Label analysisGrade AKibble (Extruded)

Orijen

Orijen Puppy Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Editor ingredient insight

Orijen Small Breed Puppy has a strong fish axis with 17% raw salmon, 16% raw whole herring, flounder, cod, rockfish, sole, fish meals, and green mussels. At 40% protein, 15% fat, 4,000 kcal/kg, and 1% EPA+DHA, it makes sense for small puppies that thrive on fish and need growth energy. I would avoid it for fish intolerance, allergy troubleshooting, kidney-sensitive puppies, or legume-sensitive puppies because calcium is 1.5%, phosphorus is 1.1%, and lentils, beans, chickpeas, and peas are present.

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

Raw salmon (17%) (#1), raw whole herring (16%) (#2), raw flounder (7%) (#3), raw whole cod (6%) (#4), raw whole rockfish (6%) (#5), raw whole sole (6%) (#6), herring meal (5%) (#7), rockfish meal (5%) (#8), mackerel meal (5%) (#9), blue whiting meal (5%) (#10)

Plant protein

whole red lentils (#11), whole kidney beans (#12), whole chickpeas (#13), whole green lentils (#14), whole peas (#16), whole white kidney beans (#19)

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

Herring oil

Skin and joint support ingredient

Green-lipped mussel

Joint support ingredient

Chicory

Gut support ingredient

Yucca extract

Stool odor support ingredient

Cranberry

Urinary support ingredient

Turmeric/curcumin

Antioxidant and joint support ingredient

Milk thistle

Liver support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

EPA+DHA

Skin, joint, and heart support ingredient

Vitamin E

Antioxidant and skin support ingredient

View full ingredients
Top premium

Ingredient grade

A+

Grade A+

Top ingredient profile

Raw salmon (17%)
raw whole herring (16%)
raw flounder (7%)
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein40%
Crude protein40%
Crude fat15%
Other 45%

Calcium

1.5%

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
Typical
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 salmon / whitefish alternatives

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

15 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
1Raw salmon (17%)
Fresh Meat · Top
2raw whole herring (16%)
Fresh Meat · Top
3raw flounder (7%)
Fresh Meat · Top

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Raw salmon (17%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •raw whole herring (16%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •raw flounder (7%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
restaurantIngredient Grade A+Top Premium

Full collected ingredient list

42 ingredients
Raw salmon (17%)raw whole herring (16%)raw flounder (7%)raw whole cod (6%)raw whole rockfish (6%)raw whole sole (6%)herring meal (5%)rockfish meal (5%)mackerel meal (5%)blue whiting meal (5%)whole red lentilswhole kidney beanswhole chickpeaswhole green lentilslentil fiberwhole peassunflower oilherring oil (2%)whole white kidney beansraw New Zealand green musselsdried kelpfresh whole butternut squashfresh whole pumpkindried chicory rootfresh whole applesfresh whole carrotsfresh whole pearsfresh whole zucchiniMojave yuccafresh beet greensfresh kalefresh spinachfresh turnip greenswhole cranberrieswhole blueberrieswhole saskatoon berriesturmericmilk thistleburdock rootlavendermarshmallow rootrosehips.
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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