[Canyx]

http://www.petproductnews.com/News/Champion-Petfood-Comments-on-Nestl-Acquisition-Speculation/

My local pet food store told me about this and they are looking into other brands.
I'm not sure I'll continue feeding Orijen if this goes through.

 

[BellaPup]

Uuuugh - well, there goes one of my "switcharoo" choices :/ Bummer. Maybe why Chewy stopped carrying it?

 

[MarieLovesChis]

Uuuugh - well, there goes one of my "switcharoo" choices :/ Bummer. Maybe why Chewy stopped carrying it?

That's the ironic part. My friend in the States shops with Chewy and she said when they dropped Orijen she got an email saying Orijen refused to continue to do business with Chewy because they were bought out by a larger retailer lol

 

[Canyx]

Wait, has it been done? I know the article I posted was from July.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDogs]

There was speculation of that and then Champion did reply somewhere but it didn't really seem to answer the question if they were being "bought out" or not. There may have been talks but I haven't seen anything set in stone yet.

I stopped feeding Acana months ago after deciding my dogs didn't need grain free as much as I thought they did. They are doing just as good, if not better, on Farmina. I'm sure someday I will have to switch away from that too for some reason or another. Haha.

 

[Canyx]

On this topic... Does anyone have recommendations for high protein, high calorie, high quality dog food? I'd like to wean in a different brand in light of this potential change. Sor's been on gradually increasing protein in the 10+ years I've had him (Purina, Wellness, TotW, Earthborn, Orijen). He didn't do poorly on any food, except Wellness and loose stools. But I noticed smaller, tighter stools the higher up the scale I went. I really love how both my dogs do on Orijen and Brae's been on that his entire life. Brae gets 4 cups, 1800 kcals a day.

I'd like to keep a similar nutrient profile if possible. Orijen was what I thought to be the gold standard (with respect to the fact that all dogs are different and do well with different things). So it makes me sad that I'll probably need to look elsewhere.

My local pet food store, whom I'd also like to support, is looking into different brands too. But currently they carry: ORIJEN, ACANA, NATURE'S LOGIC, ZIGNATURE,
FROMM, EARTHBORN HOLISTIC, LOTUS, VICTOR, SPORTMIX WHOLESOMES, CARNA 4, FUSSIE CAT, UNDER THE SUN, OPEN FARM

Sorry for the caps. I copied and pasted. I'd like to keep buying from them but if there's a 'better' brand they don't carry, I will do what's best for my dogs. I can't do dehydrated or raw though. That's way out of my price range and storing capacity at this time.

 

[Shell]

Victor Nutra Pro.

 

[MarieLovesChis]

There was speculation of that and then Champion did reply somewhere but it didn't really seem to answer the question if they were being "bought out" or not. There may have been talks but I haven't seen anything set in stone yet.

I stopped feeding Acana months ago after deciding my dogs didn't need grain free as much as I thought they did. They are doing just as good, if not better, on Farmina. I'm sure someday I will have to switch away from that too for some reason or another. Haha.

That is one of the few foods I feed. Only I feed their pumpkin line as their grain inclusive food does not agree with my dog's anal glands for some reason. It is extremely popular over here in Europe, has a good reputation a lot of people feed it and swear by it. I trust it, well as much trust as I am willing to give to a kibble company lol. I stopped with Orijen a very long time ago once they started to add all those beans/lentils/peas/chickpeas. I also found it impossible to get questions answered from them which annoyed me.

 

[MarieLovesChis]

On this topic... Does anyone have recommendations for high protein, high calorie, high quality dog food? I'd like to wean in a different brand in light of this potential change. Sor's been on gradually increasing protein in the 10+ years I've had him (Purina, Wellness, TotW, Earthborn, Orijen). He didn't do poorly on any food, except Wellness and loose stools. But I noticed smaller, tighter stools the higher up the scale I went. I really love how both my dogs do on Orijen and Brae's been on that his entire life. Brae gets 4 cups, 1800 kcals a day.

I'd like to keep a similar nutrient profile if possible. Orijen was what I thought to be the gold standard (with respect to the fact that all dogs are different and do well with different things). So it makes me sad that I'll probably need to look elsewhere.

My local pet food store, whom I'd also like to support, is looking into different brands too. But currently they carry: ORIJEN, ACANA, NATURE'S LOGIC, ZIGNATURE,
FROMM, EARTHBORN HOLISTIC, LOTUS, VICTOR, SPORTMIX WHOLESOMES, CARNA 4, FUSSIE CAT, UNDER THE SUN, OPEN FARM

Sorry for the caps. I copied and pasted. I'd like to keep buying from them but if there's a 'better' brand they don't carry, I will do what's best for my dogs. I can't do dehydrated or raw though. That's way out of my price range and storing capacity at this time.

I think Annamet makes a great grain free kibble, similar in protein to some of those other brands in your list. The protein is not as high as Orijen, I think around 30% but my dog has always done great on that brand. Farmina grain free has some good ones at 37% protein and pretty high calories. I've fed Fromm in the past and liked it well enough, some flavours I wouldn't touch though because of the amount of pea ingredients. That's just me though. Wish I could be of more help but I'm not sure any of the other brands I know of are available over there.

 

[Canyx]

Victor Nutra Pro.

Wow, spot on nutrient analysis. See, this is why I appreciate all you folks. I'm ON the Victor website and didn't even see this option.

And thanks for all the other suggestions! I have been looking into Farmina and Annamaet too... We'll see!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDogs]

That is one of the few foods I feed. Only I feed their pumpkin line as their grain inclusive food does not agree with my dog's anal glands for some reason. It is extremely popular over here in Europe, has a good reputation a lot of people feed it and swear by it. I trust it, well as much trust as I am willing to give to a kibble company lol. I stopped with Orijen a very long time ago once they started to add all those beans/lentils/peas/chickpeas. I also found it impossible to get questions answered from them which annoyed me.

I feed the grain inclusive but I have fed and currently am feeding the pumkin line because I waited too long to order the other kind.

People always talk about how little poop they have on certain foods or on raw.. but I had no idea my dogs were capable of having such little poo on the Pumpkin line of Farmina. No anal gland problems on either one for me. Ember grew a beautiful thick coat like never before (and she was on Acana regionals for well over a year..) and Kai grew way too much of a coat.

I find it comparable to Acana Regionals and other "top line" brands.. not sure about Orijen but I never fed it. Protein is 28-37% depending on the formula. You can get it from chewy or straight from their website for quite a bit cheaper. Unfortunately not a lot of stores carry it yet. My one local store just started getting it in.

Still.. you might find you have weirdly better results on something that isn't "as good". Not always but sometimes!

 

[Shell]

Re: Nutra Pro.


Yeah, Amazing bang for the buck. Victor in general is good value, especially grain inclusive but the meat content of the Nutra Pro is tip top.
The food is quite dark and dense, very meaty smelling. I fed some puppy fosters with it last year and got a text from a vol at an event asking if pup was OK cause stool was very dark and tiny.
I have been feeding it often but not exclusively for well over a year now. And I am one that will switch often and try out foods on sale etc so to be stickin with one formula mostly says something about it.

 

[Canyx]

Wow, the more research I'm doing the more I'm seeing equally high or higher nutrient foods! (ETA I know that MORE doesn't mean better)
Victor Ultra Pro.. 42/22 ?!!?

But I'm also seeing some comparable foods with Farmina and other brands.. I just talked to my local store and they will be bringing in Farmina.

 

[Canyx]

Yeah, Nutra Pro is more similar to Orijen and has 90% of protein from animal sources. Whereas Ultra Pro has overall higher protein but 81% from meat sources. At some point you just have to wonder how much all of it matters... I suppose I'll have to see what my dogs do best on.

 

[lizzy25]

Re: Nutra Pro.


Yeah, Amazing bang for the buck. Victor in general is good value, especially grain inclusive but the meat content of the Nutra Pro is tip top.
The food is quite dark and dense, very meaty smelling. I fed some puppy fosters with it last year and got a text from a vol at an event asking if pup was OK cause stool was very dark and tiny.
I have been feeding it often but not exclusively for well over a year now. And I am one that will switch often and try out foods on sale etc so to be stickin with one formula mostly says something about it.

I feed my dogs raw and kibble. I've been looking for another kibble to switch to and been reading a lot of great things about Victor. I'm a little confused about all the different formulas.

I see Nutra Pro is mentioned here, does it matter how active the dogs are who get this formula? As I see a lot of the formulas mention Performace, Pro, Plus, High Energy, etc.

Is better to start out with the lower protien formulas and work your way up or does it matter? I have a small 10 pounder and a bigger 60 pounder, I am not super active with them though, just the normal walks, some daily play/fetch, etc...but some days we just lounge lol

The ones I've read mentioned the most were the 30/20 which is I believe the Hi-Pro Plus, Nutro, Performance w/Glucosamine and the Yukon formulas.

If anyone has any feedback on this I'd be very interested to here as I'll be purchasing very soon, thanks!

 

[Mutts]

Not sure if it's available in the states, but Corey North Paw is a canadian company that is relatively new and in my opinion comparable to Orijen/Acana.

 

[Shell]

Lizzy--

A 30/20 food is a great starting place. That is a common active dog formula but also common to the better puppy foods.

Activity level does not really designate protein needs. High protein foods can have mid to high calorie contents so for inactive dogs, the problem can be if they need so little (by weight) of the food due to the calorie count that they are not getting sufficient micronutrients (calcium, zinc, etc).

But as long as you are feeding around the lowest end of the recommended amount, its rarely an issue. Most foods can account for moderately active just fine, its more like inactive or very small dogs that the calorie/micronutrient balance comes into play.

Older dogs dont process protein as well as younger dogs so seniors can benefit from higher protein foods (30% and up).

Mutts--
Corey North Paw isnt at retail in the US right now. For awhile, Corey licensed their Inukshuk line for retail at Tractor Supply as a Realtree branded food but has discontinued that (I did at least get $5 bags of it when they sold off the last of my local store's stock).

 

[Mutts]

Mutts--
Corey North Paw isnt at retail in the US right now. For awhile, Corey licensed their Inukshuk line for retail at Tractor Supply as a Realtree branded food but has discontinued that (I did at least get $5 bags of it when they sold off the last of my local store's stock).

Ah, that's a shame! My dog transitioned beautifully onto it from orijen/acana.

 

[lizzy25]

Thanks! My dogs were eating some of this brand https://www.chewy.com/only-natural-pet-powerfusion-red-meat/dp/170430 which I noticed has the exact protien/fat as the Nutra Pro 38/18! So thinking this might be a good transition.

Would you pick one over the other Hi-Pro Plus vs the Nutra Pro? I noticed on Dogfoodadvisor the Hi-Pro got 5 stars and Nutra got 4.5

 

[Shell]

Thanks! My dogs were eating some of this brand https://www.chewy.com/only-natural-pet-powerfusion-red-meat/dp/170430 which I noticed has the exact protien/fat as the Nutra Pro 38/18! So thinking this might be a good transition.

Would you pick one over the other Hi-Pro Plus vs the Nutra Pro? I noticed on Dogfoodadvisor the Hi-Pro got 5 stars and Nutra got 4.5

Hi Pro is about 15% cheaper, has lower protein but a bit higher fat, and slightly lower percentage of protein from meat sources than Victor Nutra Pro.

No idea why the half star rating difference. Both very good options, i prefer the higher protein of Nutra Pro but its not a huge difference between them at all.