Orijen

Papillion806
Are you saying that it is not safe to feed Orijen with a high Iodine content...Doesn't it also depend on how much is fed and the weight of the dog ???
Thanks
Wilbur

I'm not Jamcony, but I feed Nature's Logic with great success. It's the only food Joey doesn't have runny pooh on - loads of probiotics. And I'm sure you've read my other successes. Also, my company distributes the food. I have 3 clients that carry it. All of them have tried a bag on their own pets with the same success. They now highly recommend it in their stores. I switched 2 customers onto Nature's Logic. One was a boxer with digestive issues and had problems maintaining weight. They started feeding Royal Canin Boxer, which helped with the digestive upsets and the weight, but the dog had bad ear infection. I thought that it could be the wheat in the RC Boxer that was causing the ear infections. I suggested NL. She tried it. It worked and the ear infections cleared. Another case...a westie had pudding pooh. The lady had him on Eukanuba and was buying Eagle Pack Digestive Enzymes to help with the pooh. I suggested that she change to NL so she wouldn't have to buy an extra digestive enzyme. She came back to that store and just raved about the food. I hear stories like this from my clients that carry the food all the time. I'm sure it doesn't work for everydog, but I really think it's a miracle food for some.

 
I was going to try Orijen, but no feeding trials, and high iodine content, just don't think my dogs should be the test subjects on this food. It sounds great, but might wait a couple yrs to try it.
 
I have to say Nature's Logic has been really wonderful for my Pugs on it so far. My 5 month old uppy that had the bite wounds, was supposed to have minor surgery last week to close up her wounds and they closed on their own. She was at first supposed to have a skin graft, but has healed remarkably fast, and she has been on this food since this happened to her. The vets are amazed at her healing process. All dogs have very small stools on this food, all solid. Much better than on EP or TW. One Pugs is still on EP Holistic Duck Oatmeal, my sensitive stomach Pug, but I am going to try Natures Logic to see how he does on it. He started having loose stools for a couple days this week, so this might be good for him, will see. Coats are super soft. Only keeping my black girl on Avoderm, her black coat looks to good to switch her, but all others will be switching to Nature's Logic. Only thing, I haven't had any Pug Moms nursing while on this food, or litters on it yet. I only have 1 or 2 litters a year, but that is also a good indicator to me if a food is really good, how the Moms do and health of newborn puppies.

Since switching my 2 guys to ORIJEN, the results have been nothing short of astounding. Not only are they not throwing up yellow, frothy vomitus anymore, there are numerous other amazing improvements. See below for comments re: iodine, etc.

It is important to do thorough research before posting possibly inflammatory and/or incorrect information. Upon further research (and I've only just started), the quantities that Papillon806 quoted were minimum levels, not optimal levels.

Maximum levels for iodine are 50 mg. which is far above the quoted levels for Orijen (source:http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfood.htm)

In response to the Iodine issue, this is from Orijens FAQ:
Q: IODINE: ORIJEN contains kelp so is ORIJEN high in iodine?  A: No. ORIJEN diets contain between 5.0 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg of iodine from Kelp – close to the lower limits for iodine established by AAFCO.  The kelp in ORIJEN is rich in 64 minerals that are in a highly bioavailable organic form. 


I will be calling them Monday to confirm this. In addition, they have been in business for 25 years and also produce Arcana which has been in production for many years. Please do not let alarmists put you off from what in my my research, is one of the top 3-5 foods available.

Please do the research..........
The AAFCO yes has a range of 1.5 mg/kg  to 50.0 mg/kg for Iodine....A HUGE RANGE !!!!!!!!!!!
THAT'S LIKE TELLING A TEENAGER TO BE HOME ON FRIDAY NITE BETWEEN MIDNITE AND 8 A M SATURDAY MORNING....
 
I believe I read that the AAFCO is made up of represenatives of the food companies and manufacturers, and that it is close to impossible for a dog food not to meet the requirements that are set in such a WIDE RANGE...Someone said, I believe, that the AAFCO is like having the fox guard the Hen House

The NRC recommends 1.5 mg/kg of Iodine daily...
What do you think Orijen people will tell you...something negative ?????

I spent tens of hours researching and did choose Orijen, and then started to hear on forums re the Iodine and other mineral issues..
I emailed them and only got public relations answers ((the few times they responded)) from Peter and Clark ,  and you can't call them as they do not have a toll free number.....Why Not!!!!!.....

I have asked via e-mail the content amount of their minerals and vitamins...I received very few responses, and those were contradictory....Why can they not tell US every ingredient and the amount of each ingredient... Why do they chose not to answer???

I won't mention names, but I've contacted 4 of their competitors by phone and received instant answers about the vitamins and minerals and the content amount of them....

I personally believe 7.5 mg/kg of Iodine daily is high.... I WORRY ABOUT THYROID PROBLEMS

go to Yahoo search engine and put in Iodine in Dogs and some articles come up re high Iodine......

WHY CAN'T THEY LIST ALL THE INGREDIENTS AND THE AMOUNTS !!!!!
THESE DAYS WE JUST CAN'T BELIEVE BLINDLY !! 

Good Luck
Wilbur

Wilbur, I'm not sure if this is what you're referring to but the amount of their minerals and vitamins (as well as guaranteed analysis, botanical analysis, and amino acids) is listed on their website (for example, the Orijen Adult,  can be found here: [linkhttp://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/products/adultanalysis.aspx]http://www.championpetfoods.com/orijen/products/adultanalysis.aspx[/link])

I read everything I could find about this food and decided to feed it to all three of my dogs.  Initially when questions were raised about the high iodine levels I was conerned, but doing more research I feel completely comfortable feeding this food.  The iodine level is higher than some other foods, but reading about it I don't feel it's so high that it's dangerous, I'm just certainly supplementing with kelp or anything to raise the iodine levels further.  And maybe I've just been lucky, but every time I've had a question I've received a prompt, personalized reply.  Of course no dog food is perfect for everyone, but I know I really couldn't be happier with Orijen.

Since I see you're a fellow Albertan Rolenta, apparently the fish formula is entering distribution on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and should be available in Calgary within two weeks as well...I can't wait!

I didn't have a good experience with Orijen's customer service either. I wrote asking if their food was going to be available in Richmond VA. I got a response 3 MONTHS later saying that the food was now going to be available in New England. Great, I'll drive to New York to buy the food. It's only about 4 states and a 7 hour drive away... [&o]

Chocolatecoffee.
Thanks for the link.....Many of those numbers have just recently been added...They were not all there weeks ago....
It's hard to believe some of them though....
 
Here are a few examples.............
They list Vitamin A content as 40 IU/kg...............AAFCO range is 5,000 IU/kg to 250,000 IU/kg......This doesn't sound right.............
 
They list Vitamin D content as 1.9 IU/kg..............AAFCO range is 500 IU/kg to 5,000 IU/kg..........This doesn't sound right............
 
Some of the dog forums have been discussing the level of the Iodine content.....Worried that it may be High....
 
Remember these statistics for the amounts were not on their web site a few weeks ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By various communication the Orijen people first stated the Iodine content as 7.5 mg/kg...
 
This brought a worried response from some people worried with Thryoid concerns re high Iodine...
Then they stated that the Iodine was 7.0 mg/kg....
They stated that the AAFCO minimum was 3.0 mg/kg,,,,,when the actual AAFCO minimum for Iodine is 1.5 mg/kg....
 
Now they state on their web sites new figures, that  the Iodine level is 5.0 mg/kg....
How did the food lose 1/3 of it's Iodine content in 2 weeks....????????????

I'm glad they posted the numbers, but they all don't make sense as I noted above with the Vitamins A and D...And how did the Iodine level drop so much??????????
I really want to like this food, but the stats seem to change...........
 
Here is a link to another forum where Peter, the Boss, states the Iodine content as 7.5 mg/kg....
 
[linkhttp://www.ourdogsonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=3&Number=86831&Searchpage=8&Main=7700&Words=iodine+orijen&topic=0&Search=true]http://www.ourdogsonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=3&Number=86831&Searchpage=8&Main=7700&Words=iodine+orijen&topic=0&Search=true[/link]
 
 


Wilbur 

OOPS - didn't see this thread and posted my own asking about Orijen........all my questions were positively answered here. I was concerned about palatability (is that a word), but gave my girls a little to try when I brought it home and they loved it!!!! I'm really excited to see how it affects their coats, itching, energy and poop. It's actually cheaper than the Eukenuba I was buying!!!

We've been feeding Orijen for the past few months, and love it!  The chis were previously on Timberwolf Organics, and I have seen an ever bigger change in their health since our switch to Orijen

Okay everyone []

I speak with one of the owners, Peter on what is becoming a fairly regular basis. I brought him two of the concerns that have been raised here on this board:

1) Iodine Levels: We all seem to be familiar with the AAFCO guidelines. 1.5 Mg is the bare minimum a dog needs to basically, not have a nutritional lack. That said, Champion Pet Foods has been updating their website to become more user friendly. Most recently they have adjusted their analysis at 5 mg. (the previous 7.5 was the absolute maximum it would contain). This is well within range, especially if you consider additional iodine from other sources, such as supplements, etc. All the iodine that is in Orijen occurs naturally.
Someone on the board insists  on a certain mg. that is ideal for canine health, however he/she did not cite their source. I have personally have done hours upon hours of research and read every white paper I could and still do not have a definitive answer - I am awaiting word from the nutritionist that Champion works with as well as other sources.

Please, please, please - do not type a question in "Yahoo answers" and assume you are getting academically solid information! Please!

2) Feed Trials:  It has been intimated that Champion does not conduct feed trials on this board. This is absolutely incorrect. Champion conducts a number of feed trials in various ways:

• Formal Feed Trials: Formal Feed Trials are done for palatability and digestability.
  
• Informal Feed Trials: Informal feed of approximately 6-8 month trials are done with various groups including their kennel, local vets, their own dogs, etc.
• Blood Panels: Blood panels are taken for analysis.

This family based business has a very specific philosophy on pet care and testing. They work with well established vets and animal nutritionists. First off, they certainly do not do they type and kinds of testing that a Purina or Colgate-Palmolive would do - basically because they don't subscribe to it, i.e., they would not put a dog through any testing they wouldn't put one of their own dogs through. With the abuse and misuse of animals and testing done in the commercial dog food market, I personally do not hold decades old testing sacrosanct.

I do not work for Champion, I just consider myself their...excuse the pun...champion. Seriously, I am a food activitist (both human & canine) and don't like to see a company summarily dismissed because of misinformation. I've seen the same said of other excellent foods such as Innova Evo, Go! Natural (by Petcurean), etc. If you are by nature, fearful of any kibble product, then raw feedings is probably the way for you to go.

Good luck and good dogs!

Those measurements at Orijen are kIU/Kg not IU/KG!

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I generally feed a home cooked diet but do give some kibble to two of my three dogs. Orijen has about the best ingredient list I've seen and I'm very pleased it is now available in my area. The next time I buy dog food I'll try it. The people I've heard from that use it think it is wonderful.
 
I wouldn't be concerned with the amount of iodine. There's a pretty wide range that is acceptable. According to the NRC guidelines in Monica Segal's Optimal Nutrition, a minimum recommendation is set which is determined by the dog's weight in Kilos to the power of .75. I notice that no upper limit is set. So, while I'm not going to give my dogs huge amounts of a kelp supplement, it's not written in stone and I think it takes pretty significant amounts to harm the thyroid.

I don't see any sugar coating; I reported the facts back as I received them. People like to play tennis with the AAFCO - one moment quoting them as a resource for comparing nutritional analysis; the next villifying them as an agenda-driven agency with no useful purpose. Can't have it both ways.

As I mentioned, part of the problem is communication. 7.5 was the upper limit; at one point they liked to post the upper & lower limits of the foods. The biggest problem Champion is having is simply web design and flow of information. As a web designer myself, I have offered some insights to stop some of the confusion and perception of 'changeable' information.

To suggest that they manipulate the numbers randomly to assuage the general public is a very critical statement indicating immense distrust and/or paranoia (not that that's necessarily a bad thing at times[]). That's why I mentioned, if you have a general distrust of kibble product, home cooking is probably your most comfortable option.

I will continue to investigate this however, unless you yourself are a certified pet nutritionist, I would strongly recommend keeping an open mind until this issue is legitimately reviewed.

Good luck & good dogs!