Orijen dog food and liver/kidney problems

[Nancy Sweet]

I just switced my doodle to Orijen 6 fish dry food. He has a sensitive stomach and soft stools. I was feeding him holistic select duck and oatmeal and was told to try a grain free food. I was told this was the best food you can buy. I transitioned him a week a go. His stools are pretty much the same. I am not sure how long the transition should take. My biggest concern though,  is the reviews I have been reading that Orijen causes liver and kidney damage. Now I don't know what to do. Are these claims true? Should I switch again? Once again I am so confused.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy, Orijen is considered by many experts in canine nutrition to be the finest dry dog food on the market today. This includes my own dog's veterinary immunology specialist.
I have never seen any review which even hints that Orijen causes liver or kidney damage, or any other kind of organ damage, I've researched this poretty thoroughly. Could you please provide us with the source of these reviews?
These claims are untrue, and actually quite absurd. Relax and don't be confused. I would really like to see what it is you read, though.

[Frannie & Callie]

I wonder if what you read was related to an illness. The Lhasa Apso I grew up with had pancreatitis and had to be on a lower protein food as a result of the illness, but protein was not the cause of her illness. Until I joined the food group and started reading up on foods I always thought high protein foods were dangerous for dogs BECAUSE of how The Woof (the lhasa) had to eat.

I've had Callie on Orijen since December of 2009 and she has been doing really well. Usually she eats the fowl, but I've been giving her the Red Meat formula lately, just to mix it up and keep it interesting. The result - she doesn't act starving, like she did on the lower quality foods, her coat is gorgeous and soft, she rarely throws up any more, and she has consistent stools (smaller too).

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Ditto to what Frannie said. Experts have dispelled the high protein leading to kidney problems myth. My chihuahua got his kidney damage from the recalls 3 years ago - from melamine in treats. He lost 20% of his weight, threw up for rmonths, etc...THAT caused his damage, not high protein. Now I choose to feed a slightly lower protein for him, but they some still say that a higher protein diet might actually be good for kidney problems.

Don't worry and do NOT switch!!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It can take a while for the gas and stools to change. It took our dogs about a month when we first switched to grain-free.

[ej]

The same manufacturer for Orijen makes Acana as well, lower protein level, and same great quality food. We started my two on Orijen, GR had soft stool for days, I had to mix in homecook food to help her settle her stomach. GD did great on Orijen. After that bag of Orijen, we started them on Acana Lamb & Apple, it was a instant switch, no transition. They are doing very well on Acana (they are finishing their second bag now), no tummy problem and no sign of allergy reaction.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, when you are feeding a high quality grain-free food like Orijen and the stools are still soft after a week or two, look at what else the dog is eating. If they are getting treats with grain in them, or grocery store treats with unnamed animal fat, etc., that could be the reason. Jack doesn't get baked, cookie type treats, even the gourmet kind. His treats are all grain free, just like his food.

[Minga & Malu & Costa]

A dog with existing kidney issues should be fed a lower protein food, because the kidneys are losing their function and the high protein levels challenge the failing kidneys. But a healthy kidney can handle the amount of protein the animal/human was designed to eat. So, really no worries.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

That is what my vet says also....
Protein will NOT cause kidney problems! But it may not help existing kidney issues (my case for example).

[Nancy Sweet]

I got the information after doing a search on Orijen dog food on the internet and reading all the reviews that came up. I just want to make sure the food is safe. I have already spent a fortune at the vet, don't need to spend more. I am going to give it some more time and see how he does. I don't want to keep switching his food. Thanks for the positive feedback! I feel much better.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nancy, can you please provide any links for any of this information? It sounds as if it might just be people's opinions and not an actual impartial dog food analysis site. If you look at any review site that is based on any nutritional information or analysis at all, you will see nothing but raves for Orijen. When you search the internet, all kinds of misinformation and crazy stuff comes up. That's part of the reason for this group, to separate the conjecture from the facts.

[Janice Hammond]

Our Doodle has been on Origen for all of her life( 4 yrs) along with raw.She has not had any problems and I have never heard of Orijen causing any kidney or liver problems.I am from Canada ( Calgary) and Orijen is manufacture in Edmonton about three hours from us.

If there were problems with this food I think I would have heard about it.

I think you must be looking at other peoples opinions rather than actual real analysis sites.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Both of my boys are on Orijen.  Rooney on Regional Red and Stuart on Large Breed Puppy.  Both of my boys have soft stools on Orijen, weeks, months it never firmed up until I started feeding a small bit of raw - I buy the Primal brand.  I use the raw as a topper - Rooney (21 lbs)  gets 2 - 1 oz nuggets per 1/3 cup of kibble, twice a day.  Stuart (30 lbs) gets 1/2 of a pattie which equals 4 oz. per 1 cup of kibble twice a day.  Stuart is still growing so his will continue to change.  Once I started with the raw - the poop firmed right up.  I try not to let the boys have treats with grain but sometimes it happens (unknowing others).  Their main treat is organic, made in the u.s. bully sticks, boiled shin bones or organic chicken jerky.  Hope this helps you.