Orijen dog food review
Rating: 
| Price: $$$$ | Website
Orijen is my “best in class” for cat foods, and isn’t far behind for dogs either. As was mentioned in the cat food review, this company (based in Canada) really places an emphasis on fresh ingredients. They raise their own chickens and have fishermen employed to catch fish and deliver them fresh to the company. The result is what you see above, and it’s about the best you can do for your pet.
The first 3 ingredients are all named meat products, and two of them are protein-packed “meals”, which is better yet. Next, potatoes are used for a high quality carb source. Then it’s back to meat, as whitefish are included.
This food is a delight of proteins. They use whole eggs, not “dried egg product”, for extra protein. There’s more meat in the form of turkey and salmon meal. Salmon and anchovy oils are used for fat sources and Omega fatty acids. Not only that, sunflower oil is used to include lineolic acid, which aids in coat and skin health.
As if that isn’t enough, carrots, spinach, peas, tomatoes and apples give a strong fruit and vegetable presence in this food. There is absolutely nothing you can fault this food for.
Where to buy?
What’s good about this food….
Very high meat content and high quality at that, potatoes in 2 places, whole eggs, fish oils for heart health, sunflower oil for coat and skin, many fruits and veggies.
….and what’s not so good.
Absolutely, positively nothing.
Ingredients:
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, russet potato, lake whitefish, chicken fat, sweet potato, whole eggs, turkey, salmon meal, salmon and anchovy oils, salmon, natural chicken flavour, sunflower oil, sun-cured alfalfa, dried brown kelp, carrots, spinach, peas, tomatoes, apples, psyllium, dulse, glucosamine Hcl, cranberries, black currants, rosemary extract, chondroitin sulfate, sea salt.
Now that Orijen has opened a processing plant in the US (Kentucky, I believe), do you plan to review their products again? I wonder in particular whether they continue to “raise their own chickens and have fishermen employed to catch fish and deliver them fresh to the company” as noted in this now 4-year-old review. Thanks.
Oh this would be good to know!
Hands down the best dog food out there. Human grade food quality control processes in place. My 2 year old Leo loves it.
What’s the best Orijen dog food for diabetes?
Hi Deb, for a diabetic cat you’re looking at a low carb diet, so as far as dry food goes a brand like Orijen (rich in meat proteins) is a good option, but ideally you need to investigate a decent wet or fresh meat diet.
Which Orijen dog food is low in purines, oxalate calcium, I’m desperately seeking good quality dog food besides royAL canine so or hills ud. My dog is loosing muscle tone, dull coat from that terrible food.
Do u have low purines dog food. My dog is prone to bladder stones? He gets oxalate calcium stones.
Hi Miss D, for issues like this it’s hard to find dry foods that cater for the issue as well as providing a nutritional diet. Common prescription claiming to address issues such as bladder stones reduce protein by cutting down on meat, which is essential to retain health and causes other problems. As such many investigate homemade or fresh diets as a better alternative.
Which orijen dog food is good for bladder infection and oxalate calcium stones. Which dog food is low in purines. I’m desperately looking forGood quality food besides royAL canine so or hills ud.
feeding my 10yo female pit orijen for 6 years now. best in the business. She loves it. I was taking care of a stray cat month ago, even the cat ate it. Every dog I’ve fostered loves it. It’s all meat , great freshness. So satisfied. Healthiest dog food out there.
Hi! I saw that you said Orijen isn’t far behind as your best in class for dog food, but I cannot seem to find the brand that you list as your actual best in class. Which one would that be? Thanks!
Hi Brian, all the foods on our best rated list can be considered best in class. At Pet Food Ratings we try not to advocate specific brands.
I have 2 Neapolitan Mastiff puppies and I use Orijen large breed puppy. I’ve been told that large breed isn’t suffice as I have what is considered “giant” breed. Your advice please? BTW thank you for such an informative and well put together review!
Hi Jay, Orijen is a high quality kibble and should meet all nutritional requirements of a giant breed.
I feed my dogs Orijen and my cats try to steal it . Cats did not do that before.
Wow, it’s very unusual for a cat to like a dog food!
Do you feel the same about Orijen’s other varieties like Regional Red for dogs and cats ?
Thank you!
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary, yes certainly – Regional Red is a great food. I need to write a review.
This stuff sounds really nice.. I love how they raise their own chickens and use their own fisherman, that is great! I am suspect about the actrium i started to use from wal mart, it sounds great and is really cheap but im starting to wonder if perhaps they soure all of their fruit and veggies they list from the monsanto test farm or something, i don’t need my dog glowing or anything…
You are joking about the dog glowing from eating Walmart fruit and vegetables aren’t you? Never heard of such a yarn before about Monsato test farms. Obvious too many internet beliefs in non existent problem.