Label analysisGrade AListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Orijen

Orijen Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Orijen Small Breed has a very broad animal-protein spread: 19% raw turkey, 18.5% fresh chicken, quail, hake, herring, liver, eggs, turkey meal, chicken meal, and green mussels.

At 39% protein, 18% fat, and 3,900 kcal/kg, It is worth considering for active small dogs that tolerate multiple proteins.

Choose another recipe for kidney-sensitive, allergy-troubleshooting, legume-sensitive, or weight-prone dogs because phosphorus is 1.1%, calcium is 1.4%, and lentils, beans, chickpeas, peas, and pea starch are present.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of turkey beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Turkey

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 39%Fat 18%Other 43%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.

Fat positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityHigher

This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.4%
Phosphorus1.1%
Crude fiber4%
Omega-30.5%
Omega-62.8%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Turkey ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Turkey
A+6/6Ingredient gradeTop Premium
Ingredient #1 · Raw turkey (19%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · fresh chicken (18.5%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #3 · raw quail (4%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #1Top

Raw turkey (19%)

Raw turkey (19%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Top

fresh chicken (18.5%)

fresh chicken (18.5%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Top

raw quail (4%)

raw quail (4%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Raw turkey (19%) — Primary positive ingredientsfresh chicken (18.5%) — Primary positive ingredientsraw quail (4%) — Primary positive ingredientsraw whole hake (4%) — Primary positive ingredientsraw whole herring (4%) — Primary positive ingredientsraw turkey liver (4%) — Primary positive ingredientsfresh chicken giblets (liver, heart) (4%) — Primary positive ingredientsfresh eggs (4%) — Primary positive ingredientsturkey meal (4%) — Support positive ingredientschicken meal (4%) — Support positive ingredientsdried herring (4%) — Support positive ingredientsdried chicken liver (4%) — Support positive ingredientsdried eggs (4%) — Primary positive ingredientswhole red lentils — Caution ingredientswhole pinto beans — Caution ingredientswhole green lentils — Caution ingredientschicken fat (3%) — Neutral ingredientswhole white beans — Neutral ingredientswhole chickpeas — Caution ingredientslentil fiber — Neutral ingredientswhole peas — Caution ingredientspollock oil (0.5%) — Support positive ingredientspea starch — Neutral ingredientsdried kelp — Support positive ingredientsNew Zealand green mussels — Neutral ingredientsfresh whole butternut squash — Neutral ingredientsfresh whole pumpkin — Neutral ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientsfresh whole apples — Neutral ingredientsfresh whole carrots — Neutral ingredientsfresh whole pears — Neutral ingredientsfresh whole zucchini — Neutral ingredientsdried chicory root — Support positive ingredientsfresh beet greens — Neutral ingredientsfresh kale — Neutral ingredientsfresh spinach — Neutral ingredientsfresh turnip greens — Neutral ingredientswhole cranberries — Neutral ingredientswhole blueberries — Neutral ingredientswhole saskatoon berries — Neutral ingredientsburdock root — Neutral ingredientslavender — Neutral ingredientsmarshmallow root — Neutral ingredientsrosehips — Neutral ingredientsturmeric. — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Whole plant protein source observed early

Animal protein · Raw turkey (19%) (#1), fresh chicken (18.5%) (#2), raw quail (4%) (#3), raw whole hake (4%) (#4), raw whole herring (4%) (#5), raw turkey liver (4%) (#6), fresh chicken giblets (liver, heart) (4%) (#7), fresh eggs (4%) (#8), turkey meal (4%) (#9), chicken meal (4%) (#10), dried herring (4%) (#11), dried chicken liver (4%) (#12), dried eggs (4%) (#13)

Plant protein · whole red lentils (#14), whole pinto beans (#15), whole green lentils (#16), whole chickpeas (#19), whole peas (#21)

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 ingredientsNutrient guide
Green-lipped musselJoint support ingredientChicoryGut support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTurmeric/curcuminAntioxidant and joint support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Raw turkey (19%), fresh chicken (18.5%) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. pea starch supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

whole red lentils, whole pinto beans contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber further down the ingredient list. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. lentil fiber supply fiber. For stool or satiety considerations, the disclosed crude-fiber amount adds useful context beyond the ingredient's presence.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including turkey, chicken, quail, herring, egg. Some protein sources are not fully identified, which limits choices that require excluding a specific protein.

What works well in this food

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

Check before feeding

  • 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.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food.

Consider it first when

  • Your dog already eats the listed animal and plant ingredients comfortably
  • You want animal ingredients first without excluding plant ingredients

Choose another food first when

  • You need to exclude a listed ingredient
  • You need a verified animal-protein proportion, which ingredient order alone cannot provide

High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart chicken / turkey alternatives

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

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Orijen background

Founded in 2005 in Canada.

Disclosure confidence C2

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

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

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.