Fromm vs Nature's Variety vs Orijen

[stephanierubyxo]

Hey guys, my Daisy is pretty picky with her food and doesn't really eat much. I want to get her one of these but wanted to know what you all though about them.
She had a dr's appointment yesterday and she still weighs 2lbs 3oz, she weighed this much two weeks ago, I though she would've gained some weight by now. She is 4 months in a half.


Fromm and Natures Variety carry a small breed bag but Orijen doesn't, Should I stick to a small breed food?


Has anyone had any experience with these brands?
Which one do you prefer?


A feed store down the street from me sells these brands but they don't have any sample bags, only trial bags for sale but I want some advice before I go buy the trial bags.






Thank you!

[chattydars]

Hi! My breeder recommended Fromm puppy food (pink bag). Gracie ate it readily and at a year I have put her on the adult version....two types......the one Gracie is on is the purple bad which is for small breeds. Fromm gets quite quickly good review overall.

[Lovetodream88]

You don't have to stick to small breed. I have always done that because mine will not eat big pieces of food. Although I would recommend Acana over Orijen because I have heard a lot of people complain about bloody poo on Orijen because the protien being so high. My dog is very picky and has always loved Royal Canin.

[Wylie's Mom]

These are all excellent brands, but the Orijen kibble *might* be a little big, it's hard to say. I think Natures Logic is an excellent kibble - it may be one you also want to consider; you can get it on Amazon, btw.

[107barney]

I've home cooked for my dogs but use Royal Canin when they eat kibble and they love it.

[AllDogBoots]

I'm a fan of Fromm everything but my Yorkie is huge!

[Nancy1999]

We use Nature's Logic and a big plus for them is that all their vitamins are natural, no synthetic and 100% made in the USA. Most synthetic vitamins are coming from China, and their quality control isn't the greatest. I personally have studied the synthetic v. natural vitamin debate for over (well a long time) and I'm getting more leery of synthetic vitamins for humans as well.

[stephanierubyxo]

I found a dog boutique 5 minutes away from me and they had samples to all these brands. Daisy really liked Orijen, she didn't seem that interested in Fromm or natures variety. We live in an apartment so I don't think all that protein is necessary, does Acana have the same percentage of protein that Orijen has?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by stephanierubyxo

I found a dog boutique 5 minutes away from me and they had samples to all these brands. Daisy really liked Orijen, she didn't seem that interested in Fromm or natures variety. We live in an apartment so I don't think all that protein is necessary, does Acana have the same percentage of protein that Orijen has?

No is lower

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by stephanierubyxo

I found a dog boutique 5 minutes away from me and they had samples to all these brands. Daisy really liked Orijen, she didn't seem that interested in Fromm or natures variety. We live in an apartment so I don't think all that protein is necessary, does Acana have the same percentage of protein that Orijen has?

I wouldn't really think of this in this way. I mean, if you think of it in the other way -- is higher carb really necessary? Personally, I believe it's much, much healthier for both humans and animals to be on a leaner, higher protein diet than on a high carb diet...way healthier and less inflammatory in general too.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I wouldn't really think of this in this way. I mean, if you think of it in the other way -- is higher carb really necessary? Personally, I believe it's much, much healthier for both humans and animals to be on a leaner, higher protein diet than on a high carb diet...way healthier and less inflammatory in general too.

For what it's worth, dogs with an underlying liver or kidney problem could find their condition exacerbated by higher protein foods:

The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods | petMD

Each dog is different. It's difficult to generalize what is best for all dogs--whatever works best for your particular dog is what you should stick with, keeping in mind the health issues your dog has.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by pstinard

For what it's worth, dogs with an underlying liver or kidney problem could find their condition exacerbated by higher protein foods:

The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods | petMD

Each dog is different. It's difficult to generalize what is best for all dogs--whatever works best for your particular dog is what you should stick with, keeping in mind the health issues your dog has.

Much of the information regarding high protein and dogs is because in the past protein was of a lower quality, for example, corn can be added to the food and the overall protein goes up, but it's not a high quality protein and lower quality is more difficult for the liver and kidneys to process.

"Protein is processed in the liver and any waste materials are filtered and excreted by the kidneys. High quality protein does not generate large amounts of waste that needs to be removed from the body, but poor quality protein which is difficult to digest does and thus puts stress on the kidneys. The liver needs water to process protein and as a medium to carry waste products to the kidneys, where they are filtered out and most of the water is reabsorbed. The less concentrated the waste products in this primary filtrate are, the easier it is for the kidneys to do their filtering work - that's why it is unhealthy to feed dry food only and so critical that dogs eating mostly or exclusively dry food and dogs with liver disease get lots of extra water." The Dog Food Project - Is too much protein harmful?.

Of course, if your dog has liver and kidney problems, a special diet is in order, but a higher protein diet of high quality protein (not corn and beaks and hair) will not cause liver and kidney problems.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by pstinard

For what it's worth, dogs with an underlying liver or kidney problem could find their condition exacerbated by higher protein foods:

The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods | petMD

Each dog is different. It's difficult to generalize what is best for all dogs--whatever works best for your particular dog is what you should stick with, keeping in mind the health issues your dog has.

I agree...but a dog w/ pancreatitis would have trouble w/ high fat diets, and a dog w/ diabetes wouldn't do as well on a high carb diet....and so on and so on.

I wasn't making the recommendation based upon a sick dog, I was making it based upon assuming the poster was posting about her generally healthy dog.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Much of the information regarding high protein and dogs is because in the past protein was of a lower quality, for example, corn can be added to the food and the overall protein goes up, but it's not a high quality protein and lower quality is more difficult for the liver and kidneys to process.

"Protein is processed in the liver and any waste materials are filtered and excreted by the kidneys. High quality protein does not generate large amounts of waste that needs to be removed from the body, but poor quality protein which is difficult to digest does and thus puts stress on the kidneys. The liver needs water to process protein and as a medium to carry waste products to the kidneys, where they are filtered out and most of the water is reabsorbed. The less concentrated the waste products in this primary filtrate are, the easier it is for the kidneys to do their filtering work - that's why it is unhealthy to feed dry food only and so critical that dogs eating mostly or exclusively dry food and dogs with liver disease get lots of extra water." The Dog Food Project - Is too much protein harmful?.

Of course, if your dog has liver and kidney problems, a special diet is in order, but a higher protein diet of high quality protein (not corn and beaks and hair) will not cause liver and kidney problems.

Well, yes and no. Beaks and hair are not digestible, and pass though the dog's body much like fiber does. There are ten essential amino that dogs need in their diet (see https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-c...your-dog-needs). If your dog's protein source includes these amino acids, then the dog will get by on less total protein overall, and it will be less stress on the kidneys and liver. Low quality protein that doesn't contain these essential amino acids is simply wasted effort for the dog to digest. But if you're feeding your dog high quantities of protein, it doesn't matter if it is all high quality protein, it's still more of a stress on the system--the excess protein is wasted. ALL proteins, both high and low quality, produce nitrogenous waste that has to be filtered by the kidneys. My point is that a high protein diet is problematic because it's not needed, and it stresses the system. A regular recommended level of high quality protein is healthier than high levels of protein, regardless of quality. So long as your dog is getting the nutrients it needs for good health, adding more doesn't make it better--it either goes to waste, or it is stressful on the liver and kidneys. I'm just putting that out there and moving on...

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I agree...but a dog w/ pancreatitis would have trouble w/ high fat diets, and a dog w/ diabetes wouldn't do as well on a high carb diet....and so on and so on.

I wasn't making the recommendation based upon a sick dog, I was making it based upon assuming the poster was posting about her generally healthy dog.

Okay, high protein may be harmless for most dogs, but is it necessary or desirable? I'll just throw out one last thing (from The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods | petMD), which is staffed by veterinarians and veterinarian nutritionists:

Is Excessive Protein in Dog Food Bad for My Pet?


Protein is a calorie dense nutrient and many of the high protein diets are extremely high in calories and can quickly lead to weight gain. With over 50% of dogs in the U.S. considered overweight or obese, dog owners need to be aware of where those extra calories are hiding. If a dog has kidney or liver issues consuming too much protein can increase the workload on these organs and upset the balance of nutrients leading to exacerbation of disease.

Rather than look for a dog food that contains excessive levels of protein you should find one that is specifically formulated for your dog’s lifestyle, life stage, and size. A working sled dog, for example, will have significantly different nutrient and caloric requirements than the average pet dog that ventures outside for a few walks a day and spends the rest of the time lounging. These two dogs should not be fed the same diet.

Puppies, meanwhile, require more protein than adult dogs because their bodies are busy growing. Among breeds of puppies there are different requirements for nutrients as well. For instance large breed puppies like Labrador retrievers need a much different diet than a Yorkie for optimal growth. Feeding large breed puppies something that is too high in protein may make them put on weight too quickly causing abnormal joint development and making them more prone to issues like arthritis in the future.

The safest diets are those that have been developed by pet food companies that invest in scientific research, consult with veterinary nutritionists, and perform feeding trials to develop their diets. This will provide a pet food that is properly balanced without any excess nutrients that are unnecessary and in some cases harmful for your dog.