Orijen Dog Food Review

WebsiteOrijen
Available fromPet Circle   VeryPet

You want the absolute best for your dog, right?

I’ve researched dog foods for years, and I’m pretty sure Orijen is the best dry dog food available in Australia right now – by a country mile.

And in this review I’ll tell you exactly why!

Yes, the price is on the high side, but you’re paying for the health of your dog for years to come.

According to Dr Palmieri, Associate Professor in Veterinary Pathology at the University of Queensland, “1 in 3 dogs experience cancer in their lifetime”.

Those stats are alarming, and I’m sure with proper research we’d know the truth about poor quality dog foods and the illnesses they may cause. It’s a reason I avoid most dog foods like the plague.

So yes, Orijen may seem expensive, but you’re paying for your dog’s health and wellbeing.

I know many of us simply can’t afford to feed such a dog food exclusively, but you don’t want to do that anyway – variety is good, and feeding Orijen alongside a cheaper dog food or fresh food is always an option.

Even if it’s out of your price range, there’s still loads we can learn from Orijen – like what really should be in dog food.

Let’s take a look at those ingredients, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same as I do about Orijen dog food.

Orijen dog food review

Sorry, I probably sounded like a salesman in the intro, so lets get back on track and take a look at the ingredients.

These are copied directly from Orijen Original, labelled as “Biologically Appropriate”. They speak for themselves:

Orijen dog food review

Fresh chicken meat (13%), fresh turkey meat (7%), fresh cage-free eggs (7%), fresh chicken liver (6%), fresh whole herring (6%), fresh whole flounder (5%), fresh turkey liver (5%), fresh chicken necks (4%), fresh chicken heart (4%), fresh turkey heart (4%), chicken (dehydrated, 4%), turkey (dehydrated, 4%), whole mackerel (dehydrated, 4%), whole sardine (dehydrated, 4%), whole herring (dehydrated, 4%)… and so it goes on.

Does that sound better to you than dog food made of wheat, corn, and by-products, dusted with “vitamin and mineral powder” from some foreign country, with artificial preservatives?

It sounds 1,000 times better to me.

To top it off, two thirds of meat in Orijen dog food is fresh (refrigerated, with no preservatives), and the other third is air dried (a great way of retaining nutrition).

38% protein and 18% fat is excellent. Low (and unnecessary) carbs!

That’s one of the highest amounts of protein of any dry dog food in Australia, if not the highest.

There aren’t any artificial substances, antioxidants, or preservatives in Orijen either. It’s simply all good, well considered, and great for your dog.

I could waffle on all day about the benefits of all those whole prey ingredients, how they’ll benefit the health of your dog and give him a wonderful, glossy coat to impress other dog owners…

But I don’t need to.

Just consider your dog a carnivore (easy to do when you look at those jaws), then look at those ingredients.

Sounds like a good fit, doesn’t it?

Orijen Dog Food Review

Hopefully we’re on the same page at this point, but this is what others have said about Orijen dog food:

Dog Food Advisor: 5 stars (out of 5).

All About Dog Food: 95% Nutrition Rating.

Consumer reviews on Pet Circle are also, at the time of writing, all 5 stars. It seems to be the case wherever you look.

I’ve fed Orijen to my dog, and even the look and smell of the kibble shows how different it is from others.

Highly recommended.

Where to buy Orijen

Orijen vs ACANA

It’s worth mentioning the differences between Orijen and ACANA as they’re both made by Champion Petfoods.

Orijen is the most premium of the two, with the better ingredients. As many can’t afford or aren’t willing to pay such a price for their dog food, Champion Petfoods have ACANA as the more affordable option.

ACANA is a good brand in it’s own right, and still up there with the best (Champion Petfoods have standards). If Orijen is out of your price range, then I’ll refer you to the ACANA review.

Common questions about Orijen dog food

Will Orijen make my dog fat?

Orijen has a high protein and high fat content from whole-prey ingredients, but as canines process protein and fat more efficiently than humans this may not lead to excessive weight gain. You may find a high-carbohydrate dog food, or lack of exercise would lead to weight gain.

If I feed my dog Orijen for his whole life, will any supplements be required?

Orijen offers better nutrition than many dog foods, which means the need for supplements is less likely. That said, there is no reason a dog should be fed one product for his whole life, and although supplements may not be necessary unless the dog shows a health issue, they may still be beneficial.

Is Orijen a good food for a dog with a sensitive stomach?

Orijen may show an improvement in digestive health, but it is important to understand the underlying cause of a sensitive stomach. If diet is the underlying cause it’s worth evaluating the diet to date for problematic ingredients. This may be grains such as wheat/cereals, a specific protein source such as chicken, or additives/poor quality ingredients in the previous diet. If the sensitive stomach is in fact diet related, positive results may be seen on Orijen dog food within a couple of weeks.

How much Orijen should I feed my dog (or puppy)?

A dog or puppy would need less Orijen than a regular dog food to meet their nutritional needs. That said, all dogs are different, with differing activity levels. In the case of a puppy you may find they go throw phases of eating a great deal or very little, which ties in with their growth spurts. The Feeding Guidelines may give you a rough idea, but you will likely find it varies.

Is Orijen good for puppies?

All Orijen formulas meet AAFCO requirements for All Life Stages, which means they meet the nutritional requirements for puppies as well as adult dogs. In addition there are two puppy formulas available – regular and large breed puppy.

Orijen dog food and heart disease – should I be concerned?

You often hear discussions related to grain free or boutique dog foods and a rare condition Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). This is in regard to an investigation by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration of America) which was subsequently dropped due to lack of findings. There is more information here.

Have Orijen dog foods been recalled?

According to Champion Petfoods there have been no recalls of Orijen pet food products. This has been the case since 1985.

How Orijen is made (video from Champion Petfoods)

The following video provides an overview of the Champion Petfoods facility where Orijen and Acana pet foods are made, highlighting the level of standards and safety of production:

Orijen Ingredients

The ingredients of Orijen dog food (Orijen Original):

Fresh chicken meat (13%), fresh turkey meat (7%), fresh cage-free eggs (7%), fresh chicken liver (6%), fresh whole herring (6%), fresh whole flounder (5%), fresh turkey liver (5%), fresh chicken necks (4%), fresh chicken heart (4%), fresh turkey heart (4%), chicken (dehydrated, 4%), turkey (dehydrated, 4%), whole mackerel (dehydrated, 4%), whole sardine (dehydrated, 4%), whole herring (dehydrated, 4%), whole red lentils, whole green lentils, whole green peas, lentil fibre, whole chickpeas, whole yellow peas, whole pinto beans, whole navy beans, herring oil (1%), chicken fat (1%), chicken cartilage (1%), chicken liver (freeze-dried), turkey liver (freeze-dried), fresh whole pumpkin, fresh whole butternut squash, fresh whole zucchini, fresh whole parsnips, fresh carrots, fresh whole Red Delicious apples, fresh whole Bartlett pears, fresh kale, fresh spinach, fresh beet greens, fresh turnip greens, brown kelp, whole cranberries, whole blueberries, whole Saskatoon berries, chicory root, turmeric root, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rosehips. ADDITIVES (per kg): Nutritional additives: Zinc chelate: 100 mg. Enterococcus faecium. NCIMB10415: 600×10^6 CFU.  

Orijen Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Orijen dog food (Orijen Original):

Protein38%
Fat18%
Crude Fibre4%
Carbohydrates *Estimated 24%
* May be estimated. Read how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food.

Orijen dog food review updated 31st May 2022

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9.7 Total Score
Orijen dog food review

The ingredients of Orijen dog food are excellent. The brand has a fantastic reputation spanning decades, with the dog food sold worldwide. Highly recommended.

PROS
  • Well considered canine diet
  • Lots of meat and fish
  • Whole prey
  • Excellent ingredients throughout

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62 Comments
  1. I live in Brisbane, QLD and have been unable to buy this product in store or online. It simply isn’t available to ship to my address. Will this product be available any time soon?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 13, 2023 at 9:16 pm

      Hi Marcia, unfortunately this has been the case for a while, so best to buy it when you can, and when you can’t buy something different. Variety is good!

  2. Bear & Chase are 12 years old and have been eating Orijen Six Fish all their lives but I’m done. Was quality when made in Canada. Deminished when moved to US then sold to Champion and quality down again. New owner is Mars that has changed 25 lb bag to 23 1/2 lb bag for same rediculus price of $112.95 and no doubt, deminished quality. I used to open a bag and smell fish. It used to be dark in color with oily texture. Now light and grainy texture. Will probably purchase 1 more bag to mix with new feed for transitioning. So sad, it’s all about money now. No integritity.

  3. Hello,
    Does Orijen still have 9.7 stars as it’s now being bought by Mars and the ingredients have changed? Would love if you could to an updated review as I have bought a bag to transition my puppy but now I am not sure if I want to use this brand anymore.

    Thanks so much

  4. I use Frontier Pets and Stay Loyal for my five ridgebacks. One of them has been very itchy in the past few months, around her face. I’ve considered grass allergies but wonder why only her face is affected but it drives her nuts. So I decided to replace Stay Loyal for a while (I doubt it would be the Frontier) and I had just decided to try her on Orijen after reading your review, when I read that Orijen and Acana have just been bought by Mars!! Do you think this is a worry? Are the high standards going to be affected. If so, what would you suggest. I’m at a loss. I also give my dogs eggs a couple of times a week from my own organic fed chickens and some fresh human grade meats ie chicken and beef. Would welcome your thoughts.

    • Hi Sandra,

      Thank you for sharing your experience with Stay Loyal. I’ve been with them for a few years and have had no complaints. However, my mini poodle has also recently developed an itchy face and paws since around February 2023. I’ve tried everything I can think of – from fleas to allergies – and had a minor suspicion is could be Stay Loyal (either a bad batch or maybe a change in ingredients etc).

      Other than that, I give him Ziwi Peak as a topper and some samples of Frontier Pets. I don’t suspect either of them would be the cause of the itchiness.

      I am also considering changing dog foods to try and see if it changes anything. Hope you have solved your pup’s issues.

      • Reply
        Pet Food Reviews (Australia) June 30, 2023 at 4:18 pm

        Hi Jimmy, I think it’s always worth changing foods to see if there’s any improvement, even for a couple of weeks.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) April 19, 2023 at 2:45 pm

      Hi Sandra, dogs react to food sensitivities in all manner of ways. Trying to find the cause (if it is diet related) is well worth doing as it will give you answers you can work on. You could try feeding a different brand entirely for a few weeks, such as Orijen, and keep the Frontier Pets and Stay Loyal on hold. If the symptoms clear up then re-introduce one of the two original foods and keep an eye out for re-occurring symptoms.

      It may be worth avoiding common proteins of chicken, lamb, and beef to see if that makes a difference too. Eggs can be a problem but I can’t say I’ve really found this to be the case, and I consider them a fantastic addition to a dog’s diet.

      At this stage I don’t have any concerns with Orijen and Acana being bought by Mars. My hope is they keep them as premium products and don’t ruin them.

  5. Hello, can you tell me if Orijen is irradiated when coming into Australia.

    Thank you Gavin Royle

  6. love your reviews. am in us so some actually aren’t available here, but your attention, honesty and response time are tops.

  7. Can anyone advise if Orijen is being sold any more? I can’t find a retailer with it in stock.

    • I am in the United States and have been using Orijen for many years. Champion foods which owned Orijen sold out to Mars in November. I am looking for an alternate comparable food.

    • Yay just had a reply back from Arnhem Pet Products (i think they are the Australian Distributor?) anyway they have said that we will have stock arriving in Australia any time between now and the end of February YAY!!

    • I contacted Orijen (Arnhem Pet Products) back in September asking the same question and they responded to advise they would add me to their email list to advise when it would be getting restocked across Australia. I’ve heard nothing! I’ve just sent them another email but they have not been forthcoming with information so far! My groodle is intolerant to everything and he did so well on the Orijen 6 Fish! Tried so many foods since and his skin just flared up with them all!

  8. This is fantastic Dog Food.

    Unfortunately, I have been unable to purchase it anywhere for about 6 months now.
    I’m wondering if they will ever restock it.

  9. It will be interesting to watch this brand. I read that they are getting bigger and that some of their ingredients/quality of ingredients are slowly changing. I was also
    wondering if where the food is sourced factors into your ratings? Apparently they moved manufacturing from Canada to Kentucky in 2016 which changes the rules around sourcing cruelty free/ethically raised animals. Will be interesting to watch this brand carefully.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) December 18, 2022 at 12:27 am

      Hi Allison, I’ve noted some smaller changes over recent years but the rating still applies at the time of writing this comment. Small stuff, like whole egg was replaced with egg product – usually these fairly unnoticeable changes are the result of an ingredient being switched for a cheaper alternative. The brand was recently acquired by Mars, so time will tell if this has any effect. I suspect it will, but if there’s anything positive to say then Mars have high standards of production. Hopefully they keep Orijen as a top shelf product to cater for that specific market demographic.

  10. This youtube video appeared in my feed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM_EIP-xgmM
    Maybe it’s cause I’ve been reading the orijen and acana reviews.
    But yeah champion pet food is getting acquired by Mars 🙁
    https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/mars-petcare-acquire-champion-petfoods

    • Thanks for this info. MARS usually results in the cemetery for good ingredients so ill be watching this food ingredients closely when it returns to market sale in Australia.

  11. Will dog with a sensitive stomach be suitable? It is quite high in protein, worried if it will make senior dog stomach worse. I was previously feeding them balanced life chicken and it made it worse. Im trying to avoid royal canin or hill science as I dont think the ingredients are at all healthy. Need some advice on this. Thanks!

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) November 8, 2022 at 5:24 pm

      Hi Janice, it’s hard to say without knowing why Balanced Life made him worse – there may be many reasons for this which are worth considering. Firstly, if you weren’t feeding the Balanced Life for long it’s possible your dog has an intolerance, which can be more about the previous diet than the new one. Sometimes it takes a dog a bit of time to adjust, or sometimes it’s just not possible. If it’s an intolerance, it’s worth trying to figure out what – could be a specific meat protein like chicken. Other factors may also be at play, such as pancreatitis, so if that’s a possibility it might be worth checking with your vet to make sure. Orijen, like Balanced Life, is higher protein, higher fat, so you may find the same issues. Then again, maybe not! You could try a small bag and see how it goes, but if there look to be any problems let me know and perhaps we can figure out something else.

  12. This food is great! My mini schnauzer loves it and does so well on it. Very good quality – a little expensive but I would rather pay more for a good food he will eat.
    However….. it’s so hard to get these days – sold out everywhere and no one knows when or if it will be restocked.

  13. After looking through a few options, I decided that on Orijen to feed my rescue greyhoud. However, it seems to be sold out everywhere! Do you have any insights into this?

  14. After finding this website and reading the reviews, I ordered a bag of Orijen, which my whippet absolutely adores! However, I am worried about how long the bag lasts once opened. Is there a use-by guide, like “use the food within 2 weeks of opening the bag” as the food goes rancid, stale or bad after that?

    • I have a bag of Cherish that is going on 5 months and it’s still good. The last bag got mould at 3 months. It honestly depends I think on storage conditions as Pet has said. It’s colder now, it hasn’t been a very warm Summer this year where we live and so the foods going and going.

      Cherish is a good food for gunky ears. My boy gets stinky and itchy ears and this food clears it up, temporarily of course. But hey it’s better than nothing.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) May 27, 2022 at 6:14 pm

      Hi Maree, dry food can and does spoil, so it’s best to buy a bag size which you can get through in a couple of weeks. I just searched for advice on Google and it seems the recommendation is 6 weeks max, but it will be a case of the less time the better!

      Obviously it depends on other factors too, like storage conditions, temperature, humidity etc.

  15. How come all foods are available only at Pet Circle or Pet Warehouse? Is this a sponsored review program?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) April 25, 2022 at 9:04 pm

      Most decent pet foods are available at Pet Circle, and I know they tend to stock foods rated highly on this website – they’re proactive in that sense. Not all foods on the best rated list are available at Pet Circle, as many like Frontier Pets, Lyka, Stay Loyal etc are available direct from the manufacturers (which cuts out the retailer as the middle man).

  16. Hi, My 13 year old mixed breed (was a RSPCA pup, small to medium terrier cross, maybe border terrier cross) has been fed Black Hawk Chicken & Rice kibble most of his life, after an early change to this after digestive issues. Just recently his age is catching up with him and gaining weight and the vet suggested switching to a “seniors” formula with either Royal Canin or Hills Science Diet. But reading your reviews here, that seems like a bad idea. Would the Orijen or any of the other “top rated” dry kibbles here be suitable for his age and size (weighs around 12-13kg)? He has also has some dental issues in the past few years, with 2 teeth extractions over the past 3 years (first was a broken tooth we think was due to chewing on a palm tree nut, the latest we think due to discovering an old bone from the former owners of this house). We don’t give him bones anymore because of this, and just dried chew treats. What would you recommend we move him to for dry kibble?

    • I like Cherish Senior it’s a very well thought out food, with many benefits. Have you tried chicken wings, carcasses or necks? might be a better option to heavier more dense bones. Kangaroo tendons are known to be the number 1 best dried chew for dental.

      I don’t think many brands are inherently bad, it’s best to just use them on rotation. Don’t feed them just that brand forever, but change either every bag if your dogs stomach allows it or change every couple of bags.

      Royal Canin has it’s uses, I find mine are less gassy on it, their anal glands don’t seem to be causing issues anymore and my girls bloated tummy is less. However I mix feed so some days it doesn’t get eaten and it’s noticeable.

      I never thought I’d try it due to the ingredients, but I’m glad I gave it a go. The dogs love it and the promises of better digestive health are a nice reprieve for my girl. Because she doesn’t require as many doses of her supplements now. Before I was stuck giving her the stuff 5 times a week. Now it’s back down to once a week.

      True Colours is another favourite of mine. Orijen is great too, but for your pup it would need to be the fit and trim as it’s quiet fattening otherwise. Feed for Thought is good but due to it’s rather rare ingredient for now anyways, it’s extremely expensive.

      I don’t think we have the senior Nutrience or that would be good too. Instinctive Bite (not the salmon, really bad reviews) is good. Talentail a new brand might be good too. Heart and Soul might be good. I don’t remember the fat percentage of the last 2 though. Essentially you don’t want to go above 14% fat.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) April 12, 2022 at 12:25 am

      Hi Mel, anything on the best rated list should suit (Orijen being one of the most expensive). Generally I consider meaty bones the best option for warding off dental issues (kibble + dental treats not so much), so perhaps softer bones like chicken necks? Perhaps some fresh foods as well, like meats/organs/some veggies etc? Serves to keep costs down with prices of pet foods always on the rise.

  17. Hello,

    I would like to point out that this is not a preservative-free dog food as you claim. In their ingredient list, they specifically say 2 preservative ingredients: Citric Acid & Mixed Tocopherols.

    I feed my 2 fur babies Ziwi Peak and K9 Natural and was looking for more options in premium dog food. I see that you rate Orijen, Frontier and Lyka higher than the Ziwi Peak or K9 Natural. Are they really better? I need advice on which to get. I am not looking at the price. I rather pay now and have them healthy than later pay for vet bills and them to suffer from all sorts of health issues that would be caused by the wrong diet. I am looking for quality and high nutrition including high omega 3.

    Can you recommend what else I could try that would meet the above-mentioned criteria, please?

    Thank you 🙂

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) March 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm

      Hi Dany, it’s bad wording on my part – it’s supposed to read as no artificial preservatives.

      I consider all the brands you’ve mentioned as excellent, and the only advice I can give is not to tie yourself to any specific brand – feed a variety.

      • Thank you for your response. 🙂

        I have ordered the Orijen in Small Dog and Six Fish; Frontier bundle pack and also their Tripe and Chicken treats. Will give it a go and see.

        I have to say that the Orijen kibble looks, smells and tastes very good to my doggies.. no complaints…

        The only worry that I have with Orijen is that it is kibble and that means that its nutritional value won’t be as high as those of freeze-dried or air-dried foods. I actually found that Orijen makes freeze-dried food and treats as well, yet they don’t sell them in Australia.. 🙁 Wonder why though…

        • Orijen is cooked at a much lower temperature though, so it’s nutritional value goes way beyond most kibbles regardless.

          Most overseas companies only bring 1 type of food to our shores. Despite having a multitude of different foods on offer. Sometimes maybe it’s just that the foods don’t sell well enough to bother bringing any more here.

          Sometimes it’s a customs thing, where the food doesn’t meet our standards or something and isn’t allowed into the country until it does. This means they’d have to change the ingredients or do something to it, that perhaps they don’t want to do.

          A lot of brands were meant to come here, some said they would by this “time” but never actually did. I reckon they got rejected over and over and eventually just gave up.

          The one lady I spoke to said it’s very hard to get food into Australia. I wondered why, but she couldn’t really tell me that. Just said it’s very hard.

  18. Hey there ! I’m over here in Canada, we buy our Orijen Original & Regional Red from the North Star kitchen in Alberta. The only food we feed our two Fox Red Labrador Retrievers is from Champion Pet food – based on the highest quality of manufacturing, research, health standards, quality and quantity of meats, protein %, lower carbs. Our family has always trusted this premium dog food, while other companies depend to much entirely on supplement’s and synthetics – artificial food developed in a laboratory. If you want the best commercially made dog food, you can’t go wrong with Champion Pet foods. Best regards, Rob.

  19. is this really better then lyka, frontier or ziwi ? this rating score is insane

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) February 4, 2022 at 6:15 pm

      Hi Josh, many factors are considered and all three are excellent dog foods. In terms of kibble, Orijen is one of the absolute best sold worldwide with an excellent track record.

      • Thankyou for the response. I have a very very picky bull arab who eats ALOT of food she is very active 2 Years old runs approx 8 – 10 hours a day. I have tried soooooo many brands like. Stay loyal, canadae, blackhawk, frontier, glow, cherish, wild boar. Nothing I repeat nothing compares to orijen.

        Mari loves the taste, she is super excited for dinner and breakfeast, she also gets whole chicken frames every couple of days. And she gets vegetables I have for dinner (I just cook extra). But wow, her coat, her skin, her energy levels, her bloody mood are all improved and I’m only one bag down.

        This is a little more expensive but it is worth it, multiple flavours, I’ll swap her every second bag and rotate too keep interest. Only negative is I wouldn’t pay attention to there recommend feeding sizes (they say for an active fit dog feed 350g per day for a 35kg dog, I feed mari 600 grams a day. To keep up with her energy needs.

  20. So not to step on your toes or forcefully break any fingers haha, but no it’s not the highest protein or lowest carbs, these are.

    • Isn’t this an American dog kibble? Is it available in Australia?

      • Yes u can get it in Australia now. Iv been feeding it to my English staffy pup. He loves it.

      • Yep it’s American and not available here. We unfortunately don’t have a keto kibble here which is unfortunate to say the least.

        Our lower carb options are spread quiet thin when it comes to kibble.

        PurePro is low carb, but it’s super high fat and Kcal.
        Healthy Everyday Pets is still considered lower carb.
        Orijen and Acana are considered lower carb.

        Essentially to find out the carbs, you add protein/fat/fibre/ash and moisture together. Let’s say you get 62%, the carb percentage will be 38%. You simply add to the number until you reach 100 and whatever number you added that’s the carb count.

        Now the issue with this, is some foods inflate the protein or fats or both so much that a food with zero meat can have 40% carbs or less. It’s always important to check the ingredients list as well. As to not be deceived.

        Alternatively you have Freeze Dried, Air Dried, Canned and Raw, which will be more meat and organs than carbs.

  21. Would Orijen be irradiated?
    I would love to buy it but need to know as this would stop me from getting it.
    Thank you Tammy

  22. I found out about Orijen from this site, and I’m so happy. The only thing that could make it better is if it was made here. Of course I prefer to support local manufacturing, and I feel guilty about the carbon footprint of shipping, but there simply isn’t a local equivalent. I do, however, also raw feed so that balances things out a bit.

    It’s very expensive compared to other kibble, but I calculated it would cost under $5 a day for my golden retriever if fed exclusively, which I think I extremely reasonable for a family member. So maybe it’s not expensive as much as most other kibbles being cheap (and nasty).

    I have to admit, my dog will eat anything so the fact that he loves it doesn’t mean a thing in itself. The cat, on the other hand, is the superlative example of fussy and even he likes it, so now I have to go and get the cat version for him.

  23. I have a 12 yr old white desexed female German shepherd, a 5yo entire male Rottweiler & a 2yo desexed male Grey Hound X Bull Arab, the latter 2 were a)adopted after elderly owners became ill & b)pound puppy …… seeking better nutrition, not show dogs but saw the info on Orijen, bough a 11.3kg bag, hav not looked back with my decision to begin the Orijen journey. All 3 pooches are fine exhibits of this wonderful pdt inside and out, clearly noted by looking at them. The cost of the bags though is a concern as to whether I can upkeep this journey, but time will tell

  24. hi there, I am constantly looking for any pet food with low carbs as my dog suffers from allergies and chronic yeast infections, so naturally when i came across your review with an estimated carb percentage of %9 I got very excited. however i always do my own research and calculations to. i have been through the ingredients list with a fine tooth comb and cannot for the life of me find how you came to this result?

    here are my calculations: (100 – protein(38) – fat(18) – moisture(12) ash(as per average) (8) = %24 carbs) note even if i subtract the fiber and odd other percentages its still nowhere near %9

    i got the percentages from orijens website, guaranteed analysis section.

    am i missing something?

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) December 10, 2021 at 1:21 am

      Hi Johanna, good spot and you’re not missing anything at all. It was a mistake on my part and has now been corrected! Thanks.

  25. Your later reviews don’t seem the same as they used to be. No mention of where the food comes from and more like a marketing spiel. I don’t want to buy food that isn’t made in Australia or NZ.

    • Reply
      Pet Food Reviews (Australia) October 24, 2021 at 12:37 am

      Thanks for the feedback Ken – noted. I’ve been trying to flesh out the reviews more because it helps with Google. Unfortunately the nature of the Internet, but I’ll try and ensure reviews are less “marketing spiel”!

      • Hi, I really really wanted this food to be great as it gets such a great review and only the best for my pup!
        I bought a 2kg bag and transitioned my 9month old border collie pup over a 2 week period and she was fine. So I bought an 11kg bag but ever since it just gives her diarrhoea. As soon as I take her off it, she’s fine.
        I even tried giving it with probiotic paste with binder in it and that didn’t work.
        Should I keep trying?
        She has Lyka for breakfast and I give her kibble for dinner.

        • Pet Food Reviews (Australia) October 2, 2023 at 11:56 pm

          Hi Jacinta, that doesn’t sound good. Puppies commonly vomit on some foods as their digestive system adapts, but this shouldn’t happen regularly. By the sounds of it there may be an issue with the bag (issues occur such as bad batches, exposure to heat/humidity during transport, retailer storage etc). If you choose to feed it in small amounts then keep a close eye, or see if you can return the bag – be honest with the retailer and say your dog is vomiting after eating it, and the vomiting stops when you stop feeding it.

  26. I recently got two Orijen albeit cat food formulas as cats are notoriously picky so the food will be super boosted in flavour for picky eaters. Anyways got the cat and kitten chicken and eggs and the regional red.

    The regional red was an absolute hit, being eaten every single day for 3 weeks with absolutely no issue. They tend to get bored so this is a good sign. It smelled of beef, organs and the other red meats it contains.

    I opened the chicken today as the beef is nearly all gone, 2 feedings left in the bag and 2 feedings in the bowl. It smells like chicken and eggs lol, like what did I expect haha. The dogs were not keen, but than they just ate and mind you they ate a lot.

    All 3 compartments of Basil’s were eaten and Andzia ate 2 whole compartments. I will test if they like it, once I fully run out of the beef. I probably should’ve waited but I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer, I really had to open the bag.

    The bags downsides are you can’t close them, you have to fold the opening over the side and lay it down on the opening. A 340g trial bag will cost you $15 from Very Pet with free shipping.

    I was going to try the dog version of regional, but apparently it’s not available in Australia at this time. So that won’t happen. The nutrition of both cat and dog despite the similar ingredient lists are different, but not so much as for it to be a grave concern for me. Especially since they get 2x air dried as well.

    I am most definitely going to continue to buy this brand, I will give them breaks from it here and there. But realistically I’d be more concerned about nutrient overdoses or lapses in regular kibble with synthetics than I would with this.

    If it was a sole diet, I could possibly see some issues over a vast amount of time, as mentioned the differences are not very large. If you intend to feed the cat versions to your dogs, change it up with the dog versions from time to time.

    Or simply add another food like freeze dried or air dried for dogs to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake.

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Pet Food Reviews (Australia)
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