Which Orijen Amazing Grains Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

Orijen Amazing Grains Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

The Orijen Amazing Grains product line includes the 5 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Orijen Amazing Grains Original was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

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Ingredient Analysis

The first two ingredients in this dog food are chicken and turkey. Although they are quality items, raw poultry contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The third ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

However, raw organ meat contains up to 73% water and most of that moisture is lost after cooking, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

The next two ingredients are herring and mackerel. Both items are inclusive of moisture and these fish are naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.

The sixth ingredient is dehydrated chicken. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.

Plus (unlike chicken meal) dehydrated chicken is not exposed to high temperatures during processing, so it preserves more of the meat’s natural nutrients.

The seventh ingredient is dried chicken liver, a dehydrated product made from whole chicken livers. Because it contains about 62% protein and 20% fat, this item makes a favorable addition to this dog food.

The eighth ingredient includes oat groats, a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. With the exception of their caloric content and the fact they’re also gluten free, oat groats can be considered average in nutritional value.

The ninth ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals.

The tenth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Champion product.

With 5 notable exceptions…

First, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, chia seed is an edible seed nutritionally similar to flax or sesame. Provided they’re first ground into a meal, chia seeds are rich in both omega-3 fatty acids as well as dietary fiber and contain about 17% protein.

In addition, we note the inclusion of quinoa seed. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is not a true cereal grain but a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.

Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.

Next, we find inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Orijen Amazing Grains Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43%, a fat level of 21% and estimated carbohydrates of about 28%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 43% and a mean fat level of 21%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 28% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, quinoa and chia seeds, this still looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a significant amount of meat.

Our Rating of Orijen Amazing Grains Dog Food

Orijen Amazing Grains is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a significant amount of named fresh meats and dehydrated meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Orijen Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Champion Petfoods (the maker of Orijen) through December.

No recalls noted

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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More Champion Petfoods Brand Reviews

The following Champion dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

• Acana Classics Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Acana Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Acana Heritage Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Acana Highest Protein Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Acana Highest Protein Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Acana Limited Ingredient Singles Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Acana Singles Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Orijen Dog Food Review (Dry)
• Orijen Dog Food Review | Canada (Dry)
• Orijen Freeze-Dried Dog Food Review

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