Orijen Senior Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Introduction

High-quality dog food is a priority for many pet owners, and Orijen is known for its gourmet food made from fresh and whole ingredients to provide optimal nutrition for your dog. The Senior formula is no exception. It is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and other essentials that an older dog requires to stay lively.

There are many senior formulas available on the market, and this review of Orijen Senior offers an in-depth look at the ingredients and the pros and cons of this recipe. There aren’t many disadvantages to this Senior formula, and if your dog must eat a grain-free diet, then this may be one to keep at the top of your list.

The Best Orijen Senior Dog Food Recipe

Orijen Senior Dog Food Reviewed

Overall View

Orijen Senior provides specific nutritional needs for your older dog to help them stay healthy. The recipe is high in animal protein to support lean muscle mass and low in carbohydrates and fats to prevent weight gain. Orijen uses whole foods to keep the food full of nutrients and flavor. It includes vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants specific to senior needs. Overall, it is a good choice if you want a grain-free senior food for your dog.

Who Makes Orijen Senior and Where Is It Produced?

Champion Pet Foods is the parent company of Orijen dog food, and it is located in Canada. Orijen also has a kitchen in Kentucky that exclusively prepares its food to the highest standards of safety and nutritional integrity. All ingredients in the Orijen Senior are sourced locally in Kentucky or the United States.

Which Types of Dogs Is Orijen Senior Best Suited For?

Orijen Senior is ideal for older dogs who can tolerate chicken, turkey, and flounder within the ingredients. It is appropriated for dogs with grain sensitivities because it is grain free. It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

A senior dog who requires a specialized diet for diabetes or neurological issues such as memory care would benefit from a different brand. Veterinarian-prescribed diets are ideal when your dog has been diagnosed with an illness and requires a more specialized formula.

For dogs who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or other diseases of the intestinal tract, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN is made specifically for GI needs and may be a good option. If you want a food that focuses specifically on the mind and cognition, then Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind is an appropriate choice.

Primary Ingredients in Orijen Senior Dog Food

Orijen Senior is composed of plenty of animal meat and parts, as well as legumes, fruits, and vegetables. The wide variety of whole ingredients offers food packed full of nutrients that your senior dog requires to stay healthy and vibrant. Let’s look closer at a few of the main ingredients.

Fresh chicken and turkey meat: These are both high-quality proteins full of niacin and vitamin B6. Unfortunately, fresh meat has a high amount of water and less protein than a meat meal, but there are other high-protein ingredients, such as the addition of flounder, mackerel, and dehydrated turkey and chicken.

Eggs: Here is another protein source, listed as the second ingredient. Eggs contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. On the downside, eggs can be an allergen source for some dogs.

Chicken and turkey parts: By adding chicken and turkey liver and heart, it provides folic acid and B vitamins that are essential for a healthy diet. Chicken necks are composed of cartilage and chondroitin and glucosamine, which are beneficial for joint health.

Legumes: There are a variety of legumes because they contain fiber, folate, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Included are red and green lentils, green peas, chickpeas, yellow peas, and pinto beans. Legumes help ensure your dog’s digestive system remains healthy.

Vegetables: Orijen Senior provides numerous vegetables: pumpkin, butternut squash, zucchini, parsnips, carrots, kale, spinach, beet greens, turnip greens, and brown kelp. All these vegetables work together to provide fiber, vitamins and minerals. They also are a great flavor combination that makes the food tasty.

Fruits: Cranberries, blueberries, and saskatoon berries are great sources of antioxidants that keep the immune system functioning effectively.

Misc.: The formula also includes taurine for the brain and eyes and muscle tissue. DHA and EPA fatty acids are for energy and overall health. Ash is present for added minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus.

Overview of Ingredients

Protein

Orijen provides a high amount of protein in its Senior formula. The use of dehydrated and freeze-dried meats adds a concentrated source of protein to supplement the use of fresh meat.

Fats

The addition of livers and hearts from turkey and chickens provide a source of fat. They do not use any processed oils, such as canola oil; instead, Orijen prefers to provide fat naturally.

Carbohydrates

As noted, there are plenty of fruits and vegetables within the Senior formula, which also contains a source of complex carbohydrates to provide the needed energy for your dog. Orijen does not use any refined carbohydrates, but rather good-quality carbs that provide a great deal of nutrition.

Recalls of Orijen Senior Dog Food

Orijen has been in business for over 25 years, and it has never had a food recall. You can tell by this lack of recall history that the company is committed to safety and quality.

A Quick Look at Orijen Senior Dog Food

Guaranteed Analysis:

Ingredient Breakdown:

Calories Per Cup

---

What Other Users Are Saying

It’s nice to know what other reviewers are saying about Orijen Senior. If you want to know more about this formula, check out these sites:

Tree House Puppies:

A review from Tree House Puppies states, “Orijen Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a crunchy yet soft dog food for older dogs, that has no unnecessary fillers (such as corn and other grains) — allowing a senior dog to get direct access to all the nutrients their body needs. It is the best senior dog food you can find if you are looking for natural food with high protein content.”

Dog Food Insider:

This site reviewed Orijen senior dog food and rated it a four out of five stars, stating, “If you have a senior dog who is just starting to slow down and who is a little overweight then this food would be good for him and help him keep his weight down.”

Amazon:

We check the reviews on Amazon from buyers before recommending a product to you.

Conclusion

Orijen Senior is full of whole foods and fresh meats that provide the needed nutrients to keep your senior dog healthy. It does not have any artificial or controversial ingredients or fillers. It is a grain-free formula, so it is ideal for dogs who have grain sensitivities, but it is not appropriate for dogs with egg allergies or those who have diseases that require a specialized diet.

This formula provides fewer calories and fat than other foods so your dog can remain fit and trim as they age. Since it contains locally sourced ingredients, it is pricey but worth the investment if you want to keep your senior dog active and healthy for the rest of their life.