Resources
Our Biologically Appropriate diets are based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs and cats need to be nourished according to their evolutionary adaption and thrive on diets containing fresh and diverse meat ingredients.
That’s why our ACANA and ORIJEN diets are packed with high-quality animal protein, a nutritionally balanced fatty acid profile, and naturally sourced vitamins and minerals that will nourish your cat and dog completely – just as nature intended.
Champion Pet Foods Bulletins
Brief: Learn about what AAFCO is and what must happen during a typical AAFCO feeding trial. This bulletin explains how we expand upon this to ensure the safety, health and nutritional adequacy of our foods. We’ve custom designed an enhanced AAFCO canine and feline feeding trail and this shares information regarding the additional metabolic and health measurements we choose to look at.
Download: AAFCO-Feeding-Trials.pdf 65kB
Brief: ORIJEN freeze-dried foods are a great way to feed a raw diet. Brimming with 90% quality animal ingredients, our three freeze-dried food recipes are nutrient-dense and rich in protein. Available in Original, Regional Red, and Tundra, our freeze-dried foods are easy to prepare, requiring only warm water to soften each medallion before serving. Made in our state-of-the-art DogStar Kitchen, ORIJEN freeze-dried foods offer all the benefits of a raw diet in a convenient, dry form.
Download: ORIJEN-Freeze-Dried-Food.pdf 1031kB
Brief: Palatability is essentially how much a dog or cat prefers a texture, odour and flavour of a finished product. Through palatability testing we can measure the performance of a diet. This bulletin explains the findings of an industry standard two-bowl test comparing two different recipes to see which diet cats and dogs prefer.
Download: Palatability-Bulletin.pdf 1020kB
Scientific Papers
Summary: In 2018, the FDA first reported a potential association between canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and diet. The FDA has never recommended that Pet Lovers change their pets’ foods and did not request any recalls from pet food manufacturers. To date, review of available scientific literature and research on DCM has found there is no definitive, scientific link between DCM and our foods or grain-free diets. Currently, researchers attribute many factors as possible causes for DCM in dogs, including genetics, breeding and lifestyle.
The following article, which appeared in the Journal of Animal Science, provides an overview of the scientific literature on the issue.
Download: Journal-of-Animal-Science-Article-on-DCM.pdf 510kB
Summary: Demonstrating the complexity of evaluating animal nutrition, this paper compares wild and captive gray wolves by completing blood chemistry tests, which can be used as an assessment of health. It found differences in multiple blood chemical values, demonstrating that nutrition, activity level, and environmental stress can cause changes within the same species of animal. These are key factors that should all be considered when assessing animal health.
Download: Comparison-of-Captive-and-Free-Range-Wolves.pdf 510kB
Summary: In a review of twenty-six studies examining fifty diets consumed by wild wolves data shows that the ancestors of today’s domestic dog were adaptive, true carnivores. Wolves have an adaptable metabolism in order to cope with a variable nutrient intake, this is still present in today’s domestic dogs. Nutrition in most commercial pet foods differ in several aspects to the dietary nutrient profile of wild wolves; this may provide physiological and metabolic challenges to domestic dogs.
Download: Dietary-Nutrient-Profiles-of-Wild-Wolves-Insights-for-Optimal-Dog-Nutrition.pdf 494kB
Summary: Nutrition is rarely considered to be a potential contributing factor when it comes to problem behaviours in dogs. This paper reviews studies looking into the effect that dietary protein, lipids and carbohydrates have on dog behaviour. This review concludes that tyrosine, tryptophan, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and dietary fiber could all have impacts on behaviour.
Download: Impact-of-Nutrition-on-Canine-Behaviour-Current-Status-and-Possible-Mechanisms-Bosch-2007.pdf 41kB
Summary: A review of the evidence regarding the safety of dietary protein in dogs. This review concludes that protein does not negatively affect kidney function and that protein restriction in senior animals is unnecessary and can be detrimental to the health of the animal.
Download: Pet-Food-Safety-Dietary-Protein-Laflamme-2008.pdf 188kB
Summary: This study examines macronutrient intake of dogs when they are able to self-select their diet. Fifteen adult dogs were given access to three different diets, which varied in protein, fat and carbohydrate levels. The study found that initially diets with dense fat were prioritised. After 10 days the dogs switched to reducing the fat and increasing protein intake. Dogs did not select carbohydrate to be a significant portion of diet.
Download: Roberts-et-al-2018-J-Anim-Physiol-Anim-Nutr-102-568-575.pdf 388kB
Summary: This paper reviews the role that omega-3 fatty acids play in the dog’s diet. Long-chain omega-3’s like EPA and DHA provide multiple benefits including supporting cardiovascular health, neurologic development, and mitigating the inflammatory response. This review concludes that omega-3 fatty acids are conditionally essential, due to its roles in brain and vision function.
Download: The-Essential-Nature-of-Dietary-Omega-2-Fatty-Acids-in-Dogs-Bauer-2016.pdf 736kB
Summary: This study looked at the dietary nutrient profile of free-roaming feral cats. It found that these cats are obligatory carnivores, and their daily energy intake was met with 52% crude protein, 46% crude fat and only 2% carbohydrates. This study provides valuable insight into the nutritive aspects of a WholePrey diet for cats, and ways to improve commercial cat diets.
Download: Estimation-of-the-Dietary-Nutrient-Profile-of-Free-Roaming-Feral-Cats-Possible-Implications-for-Nutrition-of-Domestic-Cats-2011.pdf 233kB
Summary: This study examines the effects of high protein diets on fat loss in cats. It found that obese cats fed a diet high in protein at 40% had greater fat loss than cats fed a diet with 30% protein. Cats fed a high protein diet were also able to maintain their lean body mass, which has been shown to lessen the risk of weight rebound.
Download: High-Protein-in-Cat-Foods.pdf 133kB
Summary: This study evaluates the effect of dietary protein content on renal (kidney) parameters in cats. It determined cats eating diets high in protein have higher serum urea nitrogen (UN), which is a waste product of protein catabolism, compared to cats fed a low protein diet. It also found lower creatinine levels, these typically increase due to kidney failure but can be affected by several factors.
Download: Protein-and-Renal-Parameters-in-Cats.pdf 372kB