When you bring a furry bundle of joy to your place, you take responsibility for how they are going to spend their life. Of course, taking care of your pooch goes far beyond feeding them well, but we are sure you won’t argue that nutrition is one of the most important aspects that have a direct impact on the quality of the pet’s life.
Understanding the vitality of picking the best nutrition option for your pooch, we’ve put out these Orijen dog food reviews. Since Orijen is one of the most popular brands of dog food out there with a hefty price tag, your desire to know more about this company is natural.
So, Orijen is known for manufacturing biologically appropriate dog food from the world's best ingredients in award-winning kitchens. The company is dedicated to producing pet food that mirrors the natural diet of canine’s ancestors with the use of fresh and raw meat and other functional ingredients, which provide virtually everything your pet might need in their nutrition for long and healthy living.
Who Makes Orijen Dog Food?
Orijen is a pet food brand that belongs to a Canadian company named Champion Petfoods. This company also manufactures Acana dog food in the same facilities.
When you go with Orijen dog food, you can always be sure of the quality of the final product. The company never outsources the manufacturing process and keeps an eye on all the procedures in its own facilities in Alberta, Canada, and Kentucky, USA. According to the website, the brand has some of the best production facilities that are equipped with purpose-built and custom-designed devices suitable for processing fresh and raw ingredients.
Orijen dog food ingredients are responsibly sourced from the local agricultural community, which allows getting the freshest and most nourishing ingredients that make a complete and balanced diet.
Orijen Dog Food Reviews
Orijen proudly produces recipes that nourish the canines the way nature intended. Unlike other brands, Orijen mimics the natural diet of the dogs’ ancestors, which means it relies on the blend of fresh meat, poultry, fish, organs, and bones in the amount that is enough to make the complete diet for the canine. Thanks to this, all Orijen formulas are rich in meat with one of the highest levels of proteins on the dog food market. At the same time, this food is low in carbs as it contains no grains, fillers, or other carbohydrate-dense ingredients. Recipes are enhanced with fresh or dried herbs, so your pet will get all they need without a long list of synthetic supplements and minerals.
ORIJEN Original Grain Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
- A nutrient-packed recipe with 85% of meat and fish proteins
- No fillers, grains, by-products, wheat, soy, and synthetic supplements
- Coated with freeze-dried liver for enhanced flavor
ORIJEN Freeze Dried Adult Dog Food
- Benefits of raw food with the convenience of kibble
- Loaded with 90% of meat and fish
- A low-carb and grain-free recipe with 40% of protein
ORIJEN Six Fish Grain Free & Poultry Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
- Free of poultry and other meat types
- Contains 6 different fish types
- Relies on fish, organs, and bones - natural dog’s prey
ORIJEN Regional Red Grain Free & Poultry Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
- Whole animal ingredients with the mix of superfoods
- Nourishes dogs in a natural way
- Free of poultry meat and grains
ORIJEN Tundra Grain Free & Poultry Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
- A biologically appropriate diet with 85% of animal proteins
- A whole prey diet with the use of real meat, organs, and bones
- Free of grains and poultry
ORIJEN Small Breed Grain Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
- Meets the dietary needs of small dog breeds
- Contains an increased amount of calories
- Supports dog’s immune system and eye health
ORIJEN Senior Grain Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
- A balanced diet for senior canines
- Fresh and raw animal ingredients as a quality source of nutrients
- Higher levels of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
ORIJEN Original Grain Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
A protein-powered recipe with 85% of poultry, fish, organs, and cage-free eggs. Six quality animal protein whole prey sources make the top 10 ingredients. No grains, fillers, artificial preservatives.
The Orijen Original dog food is one of the bestsellers of this brand. This is a classic formula with 38% of crude protein and 18% of fat, so it is suitable for working dogs, superactive canines, or pregnant or nursing pets. It’s made of six meat and fish types, including chicken, turkey, Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic herring, wild flounder, and cage-free eggs. Poultry organs and bones are used in this recipe to mimic the natural diet of wild dogs. Some of the plants like carrots, beans, pumpkin, apples, greens, and more are added to make the nutritionally balanced formula that doesn’t require any additional synthetic supplements.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 449 kcal per cup
- Crude protein: 38.0% min
- Crude fat: 18.0% min
- Crude fiber: 4.0% min
- Moisture: 12.0% max
- Key ingredients: deboned chicken, deboned turkey, flounder, eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, whole Atlantic herring, and more.
- A protein-powered recipe for dogs of all life stages and breeds
- Different meat and fish types with organs and bones make 85% of the recipe
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Dry food
- Breed size: All breeds
- Life Stage: All life stages
- Weight: 12 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb., and 25 lb. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- High levels of animal and fish protein and fat
- Packed with quality protein sources without fillers
- No corn, soy, wheat, by-products
- Infused kibble for a rich taste
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- Some reviews of Orijen dog food say that this food makes dogs sick
ORIJEN Freeze Dried Adult Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Raw ingredients that do not get messy. A recipe with a concentrated amount of nutrients. Made with chicken, turkey, herring, poultry organs, and some functional veggies and fruit without fillers and grains.
The Orijen freeze dried dog food is a balanced and nutrient-dense diet for dogs of all breeds. This grain free recipe is made of raw meat that has been processed at low temperatures, then frozen, and dried to bring all the benefits of a raw diet without any discomfort from your side. It doesn’t require refrigeration to be stored and can be grabbed with you if you travel with your pet. This formula is made of a blend of meat types like chicken with bones, turkey, fish, and some veggies to provide your canine with all the essentials they require for healthy living.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 75 kcal per medallion
- Crude protein: 40.0% min
- Crude fat: 34.0% min
- Crude fiber: 5.0% min
- Moisture: 4.0% max
- Key ingredients: chicken ground with bone, chicken liver, turkey, whole herring, eggs, pea fiber, turkey liver, turkey heart, flounder, chicken heart, whole pumpkin, and more.
- Minimally processed raw meat in a convenient dry form
- Packed with natural nutrients and vitamins
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Freeze-dried food
- Breed size: All breeds
- Life Stage: All life stages
- Weight: 6 oz., 12 oz. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- Packed with animal proteins and fats
- No grains, fillers, corn, wheat, or artificial flavors
- 90% of quality animal protein
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- Might upset the dog’s stomach if to fail to carry the transition to the freeze-dried diet
ORIJEN Six Fish Grain Free & Poultry Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Made of six fish types without the use of poultry or other meat. Suitable for canines with chicken, beef, lamb, or other meat allergies. High in protein and fat.
When there’s no place for a low protein diet for your dog, you choose Orijen 6 fish dog food. This recipe is made of six fish types, including whole wild mackerel, whole wild herring, monkfish, redfish, flounder, and silver hake. Comparable to other recipes, this one is free of poultry or other meat, so it will do for those canines that are allergic to chicken, turkey, or other animal protein sources. Since Orijen aims at delivering the most natural nutrition for our domesticated canines, it adds wholesome fish with bones and organs, which are considered to be powerful sources of nutrients.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 445 kcal per cup
- Crude protein: 38.0% min
- Crude fat: 18.0% min
- Crude fiber: 4.0% min
- Moisture: 12.0% max
- Key ingredients: whole Atlantic mackerel, whole Atlantic herring, monkfish, Acadian redfish, flounder, whole silver hake, mackerel meal, herring meal, blue whiting meal, and more.
- Top 5 ingredients are raw fish
- Free of poultry and meat
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Dry food
- Breed size: All breeds
- Life Stage: All life stages
- Weight: 2 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb., and 25 lb. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- Natural and balanced nutrition without synthetic vitamins
- Made of wholesome fish, including bones and organs
- Enhanced with fresh herbs and plants
- Free of grains and fillers
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- Some dogs are not crazy about the fish flavor
ORIJEN Regional Red Grain Free & Poultry Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Nourished canines in a natural way. Made of ranch-raised beef, lamb, pork, and wild-caught mackerel. Free of poultry like chicken, turkey, and duck.
If it turns out that your dog doesn’t tolerate chicken or any other poultry, pay attention to this
Orijen regional red grain free dry dog food. It’s made of ranch-raised lamb, beef, pork, wild boar, and wild-caught mackerel with the use of fresh and raw deboned meat, organs, and bones. Chicken, turkey, duck, and other poultry meat types are not added to this Orijen red dog food formula, so it’s safe for pets with allergies. There are also some freeze-dried pieces of beef, lamb liver, and tripe, so your canine could enjoy the flavor of real raw meat.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 440 kcal per cup
- Crude protein: 38.0% min
- Crude fat: 18.0% min
- Crude fiber: 4.0% min
- Moisture: 12.0% max
- Key ingredients: deboned beef, deboned wild boar, deboned goat, deboned lamb, lamb liver, beef liver, beef tripe, wild boar liver, deboned mutton, beef heart, whole Atlantic mackerel, and more.
- Balanced recipe with 85% of premium animal ingredients
- Free of poultry meat and grains
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Dry food
- Breed size: All breeds
- Life Stage: All life stages
- Weight: 2 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb., and 25 lb. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- High levels of animal protein and fat
- No fillers and grains
- Excludes poultry meat
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- Carries a hefty price
ORIJEN Tundra Grain Free & Poultry Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Free of grains and poultry. Made of Boer goat, wild boar, venison, mutton meat, duck, and Arctic char, trout, pilchard. Cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutrients.
If you are concerned about the natural and nutrient-dense diet for your furry buddy, then Orijen Tundra dog food is definitely worth your attention. This recipe is packed with quality animal ingredients, including meat, organs, and bones, which deliver the perfect amount of nutrients your canine requires to thrive. This formula contains zero grains and poultry, so is suitable for pets with sensitive stomach and allergies. It’s not the cheapest food option, but it is definitely one of the best dog food Orijen recipes available out there.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 460 kcal per cup
- Crude protein: 40.0% min
- Crude fat: 18.0% min
- Crude fiber: 5.0% min
- Moisture: 12.0% max
- Key ingredients: deboned goat, deboned wild boar, whole Arctic char, deboned venison, steelhead trout, deboned duck, duck liver, mutton, whole pilchard, and more.
- A meat-based diet without grains and poultry
- Enhanced with superfoods
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Dry food
- Breed size: All breeds
- Life stage: All life stages
- Weight: 2 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb., and 25 lb. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- A high-performance diet for active and working dogs
- The highest protein level among dry dog food recipes
- 85% of ingredients are of animal origin
- The natural diet with a minimal amount of synthetic vitamins
- Includes freeze-dried pieces of raw meat
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- Might be too expensive for an average household
ORIJEN Small Breed Grain Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Specially formulated with small breeds in mind. Supports high energy needs and eye health. Targets dog’s immune system and overall well-being.
When you have a small dog, you know that their diet differs from the one you would feed to a medium or large canine. Keeping that in mind, Orijen has recently formulated a recipe for small breed representatives whose owners choose this brand as a healthy nutritional option. This Orijen small breed dog food is made with the same principle - whole prey ingredients with 85% of meat without grains, by-products, or other questionable stuff. The company relies on turkey, chicken, quail, and fish combined with functional plants to make a nourishing and complete ratio.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 473 kcal per cup
- Crude protein: 38.0% min
- Crude fat: 18.0% min
- Crude fiber: 4.0% min
- Moisture: 12.0% max
- Key ingredients: deboned turkey, deboned chicken, quail, eggs, whole blue whiting, whole Atlantic mackerel, turkey liver, chicken liver, turkey heart, and more.
- Manufactured to meet the dietary needs of small dogs
- Dense in calories and protein
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Dry food
- Breed size: Small breeds
- Life stage: All life stages
- Weight: 4 lb. and 10 lb. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- Meets the needs of small breeds for quality energy sources
- Targets eye health and immune system
- Kibble with infused freeze-dried liver for better taste
- High in calories to reduce the serving size
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- Picky eaters might disapprove of the flavor
ORIJEN Senior Grain Free High Protein Fresh & Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Specially formulated for aging dogs. Enhanced with functional ingredients and some vitamins. Contains raw ingredients that are freeze-dried at the peak of their freshness.
This Orijen grain free dog food for senior canines is a balanced diet that meets the needs of aging pets. Just like any Orijen recipe, this one is made with quality animal ingredients like chicken, turkey, fish, and their organs, which comprise 85% of the whole recipe. As mature dogs are less active and do not require a lot of energy in their daily life, this formula has the lowest calorie level compared to other recipes. You can check the exact Orijen dog food calories in the feeding guide.
KEY FEATURES:
- Caloric content: 414 kcal per cup
- Crude protein: 38.0% min
- Crude fat: 15.0% min
- Crude fiber: 8.0% min
- Moisture: 12.0% max
- Key ingredients: deboned chicken, deboned turkey, flounder, eggs, whole Atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, and more.
- Supports the well-being of senior canines
- Packed with natural vitamins and minerals
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Dry food
- Breed size: All breeds
- Life stage: Senior dogs
- Weight: 2 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb., and 25 lb. bags
WHAT WE LOVED:
- Free of grains, fillers, or peas, wheat, or corn
- Made with quality animal ingredients a wild dog would eat in the wild
- Formulated with the senior dogs in mind
- Dogs love the flavor
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE:
- The price might be too high
What Formulas Does Orijen Dog Food Have?
Orijen dry dog food is limited in the number of recipes. You won’t find an overwhelming variety of kibble with different flavor combinations, but you are still free to choose a formula your canine is sure to love.
Even though the assortment of dry recipes is pretty limited, Orijen dog food rating is high because of the quality standards the company adheres to. The brand also takes into account age- and breed-specific nutritional requirements and offers formulas for puppies, adult, and senior pets. You’ll find Orijen large breed dog food or formulas for small breeds. There’s also a weight management food option with an increased level of protein (42%!) and lower calories (402 kcal per cup) to aid your pooch with weight control.
Orijen adult dog food also includes freeze-dried formulas for those pets that are on a raw diet. These are the modified Orijen dry recipes made of raw ingredients which have been processed at the lowest temperature to preserve the flavor and properties of fresh raw meat. The company offers only three formulas:
- Orijen Freeze-Dried Original Dog Recipe
- Orijen Freeze-Dried Regional Red Dog Recipe
- Orijen Freeze-Dried Tundra Dog Recipe
Orijen Wet Dog Food
The best way to show that you love your canine is to provide it with the best things. Orijen canned dog food is proof that your pet means a lot to you. These wet recipes are made of quality ingredients that nourish the canine without the use of synthetic vitamins and other additives.
Each recipe has 95% meat and 5% of functional fruit and vegetables that are gently cooked at moderate temperatures to bring the best natural nutrients to the pet’s ration. There’s one puppy paté recipe, others come in stew texture with chunks of real meat.
- Orijen Puppy Poultry & Fish Recipe
- Orijen Stew Recipe with Chicken, Turkey, and Eggs
- Orijen Beef Stew Recipe with Shredded Beef and Eggs
Orijen Puppy Formulas
Almost all Orijen dog recipes (with the exception of a few age-specific formulas) are suitable for pets of all stages. It means that you can start feeding your puppy with any Orijen dog food option and stick to this recipe throughout the canine’s life. All the formulas are balanced and are meant to provide your pooch with natural nutrients they would get in the wild when eating the freshly caught prey. However, we would recommend checking the Orijen dog food feeding guide to make sure you keep the healthy weight of your dog at any life stage.
But if you believe that your puppy should get only an age-appropriate diet, Orijen has several options for you:
- Orijen Puppy Recipe
- Orijen Puppy Large Recipe
- Orijen Puppy Poultry & Fish Paté Recipe
Orijen Senior Formulas
As your canine matures, you may want to switch it to a diet that is more appropriate to its age. Even though most Orijen recipes are suitable for dogs of all life stages, there’s one Orijen senior dog food recipe that targets the needs of aging pets.
The nutritional profile of this recipe looks the same, with some minor differences. Firstly, it is less calorie dense, so this formula responds to the change in the activity levels of your pet. 42% of calories are derived from protein, 37% are from fat, and 21% - fruit and veggies. Compared to other formulas, this one has a lower level of fats and a higher percentage of nutrients obtained from protein and plants. It also has an increased level of chondroitin to maintain joint health.
Orijen Dog Food Recalls
There was not a single Orijen dog food recall registered within the existence of the company. But mind that the FDA added this brand to the list of 16 pet food manufacturers that might be linked to the series of pet heart diseases.
Conclusion
When setting on a journey for the search of the best dog food option, you can’t stop by the Orijen brand. Orijen makes some of the best solutions for a dog diet using premium-quality ingredients sourced from trusted farms and ranchos. All Orijen dog recipes are created based on a single concept - to provide pets with whole prey nutrition that contains only natural and functional ingredients.
That is why you won’t find fillers, grains, corn, artificial preservatives, or even a long list of supplements. The company believes that the canine gets all the essentials through well-balanced ingredients that are added in the amount the ancestral carnivores would eat in the wild. That is why all the recipes are nutrient-dense and contain one of the highest levels of protein and fat on average.
According to the reviews on Orijen dog food, both dog parents and their pets love this food. These recipes solved digestive issues and improved the overall well-being of many dogs. Even though the price for Orijen dog food is higher compared to other brands, the package lasts longer because of the use of large amounts of high-quality protein and fiber, which keep your canine full and healthy.
In general, we would recommend Orijen dog food if you are looking for the highest quality recipes that are suitable for all breeds and life stages.
FAQs
According to Orijen dry dog food reviews, this brand is highly rated by customers and experts due to the commitment to quality and safety.
All Orijen dog recipes are equally great. The choice will totally depend on your pet’s flavor preferences.
Because Orijen uses different ingredients in various amounts, the metabolizable energy might vary depending on the recipe. The average amount of calories per cup is 423.
Orijen is a popular brand, so you can get it from almost all online retailers like Amazon, Chewy, PetCo, PetFlow, and more.
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