Orijen FreshPrey Dog Food Review (Fresh)

Orijen FreshPrey product range consists of six recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars. 

Nutrient-dense animal ingredients – including meat, organs, and mineral-rich bones – feature in every recipe in this fresh Orijen range, all gently steam-cooked to help preserve both nutrition and flavor.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Orijen Freshprey Chicken and Duck with Grain was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.¹

Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The third ingredient is chicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.

The fourth ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.²

Duck is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The fifth ingredient is chicken bone broth. Although they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, bone broths are a common component in many wet products. However, since broths consist almost entirely of water, the trace nutrients they contain account for only a fraction of the overall finished dog food.

The sixth ingredient is carrot. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The seventh ingredient is kale. Kale is a type of cabbage in which the central leaves do not form a head. This dark green vegetable is especially rich in beta-carotene, vitamins C, vitamin K and calcium. 

And like broccoli, kale contains sulforaphane, a natural chemical believed to possess potent anti-cancer properties.

The eighth ingredient is oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

The ninth ingredient is bell pepper, bell peppers, also called capsicum or sweet peppers, are a carotene-rich member of the nightshade family. It is low in calories, and provides fiber which has many functions, from promoting satiety to aiding blood sugar control. Antioxidants, pigments, and vitamins including vitamins C, A, B6 and E are all supplied from peppers, with different color peppers supplying different pigment compounds.

From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.

This recipe has four notable exceptions.

First, salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

We note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root. 

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

This recipe also contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.

Lastly, dried kelp, a dehydrated form of seaweed also known as alginate. Kelp may be used here as a thickening or gelling agent, but increasingly kelp, specifically the Ascophyllm nodosum variety, is included for its other benefits. 

Kelp is often included because studies have shown plaque reduction and dental health benefits, as well as supporting blood sugar control and other applications.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Orijen Freshprey Chicken and Duck with Grain looks like an above-average fresh product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43.1%, a fat level of 22.4% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17.2%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 45.5% and a mean fat level of 23.4%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 16.5% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 51%.

This means this Orijen FreshPrey product line contains average protein, above-average carbohydrate, below-average fat, when compared to typical fresh dog food.

Orijen Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Orijen through June 2026.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Orijen FreshPrey Dog Food

Orijen FreshPrey is a grain-free and grain-inclusive fresh dog food using a significant amount of named fresh meats and meat organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Highly Recommended

About

Orijen is a premium brand of dog food and cat food introduced in 2005 and manufactured in Alberta, Canada and Kentucky by Champion Petfoods. Orijen uses only fresh or raw meat in its recipes.

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