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Summary

Nutrition

Recipe

Protein

Verdict

Orijen

Original

Dog

Dry

Rating

★★★★★

5.0 / 5

Protein Clarity

High

Animal Protein

High

Allergy Highlights

Contains:

Legumes

Poultry

Fish

Free From:

Gluten grains

Grains (gluten-free)

Dairy

Egg

Nuts

Red meat

Shellfish

Unknown Meal

Pros

Uses clearly named animal protein sources for better transparency.

Contains organ meats that provide natural vitamins and minerals.

Includes plant ingredients that can provide fiber and natural antioxidants.

Uses mainly organic mineral sources, which are typically better absorbed.

Is Orijen Original dry dog food good?

Orijen Original is a dry dog food rated 5 stars, with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. The recipe lists most animal ingredients by name and features real muscle meat as a primary protein source. This recipe is free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Egg, Nuts, Red meat, Shellfish, Unknown Meal but contains Legumes, Poultry, Fish.

Nutrition Breakdown

Dry Matter

As Fed

Protein

43%

Fat

21%

Est. Carbs

22%

Fiber

5.7%

Ash

9.1%

Moisture (12%) removed so you can compare foods fairly.

Dry matter basis = label value ÷ (100% − moisture%). Carbs estimated from remaining.

Tips

Protein is Super High (43% dry matter) on our label-based comparison range. This can fit very active, working, or growing dogs, but dogs with kidney disease or other medical conditions need vet-guided diet targets.

References

Fat is High (21% dry matter) on our label-based comparison range. It can support calorie needs for active or growing dogs, but portion control and pancreatitis history deserve extra attention.

References

Ingredients Analysis

31 of 31 matched

Prefer

Concerned

Notice

Chicken

Turkey

Salmon

Whole Herring

Chicken Liver

Dehydrated Chicken

Dehydrated Turkey

Dehydrated Sardine

Dehydrated Chicken Liver

Dehydrated Turkey Liver

Whole Red Lentils

Whole Pinto Beans

Whole Navy Beans

Whole Green Lentils

Whole Chickpeas

Whole Peas

Dried Apple Pomace

Turkey Fat

Whole Pumpkin

Whole Butternut Squash

Collard Greens

Whole Apples

Whole Pears

Whole Cranberries

Dried Kelp

Zinc Proteinate

Choline Chloride

Enterococcus Faecium

Lactobacillus Acidophilus

Bifidobacterium Animalis

Lactobacillus Reuteri

Tips

Named animal proteins near the top: Chicken, Turkey are listed early in the ingredient panel.

Ingredients worth checking: Dried Apple Pomace.

Possible digestion triggers: Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Navy Beans, and 3 more have digestion notes; watch tolerance if your pet has a sensitive stomach.

Protein Analysis

How this recipe earned its protein scores.

Protein Clarity

High

Named

100%

Strong clarity: 100% of Orijen Original's animal-protein ingredients are clearly named (like chicken or salmon). Only 0% use vague terms such as "meat meal" and 0% are by-products. Named protein ingredients let you verify the source and check for allergens.

Contributing ingredients

Named

Chicken

Turkey

Salmon

Whole Herring

Chicken Liver

Dehydrated Chicken

Dehydrated Turkey

Dehydrated Sardine

Dehydrated Chicken Liver

Dehydrated Turkey Liver

Animal Protein

High

Animal

94%

Plant

Meat-forward: 94% of the weighted protein in Orijen Original comes from animal sources. Plant signals are modest (6% whole plants, 0% plant concentrates), so the protein profile leans on real meat.

Contributing ingredients

Animal

Chicken

Turkey

Salmon

Whole Herring

Chicken Liver

Dehydrated Chicken

Dehydrated Turkey

Dehydrated Sardine

Dehydrated Chicken Liver

Dehydrated Turkey Liver

Plant

Whole Red Lentils

Whole Pinto Beans

Whole Navy Beans

Whole Green Lentils

Whole Chickpeas

Whole Peas

Orijen Original dry dog food Review

Orijen Original is a strong choice — rated 5 stars with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. A confident pick when the ingredient panel matches your pet's needs.

Best for

Owners who want clearly named protein sources

Pets avoiding gluten grains

Pets that thrive on muscle-meat protein

Avoid if

You're avoiding legumes

Key takeaways

Named animal proteins make up 100% of the recipe's protein panel — a clear sourcing win.

Contains common allergens: Legumes, Poultry, Fish.

On a dry-matter basis: 43% protein, 21% fat, 22% estimated carbohydrates.

94% of the weighted protein comes from animal sources.

Free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Egg, Nuts, Red meat, Shellfish, Unknown Meal.

Frequently asked questions

Is Orijen Original good for dogs?

Yes — rated 5 stars, with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content.

Does Orijen Original contain Dairy?

Does Orijen Original contain Egg?

Does Orijen Original contain Legumes?

Does Orijen Original contain Nuts?

Is Orijen Original grain-free?

What are the main protein sources in Orijen Original?