Orijen contains Corn!?!?!?

[Ellie May]

I was just reading on Itchmo that Orijen contains zea mays (corn)!
And sure enough, it is on their ingredient list...

Not that it is a big deal to me that corn is an ingredient in dog food but I didn't think Orijen would do it.

[browniesmom622]

I think that's a big deal, Lot's of dog's are allergic to it.
I would expect a higherend food to not have corn in it.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by browniesmom622

I think that's a big deal, Lot's of dog's are allergic to it.
I would expect a higherend food to not have corn in it.

I agree.
Since most dogs do fine with it and I don't feed dog food anyway, it makes no difference to me but I thought Orijen was a great food.

[marcerella02]

and yet another disappointment from dog food.. however i'm shocked it's Orijen... i don't feed it either but i usually recommend it when people ask what they should feed... i won't be anymore.

[Ellie May]

It is almost too shocking to believe. I wonder if there is a mix-up. I've been googling zea mays to see if it can be something besides corn...I just don't know.

[Wylie's Mom]

I am TOTALLY stunned. Since it's listed under botanicals, it makes me wonder if they are using part of the flower/stamen or *something* other than the actual food portion - bc you can use other parts of the plant for other things. I have Orijen's nutritionist's email and you can be SURE I'm firing off an email RIGHT QUICK. [after I scoop my jaw off the floor!]

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I am TOTALLY stunned. Since it's listed under botanicals, it makes me wonder if they are using part of the flower/stamen or *something* other than the actual food portion - bc you can use other parts of the plant for other things. I have Orijen's nutritionist's email and you can be SURE I'm firing off an email RIGHT QUICK. [after I scoop my jaw off the floor!]

lol, I was sure you'd be shocked.
That is what I am thinking...they are using some other part of the plant.
I wonder if there are still allergy concerns with that though.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

lol, I was sure you'd be shocked.
That is what I am thinking...they are using some other part of the plant.
I wonder if there are still allergy concerns with that though.

That's exactly what I was concerned about too.

[pookiebear]

Please post the response you get from Orijen Wylie's Mom. thinking it was truly grain free, I recommended Orijen to a co-worker of mine, because her baby had skin issues. She is getting better though, but still I'm anxious to know more.

[Babz]

Ok. Seriously? This is so effing messed up.

I thought I was feeding my dogs something *better* than most things out there. How DARE they have a slogan that says "feed the way nature intended". Do dogs go to a corn plant and eat whichever part of it? Stalk, leaves, the corn itself? Seriously?

I am soooooooooo angry right now. I am starting to have a migrain. I have another 3-4kg of Orijen left, and since Lulu loves it there's no way my mom is gonna agree to me selling it. I bought it with my own money, but my mom and I raise the dogs together.

I don't care if it causes no allergies. The claims they made, etc etc, this is just off the boundaries.

Eff it eff it eff it.

[Wylie's Mom]

Someone got back to me on behalf of the nutritionist - they are not using ANY grain from the corn:

"Corn silk (Zea mays) is an herbal remedy made from stigmas, the yellowish thread-like strands found inside the husks of corn. ORIJEN does not contain any grain from the corn.

Corn silk is used to treat urinary tract infections and kidney stones in adults. Corn silk is regarded as a soothing diuretic and useful for irritation in the urinary system. This gives it added importance, since today, physicians are more concerned about the increased use of antibiotics to treat infections, especially in children. Eventually, overuse can lead to drug-resistant bacteria. Also, these drugs can cause complications in children.

Furthermore, corn silk is used in combination with other herbs to treat conditions such as cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder), urethritis (inflammation of the urethra), and parostitis (mumps).

Corn silk is said to prevent and remedy infections of the bladder and kidney. The tea is also believed to diminish prostate inflammation and the accompanying pain when urinating.

Since corn silk is used as a kidney remedy and in the regulation of fluids, the herb is believed to be helpful in treating high blood pressure and water retention. Corn-silk is also used as a remedy for edema (the abnormal accumulation of fluids).

Corn silk is used to treat urinary conditions in countries including the United States, China, Haiti, Turkey, and Trinidad. Furthermore, in China, corn silk as a component in an herbal formula is used to treat diabetes."

I emailed back as this answer didn't satisfy me in terms of whether a dog with a corn allergy will react to cornsilk the same way they do to corn. I'll let you know what they say.

[Ellie May]

That was nice of them to get back to you so fast. I still have a problem with it though only because whether it is corn kernels or corn silk or corn husk, it is still corn product. And sense when do dogs in the wild husk cobs of corn and eat the silk? lol, whatever. As long as there is no allergy concern, I guess it doesn't matter.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

That was nice of them to get back to you so fast. I still have a problem with it though only because whether it is corn kernels or corn silk or corn husk, it is still corn product. And sense when do dogs in the wild husk cobs of corn and eat the silk? lol, whatever. As long as there is no allergy concern, I guess it doesn't matter.

I agree - that's why I'm waiting to hear back for my 2nd answer from above - I'm still not satisfied. Remember that pet-food-store owner I was telling you about? I'm gonna get her in on this too. Oooooo, SHE will blow a blood vessel over this....

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I agree - that's why I'm waiting to hear back for my 2nd answer from above - I'm still not satisfied. Remember that pet-food-store owner I was telling you about? I'm gonna get her in on this too. Oooooo, SHE will blow a blood vessel over this....

Uh oh. I think there is about to be a flood of emails to Orijen.
I can't remember ever seeing you so mad about dog food.

[chattiesmom]

I'm confused - I just went to the Orijen website and read the ingredient labels on all of their dry dog foods. None of them mentioned corn .....