Thoughts on Orijen puppy food

[Valery]

We just transitioned our new puppy from Nature's Select to Orijen puppy over a 2 week period and he did fine. He is just over 10 weeks old now. He has been on straight Orijen Puppy for about 3-4 days and I have noticed his stool is very firm now, almost hard. He is still going 3+ times a day. We are needing to buy more food, and I was wondering if this is something that will remedy itself before investing in a big bag of food or could this be a sign its too much protein for him? Thoughts?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's really no such thing as "too much protein" for a healthy growing dog. And firm stool is very desirable, lol. Unless he's straining or seems uncomfortable when he's going, IMO there's nothing to "remedy". Many people here are envious, lol. 

[Valery]

Don't worry, I have had my fill of problematic poop! LOL My previous had to be on grain free and probiotics. It took us a long time to figure it out. Mucous poop from day 1 as a puppy and many rounds of unnecessary antibiotics later. Couldn't handle chicken and rice but now wondering if it was chicken all along. Didn't know until recently that chicken caused so much issues. Ugh. So glad we aren't dealing with that again. But never had a dog with concerns for constipation. Ha! so wanted to stay on top of it, if that is where we were heading. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It simply isn't true that chicken "causes issues" in dogs.There's no logical reason why that would be true. It's that chicken is what most dogs eat on a daily basis from the time they start solid food, and if a dog is going to develop a food sensitivity (actual food allergies are very rare), it's going to be to something she's been eating for awhile, so in many cases, it's chicken. If you started puppies on lamb, turkey, or goat for that matter, and gave it to them every day, then that would be the protein that might cause issues.  

Besides, Orijen puppy contains chicken, it's the first ingredient. :) 

[Hannah & Pepper]

We switched Pepper from a raw diet to Orijen and she's transitioned with no problem.  Her poops are not AS hard as with the raw diet, but are really good.  I'm not in any way an expert, but if she has good poops I wouldn't switch your pup---my pup has 3-4 good poops a day on average.  

[Valery]

Great thanks. 

[Marianne Kay]

How adorable!! I would think if he is getting plenty of water, it should be fine. Orijen has been a very good food for my Pierre ( 7 years old now). 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Hard is GREAT.  My goal is always to pick up poop and leave no trace on the grass.  Orijen does that for my boys for the most part.

[Valery]

Good thought, much easier to pick up that way. LOL