94 Responses to Orijen

1. mark July 12, 2015 at 9:00 am #

   Is this food irradiated?
2. bohicasis June 27, 2015 at 1:33 pm #

   I went from raw to orijen in the past 2 months. due to budget constraints i was having to revert back to kibble one wk per month.(samples of TOTW free at the hardware store and a few other “high end” brands”) this was always distressing but it is what it is .Since the switch from raw to orijen i have not had to deal wiht any of they typical issues that come up (stink yest feet, sudden weight gain,itchy skin, raw elbows) I’m almost impressed enough to not return to raw(ok you know i will) Yes, the price is up there but personally , he eats better than i do. He is my SD and i need him to be in top health. So far, compared to other kibbles: no gas, no more yeast feet at switch, elbows remain full of fur, energy is grt, no lose stools, no gas, and yes, a better coat by far. As i go off grid from time to time i can not always reach cilvilization for raw sources_i do not hunt except to fish. I’m sticking with O. No other kibble has shown these results and i have hit them all. I do worry about taking it off grid due to heat_but i will come to it when i have to. ONE VERY INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: My 15 plus yr old cat could no longer take kibble. vomit every time. she always rejected home raw (non packaged) despite my attempts. I switched her to raw (packaged as she has ALWAYS rejected home made raw) and she has been GREAT. BUT..she has taken a interest in O . I fed this to her and low and behold_she did not vomit! Not once. I have no explanation for this but if her body hasn’t rejected it, i will trust it. (O). I will not place her on O as she is has been in and out of fragile states and i watch her body changes. But to not throw up a kibble is AMAZING. She has always been fed a lesser quality food but even a higher quality kibble would send her into a bad state.. I’m pretty amazed at this. Still, i will be keeping her on raw. WHAT i did notice pertaining to my dog on O is is that he has been consuming MUCH more water compared to any other kibble. I had been concerned about his water consumption on raw as his face began to look hollowed and in the high heats here i worried.. If anyone has an idea as to why this is so on Orijens, please feel free to comment (MUCH HIGHER H20 consumption). None the less, i’m pleased with ease and results and will return to raw when i can ( or supplement for one week or so per month) . So fr the length of post_and yes, i do trust Canadian sources with this food
   • Jamie D July 3, 2015 at 12:23 pm #

     I’m surprised that hardly anyone has talked about water intake here. (Though I haven’t read every post) Maybe my experience in the fitness industry helps with basic nutrition knowledge. To keep it basic, when you increase your protein intake by 100%, you have to increase your water consumption to allow the kidneys & liver to do their jobs properly. (avg kibble is 22% protein; Orijen 38% protein) Please note that switching to O should be done gradually….over the course of at least a week, or two even…slowly adding O to old kibble until it’s at 100%. I’m not surprised some dogs get sick! It reminds me of going out to my fav. french restaurant in NYC: Foie Gras, Butter, Cream, Sugar, and more fat! Guess how I feel after!? I always suggest to my customers to switch very slowly, provide plenty of water, and be prepared for some changes in pee/poo schedule for a month or so. No complaints thus far.
     • bohicasis July 3, 2015 at 8:20 pm #

       Thank you Jamie. I agree that higher the protein content the more water one requires. On raw his lack of water consumption concerned me despite the moisture receive consuming raw meats products. His urine is extremely yellow on O i noticed this past wks
   • LindainCO July 17, 2015 at 2:14 pm #

     I am wondering: what raw food do you feed your dog? I would feed raw wild food, but would be afraid of raw processed food, from how I have seen that animals for food are treated in the US. Also, very soon now, except for free-range where we can confirm the origin (and possibly very expensive) all food animals will be processed in Chiona. The laws were passed this week, and the changes to labelling a few months ago. The meat companies don’t have to label origin! Tyson is a big one, but all others will follow.
3. Gary January 19, 2015 at 1:46 pm #

   My 23 month old lab has been eating Orijen past 9 months. This followed months of health issues – allergy symptoms, loose stools, hot spots, etc.
   After much work with vet and specialist to settle down his health issues, I settled on this food. He is extremely healthy, shiniest coat I have ever seen, and we receive compliments on him all the time. It is very expensive but I will not feed him anything else after the previous medical issues.
4. GD April 4, 2014 at 10:58 pm #

   My 3.5 yo, 29 lb labradoodle has been eating Orijin exclusively since he was a puppy. We mix the fish and meat products and feed them to him as a mix. We couldn’t be happier with this product. He’s extremely healthy, has no stool or gas problems and seems to absolutely love it. We usually mix in a small amount of grated cheddar cheese. He’s never had a health problem related to food issues.
5. Kristin March 14, 2014 at 4:13 pm #

   Is this food really bad for small dogs? I have been feeding my Chihuahua this food for a year she is 2 years old. I did so much research on dog food and this one came out the best. She loves the six fish and until yesterday I felt good giving it to her. Yesterday the salesperson at the pet food store told me it will cause kidney problems etc. She rarely gets diarrhea and is always bouncing with energy. She also gets walked almost 2 miles a day happily until she wants to be carried. She is a pretty active little dog so just wondering if what I heard is true because Arcana doesn’t look as good as Orijen even though they are manufactured by the same company. I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Wellness and I make her own flea and tick spray so it would kill me to find out I am harming her when I think I am doing good by her. I try to keep her as natural as possible because I want her to live forever.
   • Macrena June 15, 2014 at 8:08 pm #

     Kristin,
     I changed to Orijen a few weeks ago and I have three dogs. My smallest is a pomapoo, she just got out of the hospital after a two day stay totaling $1500.00. She darn near died. She was severely dehydrated and only had 7% water left in her body. She even had an ultrasound and they could not tell me what happened. I fed the rest of the food to the deer and switched back to my old dog food. Go with your gut instinct on this one.
     Macrena
     • Ismene July 1, 2014 at 12:34 pm #

       It sounds like your dog got HGE, which is really rare and happend to my dog a few years ago. It’s very rare and a lot of vets, especially rural, misdiagnose it. It’s deadly unless caught early. Happy to hear your dog ok but the disease is usually unrelated to food.
   • Rae July 5, 2014 at 11:01 pm #

     That sales person has no business spreading around such completely false information that I’m sure he/she found on some blog site. If you want to be 100% then ask a pet nutritionist, specifically a dog nutritionist. Small dogs are more likely to have kidney issues as well as bladder issues, but unless there is a preexisting condition affecting the kidneys then high protein foods will not cause ANY problems. A healthy dog with properly functioning kidneys can filter out excess protein. If your dog has kidney disease then no, Orijen is not a good choice. But assuming your dog is healthy then this food is perfectly safe to feed. Don’t you think if high protein dog foods actually did cause kidney problems in small dogs it would be common knowledge? This is such a tiresome rumor spread by misinformed people. Small dogs have the same dietary needs as medium and large breeds, they’re all built the same. Both of my small dogs (yorkie and toy poodle) have eaten this food for years, my poodle has eaten it his whole life, and they have never suffered any illness from it. In fact they both have allergies and this food saved my yorkies skin.
   • Greg December 9, 2014 at 10:20 am #

     Kristin,
     The salesperson couldn’t be more WRONG! The biggest myth is that high protein foods cause kidney disease. In fact, dogs with kidney issues are best on high protein/low carb diets. Any excess protein the dog doesn’t need gets excreted from the system. There is much research and clinical proof backing this up. No fears, keep feeding Orijen and feel safe.
     • Beagle breeder July 6, 2015 at 3:41 pm #

       Kidney disease could be a sign that the kidneys are not being flushed enough. If you are using Raw, BARF, O or any other super high protein diet, you’ve got to ensure that the animal is drinking sufficient quantities of water each day. Larger breeds tend to drink a lot. smaller breed, not so much. Get your pet’s urine tested. And consider switching brands. Wellness Complete, Blu, and Arcana are all popular brands for small dogs.
   • Linda April 27, 2015 at 1:28 pm #

     What do you put in your flea and tick spray. I use acana for my puggle 30 pounds

     and JR lab mix she only 23 pounds. I too would like to find that out. I use underside flea and tick suppose to be natural thanks
   • Michelle Kezele June 28, 2015 at 7:51 am #

     I started feeding Orijen because Raw food was getting too costly and we were koving into a temporary apartment. Since the switch, my Bernese had a Paw infection from itching, both my Golden and Bernese have had Yeast Infections in their ears, and now I finally dropped off a urine sample to the vet because my Bernese who is 80 lbs cant hold his urine quite as well and it smells so pungent and alkaline. This food has wreaked havoc on both of my dogs. My Bernese also has Giardia, but that is probably from Apartment living and community fields where dogs defecate. Oh, lets not forget the nonstop itching theyre experiencing. They do have Yams in their food.
6. Dominique March 6, 2014 at 2:21 pm #

   This review should be updated to Orijen’s current ingredients which do not include any potatoes.

   Kelly: ” A true “Biologically Appropiate” meal for a dog is meat with only about 20% protein and 80% moisture, with some fat in there” Where did you get this information regarding a dog’s diet? I’ve never heard of a canine diet with only 20% protein. They are carnivores capable of digesting some plant matter.

   “Canine Ancestral Diet” by Steve Brown (very thoroughly researched with science backed conclusions) indicates that a dog’s ideal diet should be 49% protein, 44% fat and 6% carbs. I firmly believe the best diet is a fully raw meat diet with some good fats and a small quantity of vegetables. I believe Orijen is the closest thing to the perfect diet without getting into dehydrated ($$$).

   Orijen and Acana have always been by first choice of dry dog food for my dogs. They do great on it. I support the company and trust them 100%. The quality is unmatched in my opinion.
7. Kelly February 2, 2014 at 1:42 am #

   My dog got bloody diarrhea after switching to this food. I strongly believe it is not “Biologically Appropiate” because of the extremely high protein content. A true “Biologically Appropiate” meal for a dog is meat with only about 20% protein and 80% moisture, with some fat in there. The low moisture content and extremely high protein content of Orijen is dangerous to the organ health of dogs. It can be overtaxing of the liver and kidneys. Feed with caution.
   • LD February 12, 2014 at 5:20 pm #

     My dogs have been on orijen for about 4 years. I had to switch from home made food to a commercial product when I became ill. I tried different brands and this comes very close to what I was feeding them. My dogs are carnivores they come by it through a million years of evolution. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dog growing a garden. They make their own vitamin C and do very well on protein. The mistake is not including all parts of the animal. My dogs are 8 and 2. My 8 year old does agility, his diet over the years has kept him very healthy.
   • Marian February 18, 2014 at 8:08 am #

     This is total nonsense. You may not make such statements, this is not substantiated.
   • Wayne Ferguson June 9, 2014 at 1:09 pm #

     We began feeding our Wheatie and Airedale Orijen fish and something several years ago and they seemed to do well on it and both liked it. The Wheatie was gaining weight so on the vet’s advice switched her to Eukanuba Naturally Wild and for convenience sake also switched the Airedale. Naturally Wild became unavailable so we went back to Orijen Adult. They both like it, but the Airedale has chronic diarrhea with it. I have been giving him hamburger and rice with some pumpkin. This relieves the problem. As an experiment, I put some Orijen in with the hamburger and rice; again he got diarrhea. So, I’m looking for a high fibre food that is also nutritious.
   • Macrena June 15, 2014 at 8:13 pm #

     My dog almost died after switching to this food. She had bloody stools and became severely dehydrated requiring hospitalization for two days and a hefty $1500 bill. She is a small dog weighs about 6lbs. I don’t know if this makes a difference but I will never purchase this product again.
     • Jenn July 21, 2014 at 8:35 am #

       Dehydration would be unrelated to the food eaten. Conversely, a dog eating a high protein diet who is already not exercising enough to use all the nutrients in their diet and/or not drinking enough clean water may well show signs of dehydration because the body uses water as a part of the filter in the kidneys to remove extra protein. That would not be a problem with the food but a problem with the exercise and clean water available.
8. Nicole November 23, 2013 at 3:03 pm #

   My puppy currently eats Orijen puppy and has perfect stools. He receives extra fiber via canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix!). Since Orijen is so nutrient dense, I tinkered with the portion size a bit for his weight and age. As a result, he has no gas or loose, runny stool. He enjoys his meals and he will continue on Orijen!
   • Jaime January 2, 2014 at 8:36 am #

     What is the quantity that you found works?
9. Carmen October 31, 2013 at 10:27 pm #

   We have been feeding our 13 yr old chocolate lab Orijen Senior for 2-3 yrs now and she has done very well on it. Not sure if it’s related, but she previously had always had issues with UTIs, stones, or crystals in her urine. She has not had those issues in a few years. We’ve had fewer gastrointestinal issues and her stools are always predictable. (of course, now that she is older, she also spends less time outside looking for rabbit poop – a delicacy in her book). She seems to be doing well for her age (outside of some elbow displaysia)
   • Ed May 22, 2014 at 10:29 pm #

     I know how you feel and I probably did as much research as you did on Origen as well. I also came to the same conclusion as you did so I switched to Origen..I also had a small dog and he kept getting diarrhea of and on, and I had to keep taking him to the vet to get it to stop so I finally tried Acana and got the same results. I tried to switch him to another food but it’s like he refused to eat, so I kept on Acana, which he liked and would eat. about 2 years latter he died and I had really and I really blamed my self for it..he was an older dog though, he 14 1/2 when he died it he started to loose weight really quick and really went down hill just like my cat did but she had renal disease, he may of had the same thing in the end. I’m not sure but I never had these problems till I put him on Origen. While I still believe that Origen is one of the best foods on the market I just don’t think that it was the right food for him..the same thing may of happen no matter what food I had him but that I’ll never know.. I just wish he was still with me. I’m getting a bigger dog from the pound now so now I’m back to doing research…it seams to be so hard to pick the right food but I don’t want one with corn and grains in it anyway. I wish you all the luck with your dog and hope you have it with you for years to come…
     • Macrena June 15, 2014 at 8:21 pm #

       Ed,
       I just got my dog out of the hospital she almost died. She had loose stools and became severely dehydrated that she was hospitalized for two days for a total of $1500.00. I switched to Origen a few weeks ago and I have three dogs. The smallest one took ill first. They are all now back on their previous dog food and I will never switch again. I am sorry for your loss I know how difficult losing a pet can be.
       Macrena
10. Sharon October 31, 2013 at 2:51 pm #

    My dog has been turned off of dog food and I really want her to try your food. Is there a reason or method I can coax her to try it. She got turned off from vomiting so much on Medi Cal.
11. Sandi October 20, 2013 at 2:02 pm #

    Have tried the Orijen senior and within 10 days time both our dogs had increase in amount of stools per day as well as them being softer, and gas. One of the dogs has some issues anyway but also developed a huge smelly gas problem. The other dog who is perfectly healthy had the same stool issue having to be taken outside at least twice the amount of times during the day. I also found them pacing more which I now believe had to do with being uncomfortable due to gas/bowel issues. I don’t know that anything is wrong with the food, but it does not seem to agree with our dogs. This was my first experience with this brand, but I’m looking to donate the rest of this bag and trying to find something else to feed them.
    • John October 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm #

      I guess my question is how did you make the change of food. Did you make an immediate change or did you gradually introduce the new food over the course of a few weeks? It is very important when introducing new food to do it gradually.
    • DD January 18, 2014 at 1:01 am #

      My dogs too! I thought at first it was just them getting used to the food and then I blamed the snacks from well meaning friends. But I have put a halt to everything except their Orijen Adult Dry food and still both my little ones have gas and smelling frequent stools. I also have an issue with their hair, which is white, turning rust colored anyplace that bodily fluids emerge, yuk. I wanted to give my babies the best but I don’t know if we can deal with this. Anyone have any suggestions? I still have much food to go and it is one of the only dry foods they will eat.
12. Claire September 6, 2013 at 10:17 pm #

    Has anyone experienced allergic reaction to the newly formulated Orijen Adult Dog? More recently, my 19 months old french bulldog developed hives. He is not itching but it looks very bad and we have to give him antihistamine. He had been on Orijen Puppy until 11 months and then we switched. I think this is the first bag of new Adult formula we got him on. It can be something else that is causing hives but I just wanted to ask whether anyone else is having a similar reaction.
13. Lisa August 23, 2013 at 1:30 am #

    I notice they state Orijen has not been part of a recall in the U.S. However, it has most certainly been part of a recall in Canada, for Salmonella contamination! In addition, sharp bone fragments have been found in Orijen as well, potentially causing serious complications after and during ingestion. Nobody is perfect. Hill’s Science Diet is a great choice, and used most often by Vets. There is a diet type for every issue an animal can have. Just saying…
    • Rae July 5, 2014 at 11:15 pm #

      Science diet is garbage and most of their special diets are a marketing ploy. Dogs all have the same dietary needs unless they are allergic to something or have a medical condition and require a special diet it is foolish to buy them. They have a dental health formula, i mean what a joke. Just because the food crumbles a certain way doesn’t mean it will keep teeth clean. Carbs cause dental buildup, and all kiddle has it. They are overpriced, and if you compare their ingredients to Walmart brands like Iams or Purina, also garbage foods, they are very similar. Only walmart will charge you a price that’s much more fair for a bag of slaughterhouse waste, by products and corn, while the vet will take twice the money and laugh. Vets don’t have to take classes for animal nutrition in college, they have the option to take one course that is taught by science diet or royal canine reps usually, and are paid to push those products. Do some research, just saying!
    • Greg December 9, 2014 at 10:55 am #

      Hills Science Diet is one of the WORST foods on the market. In reading the ingredient label that is clear to see. Vets get this food just as breeders get Pedigree FOR FREE. Rule of thumb…if the food is not sold in a high end boutique then buyer beware. Orijen has never been part of a recall so not sure where you got your information from Lisa.
    • Rescuemom February 27, 2015 at 1:48 pm #

      Oh no. You are sorely incorrect. Don’t know where you got your information from but Hill’s Science diet is one of the WORST foods you can feed your beloved pets. Filled with garbage. Just read the ingredient list. No dog food is perfect but do your research. Terrible food and recommendation. Stay away from this crap!
14. Gin August 22, 2013 at 11:58 am #

    I changed my adopted 4.5 year old Bichon to Orijen 6 fish awhile back. He loves it. His fur is very soft and shiney. My vet said he is doing very well and fully supported my decision to feed him this food. He loves it. I had been advised that many Bichon’s are allergic to chicken, and after changing to Orijen, he has no problems. He has a very good appetite, and a very healthy weight and is quite active.
    It is a fantastic product, no additives, and no junk.
    Thank you Orijen, from my pooch and his hu-momma.
    • Griffin April 6, 2014 at 4:54 pm #

      After tons of research on the internet if found that Orijen would be the best choice in terms of availability, costs, and of course most of all health reviews.
      So we switched from Hill’s Science Nature’s Best to this brand. My dog loves it, but that’s not nearly an indication of nothing, as he eats whatever he can lay his paws on.
      My concern now is that I noticed that he DRINKS MUCH MORE than usual. What does this mean? It can’t be the salt, as warned for with the low rate supermarket brands, can it?
      Truth be said that he used to drink very little. He’s still very regular with his needs for being walked, and also his produce looks just fine.
      Should I be more worried?
      • Rae July 5, 2014 at 11:18 pm #

        Its normal! Don’t worry. Higher protein foods require more moisture to rehydrate, so the extra water intake is a good thing. If she didn’t drink enough water she would probably have very hard, dry painful poops.
15. Fred July 20, 2013 at 2:47 pm #

    I have been feeding my 8yo Black Lab – Border Collie mix Orijen Red for a month. I switched from Purina One cuz I wanted to get her off corn and chicken. No problems; but I noticed she is constantly grazing on grass, I have seen her gaze in the past but only occasionally. I’ve read that some dogs graze so they can vomit, she is not vomiting.
    More curious than worried
16. Thom June 25, 2013 at 8:19 am #

    I adopted my GSD when she was 1.5 y-o. She was on Purina Pro-Plan, and then Eukanuba and had runny stool with diarrhea (every few days) and dry, flaky hair, lots of scratching and itching on both. Gradually switched her to Orijen and the scratching stopped, stool is firm and consistent, coat is gorgeous, shiny, healthy; energy level is perfect. She’s now been on Orijen for over a year and the vet is thrilled with the changes in her as am I. Kidney and liver function levels are perfect whenever we check. I highly recommend this food.
    • Kristy June 28, 2013 at 12:32 pm #

      I has some similar problem with my dog. She also refused to eat certain foods until I got her on Orijen.
      • tanya July 31, 2013 at 4:27 am #

        I recently adopted a 5 year old gsd. I decided that Orijen seemed like a great food and her and my older dog love it. When we adopted the gsd her teeth were amazingly white but i have noticed that a month on this food and they are no longer white. They look stained brown now. Has anyone else had this happen ?? Other than this the dogs love the food and their fur is shiny and soft
17. Alicia May 20, 2013 at 9:41 pm #

    We have been feeding our Australian Shepherd Orijen since she was a puppy and she has done wonderfully on it. I searched high and low for the perfect food for our ‘baby’ and gave many a try. Our Aussie is VERY picky and she did not really like ‘raw’ foods (weird, I know). We tried kibble, raw, freeze dried raw and freeze dried cooked foods. She always went back to the kibble. We happen to have an amazing dog/cat supply store near us, Holistic Hound, that carries the top food brands (amongst other things) and I was recommended to try Orijen. She loved it right away and I was pleased to purchase such a high quality, healthy food for her.

    When we got her she was 8 weeks old and I kept her on the food she was on originally (not Orijen) until she settled in. One thing that I noticed right away was that once I switched her fully to Orijen she no longer had that ‘dog smell’, her breath was fresh, and her stool had less volume and better consistency. I get a lot of compliments from her veterinarian and from other Aussie owners on how healthy she looks and how soft and shiny her hair is. She is now over a year old and thriving on Orijen. This food is a win for us.
18. Jody May 16, 2013 at 5:21 pm #

    We’ve had our two dogs on orijen for years, and it’s been great, but about two months ago something changed. Picked up the regional red, which they used to love, and they wouldn’t eat it, at all. Unheard of. Picked up a bag of adult, their usual stuff, and one is reluctant to eat it, and the other has had stomach problems about once or twice a week ever since. Took him to the vet and put him on antibiotics in case it was a bug. Didn’t change a thing, and he threw up again on the last day. We’ve heard from others who use orijen that the company changed their recipe, and we’re looking for another dog food. Suggestions, anyone?
    • carlos June 5, 2013 at 12:22 pm #

      We’re experiencing the same with our 2 Lhasa Apso males. They used to love the Orijen Red then something changed after the company shut down production temporarily. Now both dogs are experiencing gastro problems (vomiting, diarreah…). It started with the younger one first about 2 weeks ago and now the older one is experiencing the same symptoms. I’m trying a different brand of food to see if things change.
    • Rian June 17, 2013 at 9:56 pm #

      I had the same issue. Now like Lotus.
    • Lois July 11, 2013 at 2:26 pm #

      i adopted a very large Doberman and the guy i purchased him from had him on this food for years he just loved it in fact he almost choked on it he loved it so much than a couple of months ago i bought another bag of this food and low and behold he just looked at it and snuffed his nose and would not eat it to be honest it smelt different and even looked a little different so i went back to the store i bought it from and the lady said they just changed there packaging and they also changed the formula a little. Now why in the hell do companies do this it really makes no sense at all i have tried him on different food and it’s just not working i think i will give it one more try as it was a very good food can anybody help me out on another amazing food to feed my big boy he is 4.5 yrs old. Thanks
19. lefty May 4, 2013 at 1:45 am #

    Early report. My Jack Russell is currently at the vets again today. CANNOT say that the orijen 6 fish newly opened bag is the problem. I have been using their product for a year with no problem. Me pup is in a bad way and I need to know if anyone is having the same issue. NOT saying that this product is the issue, just need to know! Could be any one of many ingested items. Please help as this is the most important being in my life.
    • DAVID May 6, 2013 at 8:35 pm #

      Sorry to hear about your pup. Been feeding my rottie Onjen for 5 years.Switch between adult and fish every other bag. Never had a problem and at 64 months he looks and acts great. Good luck.
    • Liz May 8, 2013 at 9:48 pm #

      I noticed something different about my last order received. I think it was that it was not air sealed as usual. I received the bag about a month ago. My dog has gotten sick as well. He has had diarrhea and black tarry stool on and off for a month. I finally threw out all the dog food and have only been feeding him home cooked turkey and meat to see if that clears up the problem. Could there have been a bad batch of the Orijen 6 fish?
      • Nadia January 19, 2014 at 1:28 am #

        I have 2 Belgian Malinois, a Jack Russell and a Labrador Retriever. They are all under 12 months. I bought my first bag of Orijen Six Fish a month ago. It came in a non vacuum packed bag. I got the 13kg. I live in the Philippines, by the way. I have been using Orijen for over two months, in particular Orijen Large Breed puppy, Acana Pacifica (from the same company), and Acana Sport and Agility ( which is not available in the US). Since the Orijen 6 Fish is the most expensive among the three, I was hoping my dogs would eat it in a matter of minutes. Lo and behold, the Acana Sport and agility was the unanimous winner. I have very picky eaters. Regular dog food did not work and they were skinny. There were issue with th stools in the beginning but it got better in two to three weeks. I will stick to Acana with high quality grain, Steel cut oats. The very high protein content gave them soft stools. Acana is just the right amount IMO. It also seemed they had no issue in the transition. I did a fast transition, using a third of their old kibble day one, day two half, day three, a hundred percent Acana.
    • Shorty May 11, 2013 at 9:18 am #

      I have been feeding Orijen to both of my dogs since they were pups. I am a huge fan of Orijen but the last bag I bought in April made both of my dogs very sick. One of them was near death and rushed to the emergency vet. She’s fine now but I won’t use Orijen anymore.Since Jan 2013 the food is not the same. Hope your dog is ok.
      • Rian June 17, 2013 at 9:54 pm #

        Thank you for posting. My dog also got sick (diarrhea, mucus and blood in stools, loss of appetite) recently from the Orijen Red.

        I took her off the food and now she is better. I wonder if they’ve changed how they manufacture the food. My dog had been eating for a year prviously with no problems and seemed to really like the food. I won’t buy it again.
      • Hailey October 13, 2013 at 1:30 pm #

        May I know if you still have the batch number of your bag of dog food? My 7 year old toy poodle has been on orijen fish for 3 weeks and very recently he has lost his appetite and been throwing up all his food. All of a sudden he is lethargic. I’m very worried.
      • JD January 1, 2014 at 12:38 pm #

        I had the same problem with my two 8yo goldens. I purchased my ninth bag of Six Fish at Care-A-Lot mid December 2013. (Exclusive food) Within 2 to 4 days of opening, both dogs became very ill, one then the other. Dx: hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Nearly lost the first one that became ill. ISO good grain-free food.
    • Pat July 6, 2013 at 2:12 am #

      We bought Red Orijen we had previously bought the fish Orijen. The store was out so boughtRed. My dog starting vomiting took to vet could not find source everything looked normal kept vomiting. Referred to specialist did ultrasound normal results. Next vet did a GI scope (EGD)
      And found that my dog had a stomach worm! Very unusual finding. Dog post treatment doing much better and almost to self again.
20. Bruce Watson April 17, 2013 at 8:35 pm #

    I have always believed that you used wild fish in your dog food but I am now being told that you have switched to FARM Fish, Is this true? My dog is 3 years old and eats nothing bur your adult dog food but I will not buy it any longer if it is made with farm fish. I would not eat a farm fish and neither would I feed it to my dog!! I live right near a fish farm and I just retired from being a commercial fisherman for 42 years. Please advise me what is going on!!

    Bruce Watson
    Sointula, BC
    • maralevine April 20, 2013 at 2:54 pm #

      According to the Orijen’s website, the freshwater fish is wild-caught. If you want an answer to your question directly from Orijen, please send them a message via their website. Please let us know what you find out. Thanks!
    • Susie December 25, 2013 at 1:10 pm #

      I have my 6 yr. old Rottweiler on the 6 Fish. He’s been on it for about six months. Did great on it for a couple months. His last bag which we opened about week and half ago didnt smell fishy like normal. He didn’t really want to eat it but has and now has liquid diarrea and has had terrible gas for over a week. There has to be a connection. I’m very upset as I feel there is no company to trust. This is the third high end food I have had him on and they all seem to change the product and make our dogs sick. What is going on?
21. Ed April 15, 2013 at 12:26 am #

    First I don’t work in the industry. I did own a pet food store back in the late 80s and learned some of the basics on nutrition and feeding. Certainly, the quality of dog foods these days have greatly improved.

    I lost my dog, a bearded collie, this past September after 16 years. In his 14th year he began to develop some kidney problems. After feeding him a decent brand food for all those years I was forced to alter his diet to try and improve his functioning and to give him a longer life. It was his illness that really taught me so much more about dog nutrition, feeding and especially about dog foods, how they are made and who makes them, which are considered the best and why.

    My research was wide and far. I spoke to vets at Cornell University, at Colorado State University, Tufts Vet School, The Animal Medical Center in NY, other vet schools, 2 highly respected vets in California that have PHDs in dog nutrition, many vets where I live on Long Island, NY and of course with my vet that had been seeing my dog from the time he was 8 weeks old. I have also read many of the top publications to learn about dog digestive systems, how they ate in the wild and case studies both for and against the various foods and what is good and bad about them for your dog. Most important, I have a friend that works in a testing lab and had him do some independent gets on some dog food brands. He did them blind not knowing what food he was testing and let me say that some of the top brands came out with excellent results. And some not so favorable.

    I am also very close to getting another beardie and expect litter in May from breeder and have pup by mid summer.

    1 – There are some decent foods on the market these days. After all the research I have done I expect to start my pup on Orijen. Again, I don’t work for anyone in industry and have no interest in feeding my dog anything but what I believe will be best for him. In the past year I have had 2 family members get dogs, 3 neighbors that have come to me for some advice as well as a few others. 5 dogs now have been on Orijen for at least 1 year because of my advice. Dogs that were having some problems have over time had great success. Others that were not having problems but seemed lackadaisical are now acting like different dogs. Not one dog has had any problem digesting the Orijen. Stools have in most cases improved – some dramatically. Better breath and even 2 with much better coats. Remember that sometimes a supermarket can get a bad batch of food even from the best manufacturers. Should not ever happen but we know it does. It’s not an excuse but it happens.

    2 – My research has led me to believe that Orijen, Acana and Fromm are very good foods. Probably none much better than those. But that does not mean they are right for your dog. A lot goes into it. There is also this whole thing about “too much” protein in some of these protein-rich foods. First, you must know all you can about your breed even if a mix. Some dogs do not require as much protein. How active is your dog? Are you following the feeding directions carefully – over or under feeding can be just as much of an issue. But more important it is not how much protein that is important as the quality of the protein. And the quality of the other ingredients as well. This is so much more important and the brands I mentioned are foods that have excellent sources of ingredients. The quality of the protein is essential in making these brands as good as they are. And your dog is able to digest better and their systems can process that high quality protein so much better. Every manufacturer can have its problems and in many industries – not just dog food. I know many breeders. I also know distributors and even many pet food retailers that are not part of the big chains. I have, over time, questioned them all on the various brands, why they carry or don’t carry and why they endorse or don’t endorse them. Most agree that the brands I mentioned are excellent brands and also acknowledge there is a lot that goes into what you should feed your dog and how. And they agreed that they seldom if at all hear about real problems with those brands and over a prolonged period of time.

    3 – I also read here and elsewhere about how some dog owners make a change from one food to another. While some seem to understand the steps in making the change others seem not to. When I had to change my dogs food after 14 years of being on the same food every day of course I was concerned to alter his diet. First, I was careful to research what was being suggested. When I was prepared to make the change I started out very slowly. The new food was introduced at only 10% of his total food intake and remained that way for almost 2 weeks. I then introduced another 10% and basically continued down that path until about 3-4 months later I had made a 100% switch to the new diet. As always, he had nice full bowls of fresh water and would change it every chance I could to entice him to drink more. A good amount of water is essential not just in a dog that has a health issue but even in a healthy dog. Never, ever did my dog get scraps of any kind for 16 years. And when he was given treats they were quality treats and not many. As part of his daily diet from a pup he would get a small amount of yogurt in his morning meal and a little bit of cottage cheese at dinner. As a pup he ate 3 times a day. Once he got older it then went to 2 times a day. In 14 1/2 years his wait never fluctuated more than 2-3 pounds. It would go up by about 2 pounds in the winter when he had a bit more of an appetite and come back down about 2 pounds during the summer. He would also get some brewers yeast tablets crunched up once daily.

    Dogs are in many ways like us. We can be allergic to certain things and not know it. Some humans can digest certain foods while others can’t. Sometimes you need to change your baby’s formula because their system can’t handle it. Does not mean that the formula is not a quality product or that it was bad and yet we know there have been times that even baby formulas have had recalls for one reason or another.

    I would suggest if your dog not doing well take to vet and request a complete blood analysis be done before doing anything. I would suggest you get the blood work even if dog is healthy but plan on altering their diet. Make sure your vet is able to explain to you if your dogs levels are off in any area, if so what may be causing it and then an intelligent solution that could consist of changing food, adding supplements, medications, etc. If a change in food – then what to and why. And by the way – make sure you have a reputable vet. Unless the vet needs to see your dog again real soon then I would go back in about 6 months and have another full examination and another complete battery of blood work done. This second test can give your dog enough time to get on a healthier path and you can see if your change in diet has had a positive or even negative impact.

    I hope this was of some help. I am still learning every day about dogs and dog nutrition. Don’t be so quick to put down all of these manufacturers. We know, like in other industries that some are bad and turn out an inferior product. But despite all of our frustrations and what we may hear at times there are some manufacturers that do have good reputations and turn out quality products even in those moments when they can be rude and unresponsive. Maybe its not always the product that is bad but sometimes their behavior that is bad. I have heard some of the negative situations about Champion, that makes Acan and Orijen, but overall they make very high quality foods and if you can afford I would recommend them, Fromm and a few others.

    Again – hope this helped even if in a small way.
    • elaine April 13, 2014 at 6:38 pm #

      hi, loved reading all you wrote about Orijen, I have a very small Maltese I have been feeding her Orijen since I got her she is now one year old I also give her natures variety instinct raw she loves that, I was wondering the same if theres too much protein for her, her stools are good and shes a good eater thank god, but shes not outside chasing rabbits or ducks mostly a bed decoration lol, she runs around some.What do you think? its seems like everything I read is a big dog eating Orijen.
22. david March 23, 2013 at 9:03 pm #

    Orijen is great. Started my rottie at 8 weeks and he is almost five years. Switched to the fish 2 bags ago and have seen a improvment in his coat as he was looking a little dry this winter. HE gets two cups a little wet a day and is a perfect weight.He is 94 lbs and gets plenty of activities. Heard the price just went up again and the bags contain less but in the end the no crap contents and only two cups per day will keep me sold..
23. Kara February 21, 2013 at 2:01 pm #

    We recently adopted a 2 year old shar pei lab mix. When we picked him up from the shelter, we were told he doesn’t eat much. Sure enough, we put the kibble they gave us into his bowl and he barely touched his food for 2 days. We kept changing it out, adding some water, etc. and he continued to refrain from eating. It wasn’t until day three, after a long walk, that he polished off his meal. I went to the dog store and asked for their best kibble wondering if our newly adopted dog just had good taste. When I put Orijen in his bowl, he finished his entire bowl in minutes and starting looking for more! We switch between beef and chicken and have tried the fish formula as well. He hasn’t turned one meal down yet!
24. A j lobo February 4, 2013 at 3:23 pm #

    5 year old great Dane and 11 month old GSD…..both do fantastically well when they have it

    Tried without it in between and they look worse for not getting it so keeping them on it
25. Chi January 26, 2013 at 10:33 pm #

    I will never feed this food to my dog again…she seemed to liked it and ate and and then when my dog went to go get her teeth cleaned and the vet went to check her blood stated that her liver was damaged. She was 100% healthy prior to this. The only thing I changed was her food and then when I went to do research this particular brand had a lot of issues with liver and kidney damage. When I contacted the company nothing…I contacted them again…nothing again. So evidently they don’t care about their customers or the dogs they feed.
    • Corsomamma January 30, 2013 at 6:44 pm #

      thank you for your review. I am researching changing my dogs diet as they are getting picky with taste of the wild and seem to be grazing on weeds like goats. I want to stick with grain free, but most of the grain free brands are off the charts with the protein levels…including orijen. I have been warned by well respected trainers in my area (who feed a raw diet, which I’d love to do but cannot afford being I have two 100lb dogs) that anything over 30% is TOO HIGH and has been known to create kidney/liver issues because of the lack of moisture and high protein. Kibble is not natural for dogs to eat just as grains are not….but what the pet food industry doesnt understand is that a true raw diet (what they are trying to create as “biologically appropriate” sans grains is only about 20% protein and the rest moisture. I was looking into orijen as many breeders swear by it, but your review reaffirmed me that is is not worth it. I will stick with kibble that is under 30% protein and grain free.
      • DAVID May 6, 2013 at 8:38 pm #

        give him some green beans a few times a week.
      • Jan June 12, 2013 at 2:31 pm #

        FirstMate
    • J.Williams March 8, 2013 at 4:33 pm #

      What kind of research did you do that revealed the issues with kidney and liver damage? I would like to know. I was considering Orijen and now I am apprehensive. Please provide sources if you are going to make such serious allegations?
      • Forest March 12, 2013 at 6:34 pm #

        I have fed Orijen to my GSD since I got her when she was 8 weeks old. Fed her the large breed puppy until she was 1 year old. currently transitioning to adult formula. I feel lucky to be able to afford to feed my girl this food. It is superior to anything else you can buy.
    • david March 23, 2013 at 9:06 pm #

      Have had this problem myself.Thought maybe the vet was pushing tests but decieded to go for the ride. Wet kibble for ten mins.then feed.Counts went right back to normal at next test two weeks latter.
    • Dulcy April 26, 2013 at 9:25 pm #

      My dog went in for routine teeth cleaning and her ALT liver enzyme was 700+ which is 3 x normal level. I have switched to FROMM and am rechecking blood work in another week. No other cause can be found. If it normalizes I am going to assume it was the food.
      • Lauren May 2, 2013 at 10:17 am #

        Do you have the lot number on the bag? My dog is having the same issue right now and we might have the same lot of food.

        Please email me at lauren@soldoutsports.com as your help would be more than appreciated!
26. Nadine December 31, 2012 at 4:03 pm #

    I think the quality control of Orijen petfood needs to get improved if they want us consumers buying more of that expensive food. Its true that the quality of the food depends on the batch. My pets have been eating the food without problem but after the last bag I bought in November 2012 and December 2012, they were throwing it up constantly. Also I would prefer if they can make a food considering pet allergies and leave out chicken, eggs, and fish as some animals cannot tolerate it because it causes them allergies, in my pets case to scratch all over its skin.
27. Judy December 2, 2012 at 8:04 am #

    I have 2 shih ztus which are very picky on dry food, I have tried many different kinds,they wouldn’t eat, but I was shopping at Jacks, one day when the saleslady ask me if I tried Orijen, she told me it was one of the top dog foods,the ones that was good for them, so I bought a small bag to try it and see if they would eat, they really liked it and has good ingredents, they love it and has made there coats shiny, I went back and bought a larger bag, I’m thankful for the lady that was so helpful at Jack’s or I would never tried this one for my dogs, since there are so many different ones out there.
28. Heidi November 2, 2012 at 10:34 pm #

    I changed my Aussies food from Nutro Ultra to Orijen. She ate it for a few days, her stools became loose and she had a lot of gas. When I told the clerk at the pet food store about it, he wanted me to buy some kind of spray to put on the food to reduce the gas in her stomach. The cost for the spray was around $28. Forget that. Then she stopped eating the Orijen completely. I had to mix the food with pumpkin so she would eat it. I changed her back to Nutro and she is eating normal again. I Will never take her off Nutro. Orijen, just not a good fit.
    • Nick November 18, 2012 at 8:47 pm #

      You’ll probably find that the reason her stool became loose is that Origin has a very high meat protein percentage and as such dogs who aren’t used to it often take up to 4 weeks to adjust. I found it to be a great food once that hurdle was passed.
29. Jessica July 24, 2012 at 7:27 pm #

    I am owned by a very energetic 4 year old Sheltie named Aiden, and I recently switched him over to Orijen dog food. I am going away for a year to stay on campus for my Freshman year at college, and I made the deal with my mom that she would take care of him if I bought the food. Problem is, Aiden is an extremely picky eater. Not only did we have to add canned food to his dry food, but he would pick out the canned food chunks and leave the kibble for our other dog to consume, making her overweight.

    I was young when we had gotten Aiden, and I hadn’t taken much thought into what exactly I was feeding my dog. I figured all dog food is dog food, and I just have to find one kind that Aiden wants to eat and not leave sitting around. This was easier said than done. I work at a dog kennel, and on rare occasion we have small samples of leftover dog food. I decided to take home a few packages of Moist n’ Meaty dog food with the idea in mind that Aiden likes soft, moist food. He liked the food and would eat almost all of it, so I decided to get him started on it. Big mistake- Aiden was like a kid on a chocolate sugar rush. I had no control on my dog for even the simplest of obedience, never mind an agility course. He was also gaining weight like crazy during the winter off-season when I didn’t do much agility training with him. Overall, Aiden wasn’t a happy camper because I was frustrated with his performance, but I didn’t think there was anything I could do to gain concentration in him. I always thought it was his breeding or the fact that Shelties are known for being high-energy. We were both just stuck.

    Just last month after graduating high school, I spent days researching dog foods. I looked at everything, scanning through ingredients and looking up the names of unknown vitamins and preservatives that I was feeding my dog. I had no clue what I was putting in my beloved Aiden! I eventually came across Orijen and learned every single little thing that was in Orijen’s food. In short, I couldn’t have been happier, and I knew this was the food for my dog. All ingredients are fresh and the chicken and turkey in the food is free-range (a plus for my animal-lover side). I also no longer need to give Aiden glucosamine/chondroitin supplements because it is contained naturally in the fresh fish, livestock, and poultry in the food.

    I did some math, including counting out exactly how many cups of food is in a 5.5lb bag of Orijen. Aiden used to eat 1 cup a day of his other food, which I translated to 3/4 cup of Orijen due to the high protein. Needless to say, I can get 24 feedings out of the 5.5 pound bag, only costing me $0.70 a day to feed Aiden. After doing the math for the cost of the food we gave him before plus glucosamine, the cost was $0.65 a day. In short, there is only a small difference in the cost, and a huge improvement in my dog.

    Aiden is showing promising results on the agility course in his training. Besides being more focused, he is gaining more stamina. I can practice him for 30 minutes on a hot day without him being overly tired and panting, when before we could barely go 15 before he would refuse to take a single jump. Aiden is more calm around the house (a plus with Shelties being a barking breed), but he still has the energy he has always had when I ask for it during playtime or walks. His coat is becoming more and more smooth and shiny, and his shedding is decreasing as well. I am completely happy with the results, and Aiden is too. He eats all of his food the second I put it down for him, and rarely leaves any leftovers.

    I’m glad I made the switch to Orijen, and the change has been incredible. My only complaint was the soft stool he developed while he was in the transition period. He would have been fine if he had eaten his food with the Orijen mixed in, but he always picked out the Orijen bits no matter how few I would mix into his food. Seeing as he wasn’t eating, I just spread the food out into small amounts throughout the day and mixed some probiotics into it. Diarrhea was gone, and we haven’t had a problem since. I have a dog show this weekend 2 hours away, which will be our first one since our switch. Long drives and new environments usually give Aiden diarrhea, but we’ll see if Orijen curbs that problem. Wish us luck, and I will inform you on how well we do!
    • Tajami DObermans March 29, 2013 at 3:30 pm #

      I enjoyed reading your story and give you many kudos for doing your homework. yogurt really does help the stools and it is good for them. I thought that I was the only one that broke down the cost of feeding my dog like you just did!! I do about $2 a day! with 3 dobermans and a rottweiler. I dont feed strictly Orijen this will be my first bag of it because my other “super food” is on recall and me being a breeder and my girl expecting I was not going to take any chances. But thank you so much for your story and review
30. Sandra July 16, 2012 at 2:28 pm #

    Last spring, my 2 year old American Stafforshire Terrier developed a terrible case of hives all over her back. She lost a lot of fur and was miserable with the constant itching. A friend suggested I try Orijen 6 Fish, due to Orijen’s commitment to high protein, no grains formulas. My girl had been on Blue Buffalo Wilderness (which I thought was a good food!!). A year later, her skin is clear! In fact, her skin started clearing up a month after being on the Orijen! I thought her allergies were pollen related too, but when spring came this year, NO HIVES! Clearly, something in the BLue Buffalo caused her to have an allergic reaction! ALSO…no more passing gas! On Orijen, all my AmStaffs are “odor free!” LOVE this company and their commitment to producing GREAT dog food!
    • JONATHAN October 22, 2012 at 11:56 pm #

      Really! This is news to my ears. A co-worker of mine boasts about this food and he has shepards. I have two pitbulls, one with sensitive skin and the other with a sensitive stomach. I have been trying to get them off Science Diet, sensitive stomach formula with Natural Balance L.I.G formula and it has not been working.I think I will give this a try. Thanks
31. LOLA July 12, 2012 at 7:21 am #

    I used to feed another Super premium Dogfood to my Doberman Pinscher, but after several recalls and worries because of issues such as Pancreatitis I decided to make a switch to Orijen, I was nervous since my pup has a very delicate stomach but she absolutely loved Orijen and no Tummy issues what so ever…I now am switching my cats as well!
32. Annette May 8, 2012 at 8:48 am #

    When I discovered Pro Plan secretly changed, I tried to switch my 4 hearty eating dogs to Wellness Core. My puppy wouldn’t eat it so I also bought some Orijen. Later I found out Wellness used Diamond and I decided to feed Orijen exclusively. My adults are still eating the Wellness mixed but try their best to steal the puppy’s pure Orijen. One adult picks out the kernels of Orijen preferentially. I switched the puppy quickly and she had some flatulence at first but otherwise did fine with the change. It seems she needs less which makes sense with Orijen’s relatively high caloric density but with all of the changes it is too early to tell.
33. Angela March 28, 2012 at 7:24 pm #

    How come there are no reviews for this product since December 2012?
    • maralevine March 30, 2012 at 5:55 pm #

      We have recently updated this review. We hope that you find it helpful.
    • betty August 29, 2012 at 11:26 am #

      Because it isn’t December 2012 yet…..
    • Becky October 11, 2012 at 11:04 pm #

      yep Betty is right its not December yet
34. Billy December 29, 2011 at 1:11 am #

    Orijen can be good or bad. It all depends on who has tampered with it after it’s leaving the factory. After feeding my dog Orijen for @ 6 mo. he developed diarrhea. I switched to a different store and had no problems until the diarrhea happened again. Then I tried another bag of Orijen at another store and the dog vomited on the living room rug. Needless to say, someone would make thousands of dollars testing the food for problems. The consumer really doesn’t know what he/she will be getting in a bag of Orijen. Of course I’m from B.C. and maybe wildlife has precedent over dogs. I can’t explain why Orijen leaves the dogs’ skin flaky and smelly. Is Orijen garbage? …possibly. Would the Orijen management swear before a firing squad that their food is healthy? Can’t answer that one. That’s the paradox about Law.
35. CR September 25, 2011 at 1:26 pm #

    I have an Alaskan Malamute Puppy. I did research and started using the Orijen as it was rated the highest. The cost was high and hard to come by. I spoke to the company directly a few times and they were very friendly and informative. His stools have a very strong smell, probably from the high protein content. I made the mistake of having him at a kennel for 3 days without providing his own food. He had loose and running stools for a week when he went back on Orijen. He’s safely putting on weight and his coat looks incredible! Its worth the price and I highly recommend it to anyone!
36. Mary August 31, 2011 at 4:53 am #

    I have a miniature Schnauzer 10 months. Since I got him 7 months ago, i was at the vet every 3 weeks with chronic diarrhea. I was not worry about the money, but for my dog being on medication all the time. I tried Natural Balance, Wellness, Halo, and Evo. Last visit the vet said that he had to go on science diet and I was not happy at all.
    I went to different local holistic pet stores and did some research; Luckily I found Orijen. Since then, my dog business is better than ever. All his allergies were wiped away. He loves Orijen and always asks for more. The food smells really good even for human consumption. when he is done, he keeps liking his bowl.
    cons: Gases are so so so so stinky!
37. Virginia August 26, 2011 at 2:29 pm #

    I have a Cavalier King Charles and she just loves Orijen. When we were making the switch, she would pick out all of the Orijen pieces and leave the old food. She had no problems making the switch over.

    The amount of protein seems spot on, as dogs don’t need grains. Some others are concerned that it’s too much but I would imagine that could be the case for a very senior dog and not one in its prime. cost is a little pricey but it seems worth it if it really does increase the longevity of your beloved pet.

    I highly recommend. Washington DC has it available in several pet stores around the area, so it’s not too hard to obtain around here.
38. Ellie August 4, 2011 at 4:15 am #

    My Basset Hound seems to really like it, but gives her very stinky gas! Seems like this is a good quality food no doubt. But the cost hurts the wallet. I believe at some places you can do a feeding program buy 10 or 15 yet 1 free… Helps a little bit. I would like to continue buying this food, but not sure if I can afford it!

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