Orijen Dog Food

About Orijen Dog Food

Orijen dog food is different from many other brands you'll find on pet store shelves. Here's why.

• Only fresh ingredients are used - No chemical additives, flavor enhancers and questionable protein sources.
• Orijen uses low temperature steam processing to create its product - Many other dog foods are subjected to high temperatures during processing, which destroys some of the original nutritional properties of the ingredients.
• Orijen uses air-tight packaging to help preserve freshness - Some other companies add unhealthy chemicals like ethoxyquin and BHT as preservatives.
• The company is based in Alberta, Canada - Ingredients are gathered from local sources wherever possible.

Orijen's Feeding Philosophy

The key phrase at Orijen is "Biologically Appropriate" and it is the philosophy on which they base their dog food formula. Simply put, if a dog will not eat it in the wild, then it doesn't go into the mix.

Dogs are carnivores by design, even though they will eat other food sources when the opportunity arises. Orijen believes that many of the ingredients used in the average dog food aren't appropriate for the species, and are mainly included because they sound nutritionally impressive to the public. Because these ingredients are not normal canine food, they can lead to digestive disturbances and other unpleasant side-effects including flatulence and irritable bowels.

No Grain Formula

In keeping with Orijen philosophy of feeding dogs the way they would naturally feed in the wild, the formula is heavy on protein. Orijen dog food is based on a ratio of:

• 70% protein
• 30% vegetables, fruits and botanicals
• 0% grains

This is quite a departure from other dog food brands. Commercial mixes often use corn and wheat as inexpensive fillers for over one-third of their formulas. Even many natural dog food brands use brown rice as a source of carbohydrates and vitamins.

Why does Orijen leave grains out of the formula? The company believes grains have a very small place in a dog's diet and that the benefits of including them are outweighed by the potential harm they can cause. Grains are basically converted to sugar and stored as fat.

Grains have actually been linked to a number of dog health problems, including:

• Skin allergies
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heart disease

The Ingredients

Since grains play no role in Orijen's formula, let's take a closer look at the ingredients that are included.

Protein

Chicken, turkey, fish and eggs are mainstays of Orijen's high protein formulas. All meats are purchased locally in order to ensure fresh, daily delivery.

Produce

Unlike nearly all commercial store brands, Orijen devotes approximately one-third of its formula to fruits and vegetables. These foods are a source of fiber and phyto-nutrients that play a role in protecting dogs from certain types of cancers. They are also a very good source of vitamins and minerals.

Fruits included:

• Apples
• Cranberries
• Vine-ripened tomatoes

Veggies included:

• Russet and Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Kelp
• Irish moss
• Dulse

Many of the vegetable sources included in Orijen's formulas are gathered from alternative sources such as the Pacific Ocean.

Herbs and Botanicals

Orijen includes a variety of veterinarian approved herbs and other botanicals to round out the nutritional and therapeutic effects of their feeds.

Fiber sources

• Chicory root
• Psyllium
• Flax - Also a source of Omega-3 fatty acids

Beneficial botanicals

• Fenugreek
• Dandelion
• Licorice root
• Albert Sunflower
• Sun-cured Alfalfa grass
• Peppermint leaf
• Calendula flowers
• Fennel
• Turmeric
• Marigolds

Orijen Diets

Instead of tempting human taste buds with a variety of flavorful names, Orijen sticks to their "Biologically Appropriate" concept by dividing their diets according to your pet's needs through different life stages.

• Puppy
• Large Puppy
• Adult
• Senior

Additionally, Orijen offers a 6 Fresh Fish formula that is full of fish protein and essential fatty acids and even makes a cat food formula for our feline friends. You can purchase Orijen pet foods by using the website's store locator to find a retailer near you.

Conclusion

If Orijen's food sources are as fresh and clean as the company presents them to be, then this food will be an excellent source of nutrition for your pet. If you like what you've learned so far, the next step is give the food a trial run with your dog to see if it lives up to Orijen's promises of safe, whole nutrition..