Hounds Around Town

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Dogs and cats did not evolve to eat grains... so why include grains in pet food?

- Grains first appeared in pet foods about 70 years ago when consumers wanted the convenience of pet food in a bag and manufacturers wanted to reduce costs with inexpensive calories from grains.

- Although grains such as rice or wheat provide low-cost calories, their high carbohydrate content contributes to obesity, diabetes and a host of other health problems in cats and dogs.

- Cats and dogs are simply not evolved to eat processed cereal grains, which is why ORIJEN's grain-free, reduced-carbohydrate diet more closely matches the diet Natural intended for your dog or cat.

- Indeed, veterinarians are increasingly citing grains and carbohydrates as primary causes of health problems common to dogs and cats.

Dogs and cats have a very low biological requirement for carbohydrate, and the diets of wild canines and felines that most closely resemble our domestic pets contain very few carbohydrates.

- Carbohydrate is one of the largest factors in pet health, contributing to a variety of health problems from digestive disorders to variable blood sugar, obesity and diabetes.

- The problem with carbohydrates is that - in the body of a cat or dog - they are recognized as sugars and easily stored as fat.

- And while carbohydrate is neither "natural" or "holistic" for dogs and cats, it is almost always the largest nutrient in "super premium" or "holistic" pet foods. In contrast to conventional pet foods,ORIJEN is Biologically Appropriate - which means no grain, very low carbohydrate (14-18%) and a food that truly promotes wellness and reduces obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.

In place of grains, ORIJEN contains a full compliment of regional fruits and vegetables including sweet and russet potatoes, black currants and sunflower from the prairie farms, apples and cranberries from the interior orchards, and sea vegetables from the pacific tidal range.

- While providing limited carbohydrate, fruits and vegetables supply vitamins, macro and micro minerals and important protector nutrients. Unlike holistic diets featuring a fraction of fruit and vegetables, every ORIJEN formula contains a minimum 25% of these health-promoting foods, including:

PACIFIC ORCHARD APPLES

As Canada’s largest fruit crop, apples are a source of healthy fiber to aid digestion and elimination. Apples are rich in phytonutrients—naturally occurring compounds that act as antioxidants, helping protect cells from free radical damage within the body.

FRASER VALLEY CRANBERRIES

Native to Canada, cranberries have long been valued for the treatment of urinary tract infections and are a rich source of anthocyanins—a natural antioxidant beneficial in fighting aging, heart disease and cancer.

SUN-CURED ALFALFA

The leaves of the alfalfa plant are rich in minerals and nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and carotene as well as vitamins E and K. Alfalfa extract is an excellent source of chlorophyll and carotene.

PRAIRIE POTATOES

Harvested from prairie farms, russet and sweet potatoes are a highly nutritious, nutrient-dense food.

Low-temperature cooked at 90c/ 195F, potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamins B and C and are naturally rich in potassium, copper, magnesium and iron.

ALBERTA SUNFLOWER

Sunflower oil provides supplementary calories for energy and essential fatty acid alpha-linoleic acid (omega-6 essential fatty acids) to nourish a luxurious coat and healthy skin.

WHOLE CARROTS

Whole carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A and rhodopsin in body to improve night vision and combat free radicals that contribute to cancer and heart disease.

VINE-RIPENED TOMATOES

Tomatoes are packed with healthy phytochemicals including beta- carotene and lycopene—the predominant carotenoid in tomatoes and one of nature's most powerful antioxidants.

PACIFIC SEA VEGETABLES

Kelp, Irish Moss and Dulse are exceptional foods that are a valuable source for a variety of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and phytochemicals. Sea vegetables contain iodine and absorb toxins from the bowel, increase and enhance metabolism and restore and nourish the entire body.

Dogs and cats instinctively consume grasses and plants that enhance their life-force.

- When left to their own devices, dogs and cats will select certain plants to help them with their health. ORIJEN is formulated to mirror the natural diet and contains prairie-grown botanicals that play an important role in the natural diet—bridging the gap between good nutrition and peak physical well-being.

- Botanicals serve as tonics and builders that strengthen organs, glands and tissues in specific parts of the body—like strengthening the heart or aiding digestion. They also assist the healing process by helping the body eliminate toxins by stimulating processes like the cleansing of the liver.

PSYLLIUM and CHICORY ROOT are provided in combination to supply soluble fiber, soothe and nourish the digestive tract, and reduce insulin levels.

DANDELION, FENUGREEK and LICORICE ROOT. Chronic kidney and liver damage (cirrarosis) is a common health problem in dogs and cats and these botanicals provide protective antioxidants that defend and strengthen the liver. Fenugreek is diuretic, tonic and a general stimulant to the system but especially to the urinary organs, and is chiefly used in kidney and liver disorders.

Dandelion is used for a wide range of conditions requiring mild diuretic treatment, such as poor digestion and liver disorders.

PEPPERMINT, TURMERIC, FENNEL and CHAMOMILE soothe and tone the digestive tract. Peppermint and turmeric calm the muscles of the stomach, improving the flow of bile which the body uses to digest fats. Fennel has additional influence as an anti-inflammatory and chamomile contains essential oils with strong cutaneous and anti-itch effects.

ALFALFA and SUMMER SAVORY are nutritive herbs that provide extra nutritional punch. An excellent appetite stimulant and overall tonic, these herbs have excellent nutritive properties with minerals, chlorophyll and vitamins.

MARIGOLD FLOWERS are rich in flavonoids—plant-based antioxidants that protect the body against cell-damaging free radicals. Marigold has a hypoglycemic effect by reducing blood sugar variances, helping to slow gastric emptying time and enhancing digestion.

PROBIOTIC BACTERIA

PROBIOTIC BACTERIA are live microorganisms that beneficially affect the balance of intestinal microflora.

- Acidolphilus (lactobacillus acidophilus) and lactobacillus bifidus are probiotic bacteria that aide digestion and help in the absorption of nutrients.
By favorably altering the intestinal microflora balance, probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria (like E. coli and salmonella)—creating a healthy intestinal tract for the manufacture of vitamin B complex and vitamin K, which is helpful in blood clotting.

- When certain factors reduce the friendly bacteria (antibiotics, stress, diarrhea) probiotics help keep the friendly bacteria in balance by replenishing those lost through antibiotic use. They also help maintain a healthier digestive tract, resulting in firmer stool.

- Used therapeutically to modulate immunity and improve digestive processes, probiotics replenish the friendly flora and fauna in the digestive tract needed for proper digestion and discourage yeast overgrowth in the ears and skin.

Hounds Around Town carries every ORIJEN formula, including:

Adult * Six Fresh Fish * Senior * Puppy * Large Breed Puppy