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ORIJEN Guardian 8 Free Run Chicken

ORIJEN Guardian 8  Free Run Chicken
Company info
Company HQ
Alberta, Canada ca-flag
Parent company
Champion Petfoods
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Dry Cat Food
Cost per day: $0.23
Primary proteins
  • Chicken
  • Salmon
  • Turkey
  • Chicken Liver

Ingredients

Chicken, Salmon, Turkey, Whole Herring, Whole Mackerel, Chicken Liver, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Eggs, Dehydrated Chicken, Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Sardine, Dehydrated Chicken Liver, Dehydrated Egg, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Rabbit, Pollock Oil, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Chickpeas, Whole Peas, Whole Navy Beans, Pea Starch, Ground Miscanthus Grass, Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicken Fat, Chicken Hearts, Whole Cranberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Chicory Root, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Dried Brewers Yeast, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid (Preservative), Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product

Overall Score

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72%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 69%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 88%
? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 100%
? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 52%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 42%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 40%
? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 83%

Estimated Nutrient Content

To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.

Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Protein: 40%

Fat: 18%

Fiber: 4%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 28%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 44.44%

Fat: 20%

Fiber: 4.44%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 31.11%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 35.81%

Fat: 39.13%

Carb: 25.06%

Our Review

Pros
  • Low carbohydrate content
  • To our knowledge, ORIJEN has never had a product recall
  • Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
  • Contains dried kelp as a natural source of essential nutrients
  • Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
  • Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
Cons
  • Low in moisture
  • Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
  • Some cats may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all cat food recalls related to ORIJEN since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Since 2011 ORIJEN has never been recalled.

Ingredient Review

Our review of ORIJEN Guardian 8 Free Run Chicken begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Chicken. Chicken is meat from the domesticated bird of the same name. In pet food, chicken is used as a primary protein source.

The second ingredient is Salmon. Salmon is meat from any fish in the salmon family, and in pet food, salmon might also refer to other parts of the fish including skin and organs. Salmon is an excellent source of protein, and it is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

The third ingredient is Turkey. Turkey is an easily digested meat that’s relatively low in fat. In pet food, turkey might be the primary protein source or it may be part of a blend made with different proteins.

The fourth ingredient is Whole Herring.

The fifth ingredient is Whole Mackerel. Mackerel is a sea fish with a greenish-blue back. Whole Mackerel is rich in phosphorous, selenium and vitamins D and B12. Whole Mackerel improves the brain and immune systems functionality. This pet food ingredient also reduces inflammation and risks of developing diseases like diabetes.

When we analyzed the ingredients in ORIJEN Guardian 8 Free Run Chicken, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per lb

Product Price

$7.02

Market Price avg.

$4.82

% From the Avg

+46%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$0.39

Market Price avg.

$0.39

% From the Avg

-0%

Price per day

Product Price

$0.23

Market Price avg.

$0.23

% From the Avg

+1%

ORIJEN Guardian 8 Free Run Chicken is priced within the average market price for dry cat food.

Nutritional Analysis

Adult cat foods can have a lot of variability in calorie density but generally meet requirements for the average active cat. With formulations addressing a wide variety of needs, including weight loss or gain, indoor or outdoor living, or hairball problems, individual recipes may vary greatly in calorie, fiber, and nutritional content.

With that in mind, we’ve compared ORIJEN Guardian 8 Free Run Chicken to the other 631 dry cat food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

44.44%

All Products avg.

38.78%

% From the Avg

+15%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

20%

All Products avg.

16.69%

% From the Avg

+20%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

4.44%

All Products avg.

5.22%

% From the Avg

-15%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

31.11%

All Products avg.

37.99%

% From the Avg

-18%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s high in protein with high fat and low carbohydrate content relative to other dry cat foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.

We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.

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