Acana vs. Orijen

[Jerry Kandel]

What is the difference between the two and would one be more preferable for a puppy (I know they come from the same company).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Acana grain-free formulas contain slightly less protein and therefore cost slightly less. (Meat being more expensive than vegetables). 

Acana makes limited ingredient formulas and formulas which contain oatmeal. Orijen makes only grain-free formulas and does not have a limited ingredient formula. 

The Acana puppy formula is not widely available, so if you can't get it in your area, you are better off with Orijen Puppy.

As to which would be "preferable" for a puppy, that depends on the individual puppy and the individual formula. "Acana" and "Orijen" are brands. Within any brand, there are different formulas, which contain varying protein and carbohydrate sources. There is no one "best" or better formula for all puppies or all dogs. 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Okay one last bug (I hope) Nancy had me puzzled about costs in SoCal so I took a second look and saw that the Orijen Adult food is within a few dollars more from the Acana selections (I completely overlooked the Adult formula).  So with that being said would you recommend the Orijen Adult mix over the Acana varieties?  I see it's definitely more protein and crude fat plus higher in glucosamine and Chondroitin (which my vet recommends) especially for miss Sassparilla (my energizer bunny).  Not sure why I'm being so OCD about this, I wasn't any where this obsessive when I fed my human kid! lol

Then hopeully the very last question with either of these selections (Orijen/Acana) do I still need to suppiement with the fish oil and EPO?

THANK YOU! Ü

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I can answer kind of that last question, lol. IF your dog has no skin or allergy issues, you don't need any extra fatty acid supplements with the Orijen Adult. With Acana, it would depend on the formula, as some have a higher Omega 3 content than others, although all of them are still better than most other foods. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

For Luna we do supplement with EPO during her high allergy season (ragweed season) since we rotate between Acana formulas.  I guess thinking about it we should be feeding her the Pacifica during ragweed season!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You'd still have to supplement. Even on Orijen 6 Fish, JD needed his EPO during flares. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Yeah, I was just thinking it might help a bit to also have the fish. :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Where I live in southern California, Orijen and Acana cost about the same, with the differences being in the protein source. The fish is quite a bit more expensive.

[Texas Doodle Mom and Molly Rose]

I am interested in this as well (and so overwhelmed with data I've been absorbing in the food group!).  Our puppy will come home in May and will be on Life's Abundance (from the breeder).  I was planning on feeding Orijen, but I'm also reading many praises for Acana.  I guess I want to know if grain-free is better than having some grain?  The puppy will be at most 40 lbs. and is an Australian Labradoodle.

[Brittney & Cally]

Texas Doodle Mom, good idea for switching and make sure not to sign up for that auto-ship!

[Texas Doodle Mom and Molly Rose]

Yes!  I really didn't feel "comforted" when reading the Life's Abundance site (when I first heard of it).  So glad to find all the info on Orijen here.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I decided to try another food since my dogs have always eaten Solid Gold (Hundeflacken) but have been less interested in it this last year.  I know there are recommendations for Acana and Orijen and I wanted to check those out first but my pet food store does not carry them.  So, I checked labels and got a bag on Zignature Trout and Salmon.  It has 30% Protein and 1.0 Omega 3 and 3.0 Omega 6.  I know that a "fish food" should have more Omega 3, but anybody heard of this food?  When I first offered it to my dogs in my hand, they walked away, but when I put it in their bowls they ate it all up.  Ideas?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Zignature is on our recommended brands list.

And the Omega 3 content and ratio is awesome.