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ORIJEN Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

ORIJEN Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
Alberta, Canada
Parent company
Champion Petfoods
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Dry Dog Food
Cost per day: $0.21
Primary proteins
  • Deboned Turkey
  • Deboned Chicken
  • Quail
  • Eggs

Ingredients

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Quail, Eggs, Whole Blue Whiting, Whole Atlantic Mackerel, Turkey Liver, Chicken Liver, Turkey Heart, Chicken Heart, Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Chicken, Dehydrated Mackerel, Dehydrated Chicken Liver, Dehydrated Egg, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Green Lentils, Chicken Fat, Whole Navy Beans, Whole Chickpeas, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Natural Chicken Flavor, Pollock Oil, Turkey Cartilage, Chicken Cartilage, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver, New Zealand Green Mussels, Whole Cranberries, Whole Pumpkin, Collard Greens, Carrots, Apples, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Chicory, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.

Breed sizes

size-1 Toy
size-2 Small
size-3 Medium
size-4 Large
size-5 Giant

Overall Score

77%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 66%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 90%
? 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 25%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 88%
? 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 100%

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

Protein: 38%

Fat: 18%

Fiber: 4%

Moisture: 12%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 28%

Dry Matter Analysis

Protein: 43.18%

Fat: 20.45%

Fiber: 4.55%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 31.82%

Calorie Weighted Basis

Protein: 34.64%

Fat: 39.84%

Carb: 25.52%

Our Review

Pros
  • 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
  • Expensive
  • High in carbohydrates
  • Low in moisture
  • Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
  • Some dogs may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog 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 Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Deboned Turkey. Deboned turkey is a general term for turkey meat that has had the bones removed. The deboned turkey in pet food is a valuable protein source as well as a source of other essential nutrients to benefit your companion’s overall wellbeing.

The second ingredient is Deboned Chicken. Deboned chicken is chicken meat with the bones removed. In pet food, deboned chicken is a valuable source of protein.

The third ingredient is Quail. Quail are small game birds that are typically grown for human consumption. In pet food, quail can be a good novel protein source as well as a source of amino acids, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

The fourth ingredient is Eggs. In pet food, eggs serve as a source of high quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. The simple term “eggs” can refer to any part of the egg or any combination of egg parts.

The fifth ingredient is Whole Blue Whiting. Whole Blue Whiting contains the bones, skin, and organs of Blue Whiting. It’s rich in protein, selenium, phosphorous, iron, potassium, and vitamins B6 and B12. Whole Blue Whiting in pet food helps maintain healthy joints and bone, reduces inflammation, and promotes a healthy skin and shiny coat

When we analyzed the ingredients in ORIJEN Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per lb

Product Price

$6.35

Market Price avg.

$3.56

% From the Avg

+78%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$0.36

Market Price avg.

$0.23

% From the Avg

+57%

Price per day

Product Price

$0.21

Market Price avg.

$0.14

% From the Avg

+52%

ORIJEN Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is priced well above the average market price for dry dog food.

Nutritional Analysis

Because smaller dogs have higher metabolisms compared to their medium, large, and giant cousins, foods made for small breeds may have higher calorie density. Small dog breed foods also often have smaller kibble size for their smaller mouths.

With that in mind, we’ve compared ORIJEN Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food to the other 1525 dry dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

43.18%

All Products avg.

30.04%

% From the Avg

+44%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

20.45%

All Products avg.

16.01%

% From the Avg

+28%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

4.55%

All Products avg.

5.36%

% From the Avg

-15%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

31.82%

All Products avg.

47.71%

% From the Avg

-33%

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 dog 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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