Label analysisGrade AKibble (Extruded)

Orijen

Orijen Original Dry Dog Food

Editor ingredient insight

Orijen Original is for dogs that can comfortably handle chicken, turkey, fish, egg, and multiple meals while needing a strong maintenance formula for muscle and palatability. At 38% protein, 18% fat, 3,940 kcal/kg, 600 mg/kg glucosamine, and 0.4% EPA/DHA, the formula has real strength. I would not use it while narrowing an allergy trigger because the animal-protein range is broad, and lentils, peas, chickpeas, and beans appear through the middle of the ingredient list. For dogs with sensitive digestion or mineral concerns, the 6% fiber, 9% ash, and 1.4%/1.1% calcium/phosphorus deserve attention.

Logic-based verdict

This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient guide

Whole plant protein source observed early

Animal protein

Fresh chicken meat (27%) (#1), frozen turkey meat (8%) (#2), fresh chicken livers (6%) (#3), whole herring (5%) (#4), whole hake (5%) (#5), eggs (5%) (#6), frozen turkey livers (4.5%) (#7), chicken meat meal (4%) (#8), turkey meat meal (4%) (#9), mackerel fish meal (4%) (#10), sardine fish meal (4%) (#11), herring fish meal (4%) (#12), fresh chicken hearts (0.5%) (#24), freeze-dried beef meat (natural flavor) (#39), freeze-dried goat meat (natural flavor) (#40), freeze-dried lamb meat (natural flavor) (#41)

Plant protein

red lentils (#13), green peas (#14), chickpeas (#17), yellow peas (#18), green lentils (#20)

The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide

Fish oil

Skin and joint support ingredient

Cranberry

Urinary support ingredient

Probiotics

Gut support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

EPA+DHA

Skin, joint, and heart support ingredient

Glucosamine

Joint support ingredient

Vitamin E

Antioxidant and skin support ingredient

View full ingredients
Top premium

Ingredient grade

A+

Grade A+

Top ingredient profile

Fresh Chicken Meat (27%)
Frozen Turkey Meat (8%)
Fresh Chicken Livers (6%)
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein38%
Crude protein38%
Crude fat18%
Other 44%

Calcium

1.4%

Phosphorus

1.1%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Higher
query_statsFat position
Higher
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Higher

There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.

Nutritional strengths

  • All top three ingredients are animal ingredients.
  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

What still needs work

  • Phosphorus is 1.1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
  • The top three are animal-led, but legumes repeat just below them in the early full ingredient list. Read this as a possible ingredient-splitting pattern rather than a clean top-three issue.

Alternative foods

Smart chicken / turkey alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

26 alternativesKibble (Extruded) · protein type/family cohort

Other recipes from the same brand

Other recipes from the same brand with a different purpose or feeding target.

Orijen

Regional Red™ Dry Dog Food

Adult

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

5.0/5

Grade A

Orijen

Puppy Dry Dog Food

Puppy

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.5/5

Grade A

Orijen

Puppy Large Dry Dog Food

Puppy · Large breed

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.5/5

Grade A

Orijen

Fit & Trim™ Dry Dog Food

Adult

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.5/5

Grade A

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 2005 in Canada. This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

A+6/6
Ingredient Grade
Top Premium
1Fresh Chicken Meat (27%)
Fresh Meat · Top
2Frozen Turkey Meat (8%)
Fresh Meat · Top
3Fresh Chicken Livers (6%)
Organ Meat · Upper

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Fresh Chicken Meat (27%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •Frozen Turkey Meat (8%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •Fresh Chicken Livers (6%) is a named organ meat. It usually contributes nutrient density rather than empty bulk. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
restaurantIngredient Grade A+Top Premium

Full collected ingredient list

51 ingredients
Fresh chicken meat (27%)frozen turkey meat (8%)fresh chicken livers (6%)whole herring (5%)whole hake (5%)eggs (5%)frozen turkey livers (4.5%)chicken meat meal (4%)turkey meat meal (4%)mackerel fish meal (4%)sardine fish meal (4%)herring fish meal (4%)red lentilsgreen peaschicken fat (3%)pea fiberchickpeasyellow peaspinto common beansgreen lentilsnavy common beansfish oil (1%)alfalfa pelletsfresh chicken hearts (0.5%)dried sea kelppumpkinbutternut squashzucchinidried chopped carrotsapplespearskalespinachbeet greensturnip greenscranberriesblueberriessaskatoon berriesfreeze-dried beef meat (natural flavor)freeze-dried goat meat (natural flavor)freeze-dried lamb meat (natural flavor)zinc proteinatenatural vitamin Edl-alpha-tocopherol acetatevitamin A acetatevitamin D3thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1)copper proteinaterosemary extractcitric acid (preservative)Enterococcus faecium
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C2 tier

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Final word

As a public review, this is a strong candidate to carry forward. The next question is whether it stays this strong for your own dog.

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