Do You Know What's In Your Pet's Food?

Why checking pet food ingredients matters and why Orijen and Acana come out on top.

As devoted pet owners, ensuring the health and happiness of our furry companions is a top priority. While factors like exercise and regular veterinary check-ups are crucial, one often overlooked aspect of pet care is their diet. The ingredients in their food play a significant role in their overall well-being. In this guide, we'll explore why scrutinizing pet food ingredients is essential and why brands like Orijen and Acana excel in providing optimal nutrition for dogs and cats.

Understanding Pet Food Ingredients

Choosing the right food for your pet starts with understanding the ingredients listed on the packaging. Not all pet food is created equal, and some may contain cheap fillers, mystery byproducts, and no fresh/whole ingredients at all, all of which offer little to no nutritional value. As responsible pet owners, it's imperative to ensure that what we feed our beloved companions is not only delicious but also nutritious.

Why Orijen and Acana Stand Out

Orijen and Acana have won countless awards in the pet food industry for their unwavering commitment to quality. Here's why they're coming out on top:

1. High-Quality Ingredients: Both Orijen and Acana pride themselves on using only the finest, freshest ingredients in their recipes. From premium meats to nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, every ingredient is carefully selected to provide optimal nutrition for pets.
2. FRESH / Raw meats and fish. Orijen and Acana use Fresh and Raw meats and fish in their recipes. Most other pet foods use only meals or 'animal protein' - this is not the case for Orijen and Acana. Whole, fresh /raw ingredients are used to ensure a wholeprey diet that is bursting with nutrients, flavour and protein! 
3. Grain-Free Formulas: Orijen and Acana offer grain-free formulas, which are closer to the natural diets of dogs and cats, which are primarily meat-based. They also contain no Tapioca, rice, potato or corn.
4. Biologically Appropriate Formulas: Dogs and cats have specific dietary needs based on their evolutionary biology. Orijen and Acana understand this and formulate their recipes to mimic the natural diets of dogs and cats, incorporating high protein and limited carbohydrates.
   
5. Transparency: Transparency is paramount when it comes to pet food. Orijen and Acana proudly list all their ingredients on their packaging, so pet owners know exactly what they're feeding their furry companions! 

How to Check Pet Food Ingredients

To ensure you're choosing the best food for your pet, here are some tips for checking pet food ingredients:

1. Flip The Bag! Don't just look at the front of the bag for what's inside. FLIP THE BAG - take a look at the full ingredients list to see exactly what is in your pet's food.
2.  Look for Whole Ingredients: The first ingredient listed should be a whole protein source, such as Fresh / Raw chicken, lamb, or fish. Avoid foods with vague ingredients like "meat by-products", "poultry protein" or "animal digest."
   
3. Avoid Mystery Byproducts and Cheap Fillers: Steer clear of foods containing mystery byproducts and cheap fillers like corn, rice, soy, wheat and Tapioca. These ingredients offer little nutritional value and may be difficult for pets to digest. Not only that, they are simply used to bulk up a food and make it cheaper to produce for the manufacturer.
4. Grain-Free: Consider opting for grain-free formulas. Grain-free diets are also more biologically appropriate for dogs and cats but again, mean that the food's contents is not largely made up of cheaper, carbohydrate dense ingredients like rice, wheat and corn. 
5. Look for the "TWO Q's" QUALITY AND QUANTITY.
6. Bang For Your Buck? Ask yourself, does the price align with the ingredients in the bag - am I getting premium ingredients for a premium price tag? 

Looking at the below, which would you rather feed your dog?

The first 10 ingredients are in bold

BRAND X

7kg = $129.99

TOP 10 INGREDIENTS

Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with Rosemary Extract, Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid). Tapioca, Potato, Sweet Potato, Chicken Gravy, Sugar Beet Pulp, Essential Vitamins and Minerals

BRAND X

8kg = $161.98

TOP 10 INGREDIENTS

Rice, dehydrated poultry proteins, maize, wheat, animal fats, hydrolysed animal proteins (poultry), beet pulp, minerals

 ORIJEN

6kg = $130.99

TOP 10 INGREDIENTS

Fresh chicken (25%), raw turkey (8%), fresh chicken giblets (liver, heart) (7%), raw whole herring (6%), raw whole hake (5%), fresh eggs (5%), raw turkey liver (5%), dehydrated chicken (4%), dehydrated turkey (4%), dehydrated mackerel (4%)

ACANA

6kg = $141.99 

TOP 10  INGREDIENTS

Raw lamb (8.5%), raw duck (8.5%), eggs (8%), lamb meal (8%), herring meal (7%), turkey meal (7%), whole green peas, whole red lentils, whole chickpeas, raw freshwater lake fish* (5%)

Conclusion

Choosing the right pet food is essential for the health and well-being of our furry friends. By carefully scrutinizing ingredients and selecting brands like Orijen and Acana, we can ensure that our pets receive the nutrition they need to thrive. With their commitment to quality, transparency, and biologically appropriate formulas, Orijen and Acana set the standard for excellence in pet nutrition. Say  hello to wholesome, nutritious meals that support your pet's overall health and vitality.