Our position on animal testing is simple – we conduct only those tests in which we would allow our own companion dogs and cats to participate. If it’s not OK for our dogs and cats, THEN IT’S NOT OK FOR ANY OTHER CATS AND DOGS. We perform palatability (taste), urine pH, digestibility (the latter through stool analysis only), and AAFCO feeding trials.

Champion Petfoods is proud to be a member of the First Alert Pet Food Recall Program. This is a voluntary effort consisting of a coalition of responsible pet food producers who agree to alert their customers and consumers in the event any product is involved in a recall. We are committed to the safety of our foods and to the well-being of cats and dogs and the people who love them. In the unlikely event that one of our foods is recalled, we will contact you immediately with information regarding the affected products, reason for the recall, and any steps that may need to be taken. We will post information on our website and will notify the appropriate regulatory agencies. If you are interested in this program, please email us with the subject FIRST ALERT PROGRAM. By doing this, you indicate your willingness to have your contact information stored and accessed by Champion Petfoods to be used in the unlikely event of a product recall.

Champion Petfoods’ NorthStar Kitchen is one of very few North American pet food makers that are European Union Certified, and our kitchen follows HACCP guidelines for kitchens producing food for human consumption. Our Quality Assurance department follows protocols for testing from the time ingredients enter our kitchen, through production, and packaging. Once the product is released to the warehouse it goes into a Quality Assurance Hold area. We require all products to undergo nutritional and microbiological testing from a government-certified laboratory before shipping – there is no exception to this policy.

Both ORIJEN and ACANA foods are made by Champion Petfoods. For our Pet Lovers in Canada, Europe, and parts of the Asia-Pacific regions, our ACANA and ORIJEN foods are made in our NorthStar Kitchen in Morinville, Alberta. Pet Lovers in the USA and Central and South America receive ACANA and ORIJEN foods made in our DogStar Kitchen in Auburn, Kentucky. It’s simple – we don’t allow our foods to be made by anyone else and we don’t make any other foods.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are still naturally present in all ACANA/ORIJEN recipes and are derived from wholeprey inclusions of edible bone and cartilage, rather than precisely measured synthetic additives. They have simply been removed from our Analysis to comply with new AAFCO/FEDIAF regulatory labelling requirements, but rest assured, they have NOT been removed from our recipes. Within ACANA/ORIJEN petfoods, there are always going to be slight, natural variations in the raw ingredients from which glucosamine and chondroitin are derived. In the past, the levels have been expressed as a minimum level rather than an exact amount - unfortunately this no longer complies with AAFCO/FEDIAF regulatory labelling requirements.

Organ meats are a concentrated and natural source of virtually every nutrient your dog needs to thrive, including all essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and vital amino acids. Densely packed with nearly every nutrient, including heavy doses of B vitamins, organ meats such as kidney, liver, and tripe are loaded with the minerals phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, and iodine, and provide important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, all of which nourish dogs and cats as nature intended. Which is why you will find essential amino acids or minerals like calcium and phosphorus on the guaranteed analysis or typical analysis but not on the ingredient list.

While there are many differences between ACANA and ORIJEN, both diets reflect our belief in the importance of providing diets that are Biologically Appropriate, using ingredients that are Fresh, Regional, and Never Outsourcing any part of the cooking or packaging of our brands. When comparing the two brands, let’s ask the three Meat Questions: 1. How Much Meat? ORIJEN has 85% Meat, while ACANA foods have 50-75%. 2. How Fresh? ORIJEN’s foods have 2/3 Fresh meats and ACANA’s have ½ fresh. 3. How Many Meats? ORIJEN foods have up to 10 meats, while ACANA’s foods feature up to five. Put simply, ORIJEN and ACANA foods mimic the natural eating habits of your cat or dog with high fresh–meat inclusions and low inclusion of carbohydrates. Although slightly lower in protein than ORIJEN, ACANA provides an unbeatable value and price point that makes Biologically Appropriate pet foods accessible to a wide range of pet lovers.

Biologically Appropriate foods are formulated to match the eating anatomy of the animal they are intended for. As dogs and cats are evolved as carnivores, that means they require high concentrations of meat, high inclusions of fresh meat, and a rich diversity of meat. Is your food Biologically Appropriate? Answer the three meat questions: • HOW MUCH MEAT IS IN THE TOTAL DIET? • HOW MUCH FRESH MEAT? • HOW MANY MEATS?

Nature matched the nutrients in whole prey animals to perfectly meet your dog or cat’s needs. Our WholePrey philosophy means that we incorporate meat, organs, edible bone and cartilage in ratios that mirror the natural diet of your dog or cat. In this way we can  eliminate the need for long lists of synthetic ingredients.

The Biologically Appropriate concept is Simple: mirror the freshness and variety of meats that dogs and cats are evolved to eat. For more information on our Biologically Appropriate philosophy and to view the five principles that reflect our commitment, please visit Biologically Appropriate.

Yes! ACANA Indoor Entree is the perfect formula to choose for its additional Hairball Control abilities. 

Dogs and cats are often fed the same food for a long period of time, which means a sudden food change makes it difficult for their digestive systems to adapt. That’s why it’s important to introduce new food gradually. Going slowly will give your dog or cat time to adjust to their new food and will also reduce the chances of digestive upset. Start by mixing 25 percent new food with 75 percent old food. Slowly increase the new food proportionately over the next 5-7 days until you are feeding 100 percent new food.

In New Zealand we offer a loyalty program through many of our stockists. If you wish to participate in this program please confirm with your Retailer that they offer Orijen or Acana loyalty program. Each time you purchase a bag at a participating retailer, the purchase is recorded. After the purchase of 10 bags you will receive a 10th bag of equal or lesser value free from your retailer.

Orijen - Rotating between ORIJEN formulas prevents your pet from getting tired of eating the same thing day in and day out, while offering them a big variety in proteins. A great place to start would be rotating by the bag – when you have finished one formula, your next bag will be a different recipe. The first time you do introduce a new food for rotation, mix the food 50/50 just to make sure your pet transitions to the new ORIJEN. However, if your pet is more sensitive, do a full transition when introducing a new ORIJEN – after that, you can change at will.

ACANA - After initially transitioning to ACANA, what many Pet Lovers do is a method of feeding known as Rotational Feeding. Rotating between ACANA formulas prevents your dog or cat from getting tired of eating the same thing day in and day out, while offering them a great variety of proteins and fats. A good place to start is rotating by the bag – when you have finished one formula, your next bag will be a different recipe. The first time you introduce a new food for rotation, mix the food 50/50 just to make sure your pet transitions well to the new ACANA food. However, if your dog or cat is more diet-sensitive, do a full transition when introducing a new ACANA food – after that you can change at will.

Dogs and cats are often fed the same food, and sometimes a sudden food change makes it difficult for their digestive systems to adapt, which is why it’s important to introduce the new food gradually. Going slowly will give your dog or cat time to adjust to their new food and will also reduce the chances of digestive upset. Start by mixing 25% new food with 75% old food. Slowly change the proportions over the next five to seven days by gradually increasing the amount of ORIJEN and decreasing the amount of old food. At the end of this transitioning process, you should be feeding 100% ORIJEN.

We recommend that you feed your pet twice daily. Simply divide the amount suggested on the feeding guide into two meals, spaced eight to twelve hours apart. You may need to adjust portions as you learn your dog’s ideal daily “maintenance” amount, always keeping in mind that a lean dog is a healthy dog! WATER: About 70% of your dog (or cat’s) body is made up of water, which is vital for cell function and tissue lubrication. In fact, water is more important to your dog or cat than any other nutrient. Make sure FRESH and CLEAN water is always available for your pet! DON’T OVERFEED: Many dogs have large appetites and will eat all you feed them. As ORIJEN foods are highly palatable, you need to be careful not to overfeed. Experiencing loose stools? Many stool issues can be corrected by lowering the amounts fed during the day, as loose stool is a common result of overfeeding. Weight Gain? Obesity at any age can cause serious health issues. While all of our foods have feeding guidelines printed on the package, every dog is different and these guides really are just a starting point. Keep a close eye on your dog or cat’s body condition. If he or she looks too thin, feed a little more. If he looks like he is carrying too much weight, scale back a little at a time. Hungry all the time? While your dog or cat may act hungry, their body condition is the best gauge of how much to feed. If you’re having problems, just call us. TREATS: We all love to give our dogs treats. However, treats should be given in moderation and should represent ten percent or less of your dog’s daily food intake. The rest should come from a nutritionally complete feeding program. When using treats frequently, such as during training exercises, try to use the smallest pieces you can.

No. Champion’s ingredients and foods are never preserved with ethoxyquin or any other chemical preservative. Ethoxyquin is typically used as a preservative in fish ingredients and is commonly found in fish ingredients produced in North America. Champion uses two kinds of fish ingredients – FRESH or RAW fish, and fish meals. FRESH or RAW fish – our fresh fish is wild and sustainably caught and our only method of preservation is through refrigeration – without preservatives; our fish is flash-frozen at peak season to preserve its natural goodness; and our FRESH or RAW fish never contain ethoxyquin. Fish meals – ethoxyquin preservatives are common throughout the fish meal supply chain, we work directly with our fish meal suppliers (no brokers or middlemen) and pay them a premium to have our fish meals preserved with our proprietary blend of Vitamin E with botanical extracts; our fish meals are never preserved with ethoxyquin.

FRESH – the only way we preserve our fresh meats is through refrigeration – no preservatives RAW – we flash-freeze our fresh meats at peak season to lock in their natural goodness – no preservatives Unlike some pet foods, ORIJEN is made with regional meats that are delivered FRESH or RAW from trusted suppliers and are a key factor in the superior palatability and feeding performance of ORIJEN.

We choose our ingredient partners carefully, and we set quality and nutritional standards to meet our own food standards. In Alberta, and other areas of Canada, we’re connected to regional farmers, ranchers, and fishermen whose values match our own and who we are proud to name. These suppliers provide fresh and custom ingredients that are GMO-free, and sustainably and ethically produced. Fruit, vegetable, and botanical ingredients are delivered fresh and whole. Visit our website to learn more about our trusted suppliers of fresh regional ingredients.

Heavy metal testing is an important control point and Champion Petfoods systematically test ORIJEN and ACANA products for heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) at two third-party laboratories using the Official Methods of Analysis by Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC). ORIJEN and ACANA are Biologically Appropriate™ foods that feature much higher levels of quality FRESH and RAW meat ingredients than conventional pet foods, including fish and seafood ingredients. All heavy metals in ORIJEN and ACANA are from natural sources and not from artificial or industrial sources. All heavy metal results for ORIJEN and ACANA are well below the maximum tolerable limits set by the NRC Committee on Mineral and Toxic Substances in Diets and Water for Animals. In conclusion, the heavy metals reported in ORIJEN and ACANA foods do not lead to adverse effects or food safety concerns for dogs and cats, and results are reinforced by Champion’s 25 years of excellence and international leadership in companion animal nutrition.

Yes. Some of our ACANA diets are formulated to meet AAFCO dog nutrient profiles for All Life stages, including the growth large breed puppies. Large and giant breed puppies take longer to reach their full adult size and have slightly different nutritional needs compared to small and medium breed puppies. Due to their extended growth period, they need a diet that will help promote a slow and steady development. Studies have shown that the calcium to phosphorus ratio is more important in proper bone development than the absolute calcium value of the diet and we at Champion ensure this proper ratio is achieved naturally within the following recipes. The AAFCO statement on the feeding panel of each ACANA bag is an easy way to determine whether a diet is appropriate for your puppy.

Yes! Studies show that feeding dogs a high protein, low carbohydrate diet can help them to reduce body weight better than a high carbohydrate food. High protein diets promote weight loss, while not having such severe reductions in caloric intake when compared to traditional high carbohydrate diets. We recommend ACANA Light & Fit, as it does meet these requirements.

Absolutely yes! While lower-protein diets have traditionally been recommended for senior dogs, this thinking has been roundly dismissed by recent science. As dogs age, a protein-rich diet is especially important for maintaining peak health. The relationship between carbohydrates and protein is an important factor in the diets of senior dogs, when protein is high, carbohydrates are low. In other words, high-protein diets are by nature low in carbohydrates, and that’s great for senior dogs as excessive amount of inappropriate carbohydrates (which are simply sugars) – are that last nutrient needed in any senior dog’s diet. 

Research into the growth of Great Danes (Nap RC, The Netherlands,) has shown that the protein level of a diet has no significant influence on skeletal development. High-protein intake does not result in increased risk for OCD or HD, and there is no effect on the development in the longitudinal growth of the bone. Additionally, while protein does not cause orthopedic problems, other nutrients can. It is not excess protein that causes joint problems, but overfeeding, excessive mineral content, and genetics that can contribute to arthritis and orthopedic problems. Please note that most orthopedic and joint problems are inherited, but puppies and dogs that are overweight have a greater chance of an increase in pain and discomfort, and the potential of developing orthopedic problems as younger animals and arthritis later in their life.

Yes. ORIJEN PUPPY LARGE BREED is formulated specifically for the growth requirement of large-breed puppies. The American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) states that growing, large-breed puppy diets should have a moderate energy intake and an ideal mineral ratio. Our ORIJEN Puppy Large Breed diet is formulated with these specific needs in mind: 1. The energy content in ORIJEN Puppy Large Breed is lower than our regular Puppy diet to prevent an excess of energy (calories) and improper growth. 2. Calcium is a minimum of 1.3% and a maximum of 1.5% 3. The ratio of calcium and phosphorus is within what is defined as optimal for growing large breed puppies (1.2:1-1.4:1)

Definitely yes! ORIJEN has a Biologically Appropriate distribution of energy, where more energy is supplied from protein and less energy is supplied from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are empty calories, which means they have no essential function in the body and provide only sugar for energy, which converts quickly to glucose in the blood. If carbohydrates are provided in excess (as they often are), they convert easily into body fat. Protein supplies the same amount of energy as carbohydrates but has a very different effect on the body. Unlike carbohydrate, protein is essential for life, and is a Biologically Appropriate source of energy.

Yes. Due to the high meat content and low magnesium content, ORIJEN is naturally acidic and helps promote a healthy bladder. It is important that pets that are prone to urinary tract infections or developing urinary crystals are allowed all the fresh water they can drink to help flush the urinary tract and dilute the urine. As ORIJEN is much higher in protein and highly nutrient-dense, more water intake may be needed to facilitate digestion. ORIJEN foods have a pH between 5.5 and 6, which is naturally mildly acidic and well suited to the maintenance of healthy bladder function in both cats and dogs.

No. There is no study in science to show a higher-protein diet has any negative effect on the kidneys of dogs or cats.

Of course! As there are so many myths circulating about high-protein diets, this is probably one of the most commonly asked questions received by our customer service team. Countless studies published over the last 15 years have roundly debunked the high-protein myth (often fueled by multinational and marketing companies that still produce or sell low-protein, grain-based foods). The truth is simple — high-protein diets are Biologically Appropriate for all breeds of dogs and cats. By better matching the natural diets and anatomical physiology of dogs and cats, higher-protein, lower carbohydrate foods promote their peak health and conditioning. Today’s conventional pet foods are lower in protein and high in carbohydrates (40-50%). As carbohydrates are not part of the natural diet, it should come as no surprise that carbohydrates are not nutritionally essential (in any amount) for dogs and cats. Dogs and cats are evolved to derive their energy from animal proteins and fats, not carbohydrates from grains. Want more information? check out the “Myths of High Protein” study published by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

Orijen - The best before (BB) date is printed on the back of the bag at the top of the ORIJEN package. We mark ORIJEN bags DAY MONTH YEAR. From the time the food is made and packaged at our kitchen, there are about 18 months until expiry. Heat, moisture and light have the biggest impact on ORIJEN’s shelf life. When kept in a sealed or tightly closed bag, ORIJEN will remain stable for months.

ACANA - Each ACANA product is guaranteed until the Best Before Date printed on the package. The Best Before (BB) date is printed on the back of the bag at the top of the ACANA package along with our lot number and production information. Our BB dates should be read Day, Month, Year.

Orijen - Once opened, you can store your ORIJEN in an airtight container. Some ORIJEN bags may feature a resealable zipper function which can be used as well – if your bag does not have a zipper, then you can also tightly roll up the package to maintain airtight conditions after opening. Refrigeration of ORIJEN is not required. Store your ORIJEN food in a cool dry place, with no direct sunlight. We recommend storing ORJEN at room temperature. Prolonged exposure to higher temperatures increases oxidation and reduces shelf life.

ACANA - Once opened, you can safely store ACANA food in its packaging by rolling the top of the bag down after each use. If you live in a humid climate, consider using an airtight container and simply put the entire bag of food in the container. Remember to wash your storage bin whenever you change out your bag of food to ensure food buildup does not occur. Refrigeration of ACANA is not required. Rather than a garage with large temperature fluctuations, the best storage is in your home in a cool, dry place at room temperature.

Contrary to popular belief, our bags are not vacuum packed. To keep our foods as fresh as possible, ORIJEN and ACANA foil-lined bags are impermeable to oxygen transfer from the outside to the inside, and vice versa. Once the bags are sealed, oxygen transfer is impossible. Residual oxygen left in the bag when it is sealed depends on the amount of air pushed out by our air evacuation system (not to be confused with vacuum packing). Depending on how food enters the package, food density, and ambient temperature, some bags will contain more air and some less. While some of our packages will appear vacuumed and others not, the food in each bag will be equally fresh.

The Lavender scent in World's Best Cat Litter Scented Multi-Cat Formula is quite subtle and so should not be over-powering, However, if you or your pets are sensitive to fragrances, we recommend using our Original Unscented or Multiple Cat Unscented formulas, which are fragrance free.

All World’s Best Cat Litter^® formulas are made with natural and renewable ingredients. Our formulas contain no synthetic additives, chemicals, clays or perfumes, and they are made from sustainably grown ingredients—not mined or drilled using heavy equipment. We use an advanced, patented process to create formulas that harness the natural absorbency of renewable ingredients. World’s Best Cat Litter^® contains no artificial chemicals or silica dust, so it’s pet, people and planet friendly!

World’s Best Cat Litter^® is a natural product, so bugs may be attracted to the litter if they gain access. Seal the package or store in a sealed container in a cool, dry place.

Yes! All World’s Best Cat Litter^® formulas have undergone rigorous testing to confirm they are sewer and septic safe. Unlike clay-based litters, World’s Best Cat Litter^® harnesses the long-lasting power of naturally absorbent corn, so you can simply scoop, flush and move on with your day!