Regarding pet food, quality & nutrition are the most important factors you must consider. It would be best to understand the importance of choosing the right brand to ensure your dog gets healthy and tasty food to support their long and nutritional needs.
As a responsible dog owner, choosing the right foot can be overwhelming because many options are available in the market. However, Acana, Orijen, and Royal Canin are some of the most popular dog food brands you might have encountered.
If yes, then this is the article for you. Here we will compare Acana vs Orijen vs Royal Canin dog food brands to help you make an informed decision based on your dog’s needs. Without wasting any more time, let’s take a deep dive into each brand’s features, pros & cons and make an informed decision.
Acana Dog Food Review
Many have the misconception that Acana is an American brand. Still, it’s a Canadian-based dog food brand known for using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in its products. When you look at ACANA dog food, you’ll find a variety of high-quality dog food formulas free from preservatives, fillers, & artificial colors.
The good thing is that Acana’s main lean protein sources are chicken, turkey, & fish. Many brands use beef meat as a main source of protein which is only sometimes the healthiest for old top breeds. Therefore ACANA beats out its competitor in this.
They also offer grain-free options for dogs with specific dietary needs. After knowing so many things, you might ask what their USP is. That being asked, One of the unique selling points of Acana dog food is their focus and goal of creating biologically appropriate diets for dogs.
They always try to come up with formulas specifically designed to mimic the natural diet of dogs in the wild, with a high protein and low carbohydrate ratio.
This is enough to consider Acana dog food an excellent choice for owners with dogs requiring a high-protein diet. However, you may find it less pocket-friendly because Acana dog food is expensive compared to other brands.
In addition, I learned about a few reports made by the dog owner stating that their pet experienced digestive issues after switching to Acana. Even though this can be true, this usually happens when you switch your pet’s diet immediately.
You must always introduce the new food gradually in a small portion included in the daily serving and then increase it over time slowly until it becomes a natural part of their daily diet.
Orijen Dog Food Review
Another popular Canadian-based dog food brand that prides itself on using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients is Orijen. Their formulas are also designed to be biologically appropriate for all breeds of dogs.
You will also find their food grain-free with a high protein and low carbohydrate ratio. Since all brands almost always use the same ingredients and formulas to prepare their food, let’s come straight to the USP of this brand.
You should know that Orijen’s unique selling point is its focus on using fresh ingredients, with up to 90% of its meat ingredients being fresh or raw. However, when you take a quick look at the options available by Orijen, you will find freeze-dried dog food formula is the best and the most convenient.
Try out freeze-dried dog food formulas if you love to travel with your dog for a long time. However, note that this brand is also considered expensive compared to local brands.
Royal Canin Dog Food Review
Here comes the most popular brand that beginners usually prefer going with. You might already know that Royal Canin is a French-based dog food brand that usually focuses on creating breed-specific formulas for pets.
This is also my favorite. If you look at the variety of dog food formulas available by this brand, you will find most of them are tailored to the specific nutritional needs of different breeds, ages, and sizes of dogs.
One of the unique selling points of Royal Canin dog food is their focus on creating formulas for dogs with specific health issues like joint problems, digestive issues, & weight management.
This makes the Royal Canin dog food stand out from its local competitors and an excellent choice for dogs with specific health needs. Happy birthdays have been a few reports made by dog owners regarding their food containing fillers and artificial colors.
Even though this band is expensive, if you are looking for a special formula specific to a dog breed, you can go with this one. Other than this, a few veterinarians also advise going with this brand, but I wonder why.
They may be paid to do so or earn affiliate commissions. Whatever this is, Royal Canin is a very popular option to go with. But directly saying that Royal canin is the best option will be wrong. Therefore let’s compare Acana vs. Orijen vs Royal Canin dog food.
Acana vs. Orijen vs Royal Canin Dog Food: 5 Key Differences
Nutritional value & ingredients
As I told you earlier, Acana and Orijen dog food formulas both tend to be high in protein & low in carbohydrates. In contrast, Royal Canin offers breed-specific formulas that cater to the specific nutritional needs of different dog breeds with specific conditions. However, All three brands use high-quality ingredients and avoid fillers & artificial colors.
| Brand | Acana | Orijen | Royal Canin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein Content | High | High | Varies based on a formula |
| Carbohydrate Content | Low | Low | Varies based on a formula |
| Main Protein Sources | Chicken, Turkey, Fish | Fresh and Raw Meats | Varies based on a formula |
| Grain-Free Options | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Biologically Appropriate | Yes | Yes | No |
Price and Availability
Surprisingly, you will find Acana and Orijen dog food brands have more prices than Royal Canin, but they are widely available in pet stores and online retailers.
Taste & Palatability
As you know, the taste and palatability of dog food can vary depending on the individual preferences of each dog. It can be easier to find what food from what brand your dog will like if you try it yourself and check your Pooch’s reaction to it.
However, some pet owners have reported that their dogs prefer the taste of Acana and Orijen dog food over Royal Canin. This may not always be true.
Digestibility & Allergies
As I told you, some pet owners have also complained that their dogs experienced digestive issues or allergies after switching to Acana or Orijen dog food. However, this is likely to be true because the ingredient used in their food tends to be very specific.
In addition, a dog may have digestive issues if you introduce it directly or immediately. As I recommended earlier, you should introduce any new food gradually to avoid digestive upset. Royal Canin offers breed-specific formulas that cater to the specific digestive needs of different dogs.
Manufacturing Process
One of the key differences between these brands is their manufacturing process. Acana and Orijen are made by the Canadian pet food company Champion Petfoods and are known for their focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients.
They are also renowned for their unique “Whole Prey” approach, which includes using whole animals (including organs & bones) in their formulas. On the other hand, Royal Canin is owned by the multinational corporation Mars Petcare.
They use a more traditional manufacturing process that involves cooking ingredients at high temperatures to create kibble. However, both approaches can produce high-quality dog food.
Regarding food processing, I will appreciate and prefer the more natural and minimally processed approach of Acana and Orijen. However, many may feel more comfortable with the traditional approach to making dog food Royal Canin uses.
When purchasing any food from any of these brands, you don’t need to worry much because all three brands adhere to strict manufacturing & safety standards under US protocol to ensure the quality & safety of their products.
How To Choose Between Acana vs. Orijen vs Royal Canin
Since all three brands offer high-quality dog food formulas free from fillers and artificial colors, it cannot be very clear for you and beginners to choose from.
As you learned, Acana and Orijen focus on creating biologically appropriate diets for dogs, while Royal Canin offers breed-specific formulas for dogs with specific nutritional needs; feel free to go with any according to your preference and your dog’s-preference need. The main differences between the brands are the price point & availability.
If you want your dog to eat biologically appropriate food that mimics its natural diet in the wild, you can go with an Acana or Orijen. However, if you want a more breed-specific breed-specific formula, go with Royal Canin.
Ultimately, the best food for your dog depends upon your preference and their nutritional needs & preferences. It is better to consult your veterinarian before switching your dog’s food.
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Conclusion
By now, I hope you got all the information you needed before choosing any dog food from Acana vs Orijen vs Royal Canin. Since all of them offer high-quality dog food with various formulas for dogs with different nutritional needs, you can go with any according to your dog’s preferences & requirements.
When choosing a dog food, consider the nutritional value, price point, availability, taste, palatability, digestibility, allergies, and your budget (at last). I have given my all effort and my best to give you an in-depth analysis of the difference between these Acana vs Orijen vs Royal Canin brands in terms of offering dog food.
If you like this article, please share it. Your share will not only help people choose the right food between Acana vs Orijen vs Royal Canin brands but also choose the one that the dogs need. It would be best if you considered checking our other articles on dog food reviews and recipes, as they can be very helpful for you.
You should know that homemade dog food tends to be more nutritious and gives you full control over the ingredients you want to include. By preparing homemade food, you can always add your dog’s favorite ingredients and avoid the risky ones.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. See you in the next post, till then, take care and goodbye. Acana vs. Orijen vs Royal Canin Dog Food: 5 Key Differences
