| Top 5 | ||
| Feeding Tips | ||
| Health Topics | ||
| About Champion | ||
| Ingredients & Preservatives | ||
Q | Protein Content | A | | As there are so many myths circulating about high protein diets, this is probably one of the most commonly asked questions received at our customer service.
Countless studies published over the last 15 years have roundly debunked the high protein myth (often fueled by the multinational and marketing companies that still produce 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 better promote their peak health and conditioning. Today’s conventional pet foods are lower in protein and very high in carbohydrates (40-50% ). Carbohydrates are not part of the natural diet, so it should come as no surprise that carbohydrates are not required (in any amount) by dogs and cats. Dogs and cats are evolved to derive their energy from animal proteins and fats, not carbohydrates from grains. Want more information? Please see our White Paper, pages 26, 27 – Protein myths. Or check the “Myths of High Protein” study published by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine which explains why today’s traditional veterinarians know so little about the subject of high-protein and companion animal nutrition. 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. Please see our White Paper for more information on this subject. |
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Q | Storage & Best Before Dates | A | | STORING YOUR ORIJEN Ideally, ORIJEN should be stored indoors in a re-sealable container constructed of an inert material such as plastic. The ORIJEN package will also work well provided it is tightly rolled up to maintain airtight conditions after opening. Refrigeration of ORIJEN is not required and a storage temperature of 10 – 20 degrees Celsius is ideal. Prolonged exposure to higher temperatures increases oxidation and reduces shelf life. Exposure to light also contributes to oxidation. A cool dark storage is preferable. UNDERSTANDING OUR BEST BEFORE DATES 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 produced and packaged at our factory, there is 15 months until expiry. Heat, moisture and light have the biggest impact on shelf life. Once opened please keep your ORIJEN airtight in a container or roll the package up and store is a cool dry place with no direct sunlight (see Storing your ORIJEN above). |
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Q | Animal Testing | A | | This is a question we’re asked a lot, and our position on animal testing is simple - we conduct only those tests we would allow our own companion dogs and cats to participate in. If it’s not OK for our dogs and cats, then it’s not OK for any other cats and dogs. We perform only non-invasive tests, which including palatability (taste), urine pH and digestibility (the latter through stool analysis only). These tests are never performed with dogs or cats kept in a laboratory environment (cages). |
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Q | ORIJEN Cans & Treats, Where are They? | A | | CANNED FOODS At Champion Petfoods, we sell only what we make, which makes us unique in today’s pet food industry where a great many pet foods are made by factories with no connection to the brand (private labeled). The ORIJEN philosophy is different. We source our ingredients fresh from our region and make our foods exclusively within our own award-winning factory here in Alberta, Canada. Making canned food is a very different production process, and almost all canned pet foods in North America are made in one of two very large canning companies. While we could easily follow the industry model and have ORIJEN produced for us cans, we’re just not comfortable with the idea of having any ORIJEN product made outside of our own facilities, and have no plans for ORIJEN in cans. TREATS We are currently working on a unique “Biologically Appropriate” treat for dogs which we hope to introduce late in 2010. |
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Q | ORIJEN & ACANA Differences | A | | While there are many differences between ACANA and ORIJEN, both diets reflect our belief in “Biologically Appropriateness, and “Fresh Regional Ingredients”. Five of the main points of difference are summarized below:
Put simply, we believe ORIJEN is the best dry dog or cat food available worldwide. Although lower in protein and total fresh meat content than ORIJEN, ACANA provides unbeatable value and a price point that makes Biologically Appropriate pet foods accessible to a wide range of pet lovers. |
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Q | Feeding Tips | A | | We recommend that you feed 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! TRANSITIONING FOODS Dogs are often fed the same food, which means a sudden food change makes it difficult for their digestive systems to adapt That’s 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 three to five 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. WATER About 70 percent 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. When it's hot, or if your dog is sick, especially with diarrhea, water is even more important. So make sure water is always available, and make sure it’s FRESH and CLEAN! 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. 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. 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 five 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. To see each product’s feeding guide, please click the link below. |
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Q | 100 % CHINA-FREE – Do ACANA and ORIJEN dog and cat food formulas contain any ingredients from China? | A | | There are no ingredients from China used in the preparation of our dog and cat food formulas, including vitamins — we are 100% China-free. Our production focus is on FRESH INGREDIENTS supplied regionally and all of our products are made exclusively within our own award-winning factory here in Alberta, Canada. And rest assured, our products are biologically appropriate, the way Mother Nature intended. For more detailed information on the ingredients contained in our product lines, click on the Ingredients & Preservatives link. |
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Q | URINARY HEALTH - Does ORIJEN promote urinary health? | A | | Yes. Due to the high meat content and low magnesium content, ORIJEN is naturally acidic and helps promote a healthy bladder. ORIJEN foods have a pH of about 5.5, which is naturally mildly acidic and well suited to the maintenance of healthy bladder function in both cats and dogs. |
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Q | OVERWEIGHT - Is ORIJEN appropriate for my overweight pet? | A | | Yes. ORIJEN has a Biologically Appropriate distribution of energy, where more energy is supplied from protein and less energy is supplied from carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are an empty calorie, 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), the convert easily into body fat. Protein supplies the same amount of energy as carbohydrate but has a very different effect on the body. Unlike carbohydrate, protein is essential for life, but is when present in excess protein is NOT stored in the body as fat; it is simply removed from the body through natural elimination functions. |
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Q | LARGE BREED PUPPIES - Is ORIJEN suitable for my large breed puppy or dog? | A | | Yes. The main dietary concerns for large breed puppies and dogs are assuring appropriate calcium and energy levels in the food. CALCIUM: The ideal calcium content for large breeds is thought to be between 1.0 and 1.4% on an “as fed” basis. It is believed that calcium in excess of 3% on a dry weight basis can predispose to significant skeletal abnormalities. When formulating for large breeds it is also important to keep in mind that certain vitamins (Vitamin D) can increase absorption of dietary calcium (to possibly excessive levels). ORIJEN is formulated to meet these calcium ideals. ENERGY: If too many calories are supplied and consumed on a daily basis, too rapid growth can result and the excess mass that must be supported on an immature skeleton can result in damage to skeletal tissue, with subsequent malformation and/or malarticulation of joints. There are 3 sources of energy in commercial pet foods; protein, fat and carbohydrate. ORIJEN is moderate in fat, high in protein and, importantly, very low in carbohydrate. Carbohydrate has no essential function in the body, and as it converts to sugar quickly and easily, carbohydrate is the most common dietary cause of excess weight. Restricting carbohydrate in the diet is ideal for promoting peak physical conditioning in all dogs, including large breed puppies and dogs. |
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Q | LARGE BREED DOGS - Does high protein affect joint health? | A | | 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 over feeding dogs can contribute to arthritis and orthopedic problems. Please note that most orthopedic and joint problems are inherited, but puppies and dogs that are over weight have a greater chance of an increase in pain and discomfort, and the potential of developing orthopedic problems as younger animals and arthritis later on in their life. And while some nutritionists recommend feeding more fiber than meat and protein for weight gain, this can also have consequences, as it can block absorption. |
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Q | SENIOR DOGS - Is ORIJEN suitable for my senior dog? | A | | Absolutely yes! While lower protein diets have traditionally been recommended for senior dogs, this thinking has been roundly dismissed by recent science. As dogs become less efficient at metabolizing protein as they age, a protein-rich diet is especially important for maintaining their 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. Please see our White Paper for more information on this subject (link to white paper). |
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Q | PROTEIN LEVELS - Will ORIJEN cause my pet to gain weight? | A | | NO. ORIJEN has quite the opposite effect. As ORIJEN is high in protein, dogs and cats typically show an increase in lean muscle mass after a month or so. ORIJEN is low in carbohydrate, so most cats and dogs actually lose body fat when fed ORIJEN. |
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Q | PROTEIN LEVELS - Does higher dietary protein stress the kidneys? | A | | No. There is no study in science to show a higher protein diet has any negative effect on the kidneys of dogs or cats. In fact, scientific studies show quite the opposite; dogs with poor kidney functions or dogs that had only one kidney showed improved health on higher protein diets. |
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Q | FACTORY - Does Champion produce ORIJEN in their own factories? | A | | Yes. Champion owns their own state-of-the-art pet food processing facilities in Morinville, Alberta where we make ORIJEN and ACANA pet foods. |
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Q | OUTSOURCING - Many pet foods are made by factories not owned or controlled by the brand. What about ORIJEN? | A | | ORIJEN is made exclusively in our own factories and ORIJEN is never made or packaged in any other facility. |
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Q | CHAMPION PETFOODS - How long has Champion been making pet foods? | A | | Since 1975 - over a quarter century. |
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Q | CHAMPION PETFOODS - What makes Champion different from conventional pet food makers? | A | | Champion is a family owned-and-operated, boutique pet food producer with a mission that is simple and strong: make world-class pet foods from fresh regional ingredients. |
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Q | CALCIUM & PHOSPHORUS LEVELS | A | | An answer to this questions will be placed here shortly. |
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Q | BOTANICALS - Why do ORIJEN foods contain botanicals? | A | | ORIJEN is designed to match the natural diet as closely as is possible in a kibble format. Botanicals are a part of the natural diet for all cats and dogs, and play an important role in bridging the gap between good health and peak conditioning. The botanicals found in ORIJEN are selected by one of North America’s leading Homeopathic Veterinarians. |
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Q | IODINE - ORIJEN contains organic kelp. So is ORIJEN high in iodine? | A | | No. ORIJEN diets contain between 4.0 mg/kg and 6.0 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. |
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Q | ETHOXYQUIN - Does ORIJEN contain Ethoxyquin? | A | | 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 within the United States. Champion uses two kinds of fish ingredients in – fresh fish, and fish meals. FRESH FISH. Our fresh fish is caught wild within our region and arrives FRESH – which is defined as ‘never frozen and with no preservatives’. Our fresh fish never contain Ethoxyquin. FISH MEALS. Ethoxyquin preservatives are common throughout the fish meal supply chain, so Champion works directly with our fish meal suppliers (no brokers or middlemen) and we pay them a premium to have our fish meals preserved with our proprietary blend of Vitamin E and botanical extracts. Our fish meals are never preserved with Ethoxyquin. Champion’s Ethoxyquin standard is set at true trace level, not to exceed 5 ppm (parts per million) of Ethoxyquin, which is 0.0005%, or one half of one thousandth of 1% – the lower limit of what most certified laboratories are able to detect or measure. |
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Q | BHA/BHT - Does ORIJEN contain BHA/BHT? | A | | Champion’s ingredients and foods are never preserved with BHA/BHT or any other chemical preservative. Champion never adds BHA or BHT (or any other chemical preservative) to our pet foods or ingredients, and all ingredients and foods are preserved with our proprietary blend of vitamin E with botanical extracts. As BHA and BHT are typically present in pet food ingredient supply chains (for example, BHA and BHT are often present in the feed fed to chickens, turkey or duck) we work with our suppliers to ensure our ingredients enable Champion’s final product standards. Champion’s BHA, BHT standard is set at true trace level not to exceed 5 ppm (parts per million) of BHA/BHT, which is 0.0005%, or one half of one thousandth of 1% – the lower limit of what most certified laboratories are able to detect or measure. |
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Q | KIBBLE SHAPE & COLOR - Why are there variances in the kibble appearance? | A | | ORIJEN is a natural product produced in small batches from FRESH local ingredients. Such “niche” or “specialty” production means that there are small variances in the ORIJEN size, color and shape. We like to explain these variances by comparing pet food to a bakery: consider buying bread from a specialty bakery in your neighborhood – while the bread will taste the same, the loaf will be a little different each time. However, if you buy your bread in a plastic bag from Walmart, it will probably look exactly the same every time. |
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Q | FRESH MEAT QUALITY - Are ORIJEN ingredients human grade? | A | | Yes. All ORIJEN fresh meats (chicken, fish, turkey, eggs) are of table quality. Chicken, fish and turkey meals are produced exclusively from animals that are certified as fit for human consumption by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). |
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Q | FRESH or RAW? - What’s the difference? | A | | RAW means the ingredient has not been cooked before processing, but has been preserved either by freezing, chemical preservatives, or a combination of both. FRESH means the meats are never frozen and contain no preservatives. Unlike most commercial pet foods, ORIJEN is made with FRESH REGIONAL MEATS that are processed the same day we receive them, and are a key factor in the superior palatability and feeding performance of ORIJEN. |
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Q | TAURINE - ORIJEN contains lots of Taurine. What’s the source? | A | | ORIJEN cat foods list Taurine in the Guaranteed Analysis but not in the Ingredient Panel. This is because ORIJEN is very rich in meats (in which Taurine is naturally present) and therefore no supplementation is required. Most foods do not contain sufficient Taurine in natural form (from meat) and so must supplement with a Taruine ingredient. |
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Q | GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN - ORIJEN is very high in glucosamine and chondroitin. What’s the source? | A | | An answer to this questions will be placed here shortly. |
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Q | FRESH CHICKEN - Where are our chickens from? Are they free-run? | A | | Our chicken ingredients come from the ALBERTA CHICKEN PRODUCERS and are made fresh from grain-fed Alberta chickens. Our fresh chicken is table grade and arrives FRESH – never frozen and without any preservatives – and is processed into ORIJEN the day it is received. Please visit our FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS page to learn more. |
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Q | FRESH EGGS - Where are our eggs from? Are they whole eggs? | A | | All eggs in ORIJEN are from ALBERTA EGG PRODUCERS. Our eggs are table grade and arrive FRESH – never frozen and without any preservatives – and are processed into ORIJEN the same day they are received. Please visit our FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS page to learn more. |
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Q | FRESH FISH - Where are our FRESH FISH from? Are they wild-caught? | A | | Our Fresh fish are wild-caught from clean northern lakes of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and the North West Territories of Canada. Please go here to learn more about our fish ingredients. Please visit our FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS page to learn more. |
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Q | FRESH FISH - Do you test fish for heavy metals such as Mercury? | A | | Yes. Although our fish are fished from clean northern lakes, our supplier provides us with heavy metal and mercury test results. All our fresh fish are fit for human consumption, meet all Government of Canada food regulations for daily consumption, and are a world-class source of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids. Please go here to learn more about our fish ingredients. Please visit our FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS page to learn more. |
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Q | POTATOES - Are potatoes night shade vegetables? Are they healthy? | A | | Potato is a healthy alternative to the grains in most of today’s processed pet foods. Our potatoes are processed at low temperature (90c) and do not contain skins or leafs. |
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Q | VITAMIN K3 (MENADIONE) - Does ORIJEN contain vitamin K3? | A | | All Champion Petfoods’ diets are entirely free of Vitamin K3. |