry food, but usually i mix it with wet food or more meat like boiled chicken or beef. adding vegetables like carrots helps too!
i ran out of orijen so i’ve had to give him his old puppy food and he hasn’t touched it at all! so i’m running to get more orijen now… GOOD ORIJEN!
Hi All,
Please help. My great dane puppy is coming to 3 months old. His breeder fed him Eukanabar which gave him very soft stools. Wanting the best for my boy, i got Orijen 6 Fresh Fish Dog Food and feed him two cups a day since he was 1 1/2 months old. Over the past week his been having very soft stools, at times liquidish and very smelly.
Im from Malaysia and we cant get EaglePack here. Ive taken him to the vet who prescribed some antibiotics which doesnt seem to help.
I was thinking of changing him to EVO Yellow Pack or Innova Adult ?
any advice/help is much appreciated.
Regards
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Evo isn’t recommended for large breed puppies, it says it right on the bag. You need to find a food with low/calcium phosphorous level (less than 1.5%/1%), excess calcium can cause skeletal abnormalities in giant breeds.
Some brands that are have acceptable levels of fat, protein, calcium/phosphorous are:
Artemis med/large breed puppy
Fromm large breed puppy
Fromm – all adult formulas
Eagle Pack (not all formulas though)
Halo
Natural Balance (not all formulas)
Wellness
Solid Gold (large breed puppy only)
The grain free kibbles are very high in calories, so you must be very careful not to overfeed. Excess weight is also very detrimental to large breed pups. (Innova adult is VERY high in calories).
Good luck!
cp
Dear CP
Thanks for your feedback. Ive put him on ANF and i see some changes in poo structure. Will monitor for a few more days.
thanks anyways
Regards
Jeff
My 10 yr old Airedale/wolfhound mix has cushings. He is refusing all kibble. He even refused home cooked chicken thighs tonight. but ate organ meats from our turkey (cooked giblets) Anyone have a food that they particularly recommend for Cushings
I raise English Bulldogs and also have a Bernese Mountain Dog. My dogs all LOVE Orijen. Their coats are soft and shiny and shedding is minimal. Frequently female bulldogs ‘blow their coats’ after having a litter, I’ve never experienced that extensive coat loss since switching to Orijen. One of the issues I have had with this food was weight gain, because bulldogs are rather lazy, so I mix the Red or 6 Fish with Senior and watch portions carefully. The other was loose stools in puppies between 6 weeks and 12 weeks, but when I mix a lower calorie food with the Orijen it seems to control the problem. If anyone else has an idea why or an alternative solution I’d be appreciative.
I just posted on another thread about having to reajust the amount you feed your dog when changing to a fantastic food like Orijen. With a food like Orijen you’ll find you will feed less. This is just a great food.
I am on the search for a new dog food for my Berner who has a sensitive stomach. As a puppy, I started him on Innova Puppy formula, but it gave him diarhea. I slowly tried to switch him over to several other brands. He finally stopped the diarhea after being on Science Diet Natures Best Lamb Formula. Because of their bad reputation, I didn’t want to keep him on it for very long. After he was on it for a while I noticed that was chewing his feet and was having constant ear problems. I decided to try Innova again and slowly switched him to Innova California Naturals Lamb & Rice formula. After the 2nd bag, his stools became loose again. The vet told me to try a totally grain-free formula, so I slowly tried him on Innova Evo, but it just seemed to get worse. It got to a point where he could not hold it and had a couple of accidents in the house. I immediately took him off all dog food and put him on boiled chicken and rice for about a week now. His stomach has finally straightened out. Now I am looking for something new….any suggestion for a 2 year old Bernese Mountain Dog with a sensitive stomach?
Karen Harvey I have had success with Merrick’s Before Grain.You stated that your vet suggested that you should try going grain free.Its totally grain free,made in Texas and is family owned.They have their own facility,they make the food.They do not distribute to the big chain stores ie petco,petsmart.You can get it at your local independently owned pet store.It is more expensive to order directly from them,so I get it at the pet store.A 25 pound bag is a little under 40 dollars,but my 70 pound Labrador Retriever only eats 3 cups a day.You also stated that you were using Innova Evo they have a class action lawsuit against them. http://hubpages.com/hub/Innova-Large-Breed-Puppy-Dry-Healthy-Dog-Foods-Pet-Food-Danger-Gauge