What kind of food do you feed your pet? Are you having trouble picking out the right pet food to placate your pet’s sensitive digestive system?
It is a no-brainer that the quality of pet food you purchase equals the health status of your pet.
If you desire a pet food brand that adds an extra bundle of awesomeness as well as boosts the immunity of your dog then you may have been “barking up the wrong tree” however, with great pet food brands such as the Acana and Orijen brand, you can never go wrong.
All your pet food questions will be answered during the course of this article and you will learn how to pick the best pet food for your furry friend.
This review compares the Acana and Orijen pet food brand; both formidable and provides maximum nourishment for your pet.
We are going to help you make this decision by comparing both brands based on the most important characteristics such as nutritional value, cost, types of food ingredients and flavors, pros and cons, as well as safety of the product and more.
After you are done with this awesome comparison check out Acana and Orijen here to see the different flavors and pricing.
Contents:
- 🤔 Acana vs Orijen FAQ
- ⚖️ Acana and Orijen Pros and Cons
- 😻 Types Of Pet Food
- 🥕 Nutritional Value Comparison
- 💰 Price Comparison
- 🤤 Ingredients and Flavors
- 🏡 About Acana and Orijen
- 🙀 Product Safety and Recalls through History
- 🏆 Acana Vs Orijen: And the winner goes to…
🤔Acana vs Orijen FAQ
What is guaranteed analysis?
The concept of guaranteed analysis on pet food products is to assure purchasers of the precise nutrient content of each consumable. Emphasized by AAFCO, guaranteed analysis by food labels must meet certain requirements such as an exact value for the minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, as well as the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture on the basis of dry matter obtained. All of the percentages that I use in this comparison are averages of dry matter basis. Learn about dry matter basis here.
Which one has more protein?
Orijen takes the lead with 42.3% and 45.8% on dry dog and cat food respectively whereas Acana keeps a close margin with 35.9% and 40% on dry dog and cat food.
Which one is cheaper?
Orijen is significantly more expensive on dry dog food on per pound basis whereas the per calorie price difference is not so much.
Which one has more flavors?
Acana has an aggregate of 49 food types including recipes while Orijen has just 28 recipe and treat aggregate.
Which one has had more recalls?
Orijen has been recalled just once whereas Acana has never been recalled.
Check out the current prices, recipes and flavors for Acana and Orijen
⚖️Acana and Orijen Pros and Cons
Acana Pros:
Acana Cons:
Orijen pros:
Orijen cons:
😻 Types Of Pet Food From Acana and Orijen
| Product | Acana | Orijen |
| Dry dog food | 37 recipes | 8 recipes |
| Dry cat food | 8 recipes | 5 recipes |
| Wet dog food | ❌ | ❌ |
| Wet cat food | ❌ | ❌ |
| Dog treats | 4 treats | 9 treats |
| Cat treats | ❌ | 6 treats |
| 😻 See all Acana recipes | 😻 See all Orijen recipes |
Pet food types are mostly categorized as wet meals, dry food, and treats. Wet food contains natural flavors, ingredients, essential condiments and water content. This is different from the treats and dry foods which have little to no water content.
From the analysis, Acana provides a wider variety of food types than Orijen, only limited by the absence of cat treats.
🥕Nutritional Value Comparison For Acana and Orijen
Every pet food has a unique formula that is peculiar to the brand and every brand is mandated by the AAFCO to provide a guaranteed analysis report stating in accurate amounts the content of each pet food typical content of guaranteed analysis may include percentages of crud protein, crude fat, crude fibre, moisture, calcium, phosphorus, Omega 6, Omega 3, DHA, choline, magnesium, EPA, Copper, Zinc and other vitamins and minerals.
The essence of providing a comprehensive nutritional content report is to enable pet owners to make decisions on which pet food is most healthy for their pet and which one contains the required amount of nutrients that pets need.
Cats are mostly carnivores, and unlike dogs, cats thrive on a full protein diet, this makes these felines quite selective on what they eat. Other highly essential nutrients are fat and fiber.
Let us compare the nutritional values of Acana and Orijen based on the three essential nutrients -protein, fiber, fat. Nutrient content is represented in percentages on the basis of dry matter(no moisture content).
| Dry dog food | Acana | Orijen |
| protein | 35.9% | 42.3% |
| fat | 18.8% | 23.9% |
| fiber | 6.5% | 6.3% |
| Dry Cat Food | ||
| protein | 40% | 45.8% |
| Fat | 22.2% | 21.1% |
| Fiber | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| 🥕 See more Acana info | 🥕 See more Orijen info |
From the analysis both brands are well enriched with protein, fiber, and fat compared to many other pet food brands out there.
Orijen contains more protein making it a very good choice for pets who are mainly on a protein diet.
We can clearly see the amount in percentages for these nutrients in both food brands but what does this mean for our pet? How is this any good? What are the roles that these nutrients play in the lives of our pet.
Protein Content
Protein is an essential nutrient that improves muscle fiber and adequate body build even in pets.
The protein requirements of our pets may differ but protein remains one of the most vital nutrient in petfood. Dogs need all twenty two amino acids for development and metabolism.
Only twelve of these amino acids can be synthesized in the canine’s system. The rest of the ten amino acids will need to be present in their diet to maintain regular body functions.
Cats are no exceptions as well. Protein make up a higher percentage of a Cat’s diet compared to dogs. Cats require eleven essential amino acids in their diet to sustain good health through different life stages.
Fat content
Fats perform many roles in the system of both canines and felines. They act as a powerful source of energy, they regulate metabolism and body temperature, they are responsible for the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, they are essential in the production of immune boosters in canines such as prostaglandins.
In cats, fatty acids may help in mitigating the spread of infection and can aid in the development of the optic nerve. Fats may even reduce the risk of heart problems in cats.
Even though fats are quite helpful to pets, moderation is key. We must understand what percentage of fat is too much in order to maintain a healthy feeding habit.
Fiber content
some may be curious as to why fiber is as important or even more important than other food components.
The answer is very simple. Indigestion and other digestive system issues are quite popular in pets and have contributed to many trips to the vet as well as other secondary illnesses.
A good way to mitigate issues related to digestive system in pets is to feed your pet an adequate amount of fiber.
Fiber acts as a digestive component and allows your pet to break down various food types easy and fast. Both Acana and Orijen contain almost the same amounts of fiber.
💰 Price Comparison
On average, how much do you spend on feeding your dog or cat?
How much goes into purchasing that huge bag of kibbles and how long does it last before you have to scurry off to the grocery store for another bag?
Do you keep track of your pet’s food expenses?
Often time pet owners like to compare the prices of various pet food products especially when you are on a budget.
There are a few ways to make price comparisons and to ensure that you do not exceed budget.
It is always a relief when various brands are having a sale on pet foods or distributing coupons, as this automatically gives you a less expensive option.
However, when comparing two different pet food brands in order to decide the most economical one to switch, it is best to use two of the most accurate metrics; per-pound (lb) and per calorie (kcal). Lets compare prices for Acana and Orijen.
| Dry Dog Food | Acana | Orijen |
| Per Pound | $2.96 | $13.65 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0019 | $0.0023 |
| Dry Cat Food | ||
| Per Pound | $4.62 | $6.94 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0025 | $0.0038 |
| 💰 See the best Acana prices | 💰 See the best Orijen prices |
The metric, cost per calorie (kcal) is the most accurate as it measures the dry weight of the pet food. The cost per pound is influenced by the moisture content in the food.
🤤 Ingredients and Flavors
Acana
This brand prioritizes the health and safety of pets as well as quality nutrition. Its standardized formulas provide pets with everything they need for development and general well being through all stages of growth. The top ingredients to look out for include;
chicken giblets, catfish meal, de-boned turkey, pinto beans, green lenticels, whole green peas, turkey liver, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation source, pumpkin seed, turnip greens, apples, carrots, sun-cured alfalfa, spinach, collard greens, butternut squash, herring oil, eggs, pumpkin, kelp and lots more.
Popular flavors
- Duck and pear formula
- Chicken, turkey and wild-caught fish
- Duck, turkey and quail
- Pork and Squash formula
Orijen
Orijen is an all-time favorite known for its delectable pet feeds. It comes with a whole lot of diversity in ingredients which makes it such a fun brand. Its ingredients include;
Turkey heart, chicken cartilage, chicken liver, brown kelp, marshmallow roots, cranberries, herring oil, chicken liver, whole eggs, chicken fat, carrots, green turnips, burdock roots, lavender, fresh pumpkins, butternut squash, whole parsnips, yellow peas, red lentils, milk thistle, and others.
Popular flavors
- Chicken, Turkey, and fish
- Six fish formula
- Goat, wild boar, venison, arctic char, duck and mutton
Check out the current Acana and Orijen recipes here
🏡 About Acana and Orijen
Acana Information
The award winning brand majors in the manufacturing of appropriate, biologically safe and nutritious pet foods for dogs and cats utilizing only the best natural ingredients rich in meat, poultry, and fish products.
All products are manufactured at a world-class facility in Kentucky, America and Alberta Canada.
Orijen Information
Orijen is an industry leader in the manufacturing and delivery of premium dog and cat food all over the world.
The brand was founded in 1985 by Reinhard Muhlenfeld, a dedicated pet lover. Since its inception the brand has improved greatly in its pet feed formulas and is now distributed to over 70 countries.
🙀 Product Safety and Recalls through History
Companies make scheduled recalls on products that may have a foreseen defect or safety issues. The importance of a recall is to conduct further safety tests in order to effect changes to product to ensure that it is safe for use.
Acana Recalls
- Acana has never been recalled since its inception till date
Orijen Recalls
Orijen has been recalled once in history
- Nov,22nd 2008 – Irradiation treatment consequences
🏆Acana Vs Orijen : And the winner goes to…
When it comes to protein content, Orijen is definitely a better pick, however, Orijen is more expensive, has less number of flavors and also has a history of recall. Acana on the other hand is economical, has no safety recalls and has quite a large variety of pet food flavors. Our winner for this segment is Acana!
| If you want | Then you should choose |
| Higher levels of protein | Orijen |
| A cost effective option | Acana |
| A wider variety of flavors and ingredients | Acana |
| Safety, based on number of recalls | Acana |
| A balanced diet for all age levels | both |
References:
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/orijen-dog-food-usa/
