New Orijen formula

[cocoincanada]

 

Just wondering if anyone feeds Orijen and if so, have you experienced any negative effects with the new 80%-20% formula? We have been feeding Sunny Orijen since he was 7 months old and he's now 3 years old. He's always done well on it, but they switched their formula (from 70%-30%) recently, and he's been eating it for almost a month....with the most TERRIBLE gas. Like, makes your eyes water, gas. He used to eat Wellness as a puppy, and had gas like this as well, but the minute we switched to Orijen, it never came back. Now it's back...with a vengeance!

 

I don't know why they messed with a good thing. It was already an excellent pet food, the best on the market in my opinion, and now they just have a bunch of unhappy dog owners.

Just wondering if others have experienced similar, or other digestive problems with the new formula?

[Kimberly Keenan]

So far I haven't noticed anything with Bindi. On a differernt note, Bindi likes the new Red meat formula that thet came out with. I switch it up between the regular Orijen formula & the Red meat.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Orijen may be the best dog food, but I have to say their package marketing stinks.  It is really hard off the shelf to determine the right formula without reading very closely.  We just switched too Orijen and are doing mail order so thankfully I don't have to do a search each time.  Hopefully it will agree with them because R&B gobble it right up.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The protein content in the new Orijen adult formula has actually gone down, from 40% to 38%. The 80% on the front of the bag is by weight. Previously, the Adult formula had 70% protein by volume and 40% protein in terms of the actual protein percentage nutritionally. (Which means, 38% of the k/cals or metabolic energy is provided by protein) It now has 80% protein by volume, but 38% protein nutritionally. All three formulas are now consistent at 38% protein. So there is very little difference nutritionally between the old and the new formulas. I expect the gas will subside soon, once Sunny adjusts to the minor change.

JD has not experienced any problems with the new formulas.

[Melissa]

We feed Buddy the Adult formula and just got a new bag about 2 weeks ago.  It was the last of their supply of the 70-30 so we will have to wait and see how Buddy does on the new formula.  Hopefully we won't notice anything.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I work in a pet store and so far we have had one person say their dog isnt doing too well on it (6 fish). Which formula do you feed? BEEF has been added to the red meat formula. Could Sunnys issues be from this?

[Sue Z. + Finley]

I used to feed Finley Orijen red meat; however, he must have been bored with the flavor and was eating very little of his food. Our local pet store suggested Acana and I bought a small bag to try. Finley really loves the lamb/duck flavor. I did notice he had gas the first week after we changed, but since that initial stage he is gas free....thank goodness. Finley had a very sensitive tummy until he turned 1 1/2 yrs.  He always had several bouts of loose bowels a month no matter what food I gave him (always high quality). We had testing (no worms) and the vet suggested the next step was to check for irritable bowel. Thankfully his condition improved as he got older and since then he has not had any issues.

I agree about the packaging. I almost always need help in finding the right flavor.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's very typical for them to get gas when you first switch. It usually goes away in a week or two.

[cocoincanada]

Well, we are 2 bags in (almost 2 months), and the gas is not getting any better. It's so bad! If I didn't know any better, I would think Sunny pooped in my living room. But no....just very STRONG gas. And soft stool way more often than before.

 

We feed the Adult regular chicken formula. Never had any issues before, but this new formula isn't sitting well. I'm going to buy some acidophilus and sprinkle it on his food to see if that helps. It has helped before if he had soft poop...

 

I am just so disappointed. I don't know what I would switch him to if this doesn't get any better. Orijen was my #1.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Can you get Acana? It's made by the same company that makes Orijen, it's slightly less expensive, and some dogs do seem to do better with it.

[cocoincanada]

I just bought a small bog of Acana grain-free (chicken formula), to mix in with the Orijen before transitioning fully. I'll see how he does on that. Thanks...

[cocoincanada]

Well, it's now May. Since January, we've tried him on Acana chicken, then went to the Orijen 6 fish, and now we're on the Red meat formula. He didn't like the Acana. Just wasn't interested in eating it, which is hard to believe -- he is so highly food motivated. We thought the eggs in the Orijen might have been what was causing gas (sure smelled like it), so we tried the 6 fish. He ate it for a few months, and then recently, he just didn't seem to want to eat it anymore. He would walk away from his bowl mid-meal, and then the other day, he walked away before even starting to eat. Just smelled it and walked away. So, last try with the Orijen Regional Red. Been feeding him that since Thursday, and he was devouring it...until this morning. Did the same thing....walked away in the middle of his breakfast. Not sure what's wrong. He's not showing signs of illness. In the past, he would only turn away food if he was sick. He seems fine...lots of energy. Just doesn't seem interested in his food.

 

I can't help but think that they've done something to these new Orijen formulas. Sunny LOVED his food for 3 years....and devoured every single meal. He'd come running as soon as he'd hear you touch the bag of food, and would salivate waiting while you poured it in his bowl. This is just not like him...

 

If he doesn't do well with the Red meat formula, I really don't know where I will go from here. I just want him back to his normal food-loving self!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think what you're describing is unusual. Jackdoodle does this periodically. Right now, he's waiting at his bowl for his meals and cleaning the bowl within a few minutes of getting his food. This has been going on for a couple of weeks. Prior to this, his breakfast would sit there until 3 or 4 p.m.

The new formulas don't seem to have made much difference to him, either.

I think their appetites increase and decrease periodically, I also think the change of seasons may have something to do with it. It may be instinct to want more food during colder weather, when wild dogs would have had a harder time finding food, who knows?

I also think they just get bored. That's why I rotate formulas. Getting older may decrease their appetites, too.

As long as his energy levels and behavior are normal and and his weight is good, I wouldn't be concerned. Continue to give him whichever formula you have currently and don't worry too much if he skips a meal.