Science Diet Md Dry Food
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Are you getting ready to bring home a new puppy and want to get them started on the right foot? Or, maybe your beloved pooch isn't as excited for dinner time as they used to be. Whatever the case, if you're looking for new dog food, Science Diet and Orijen are two brands you're going to encounter.
Both brands produce a full line of nutritious and tasty foods that dogs of all shapes and sizes love. But, which one is the right choice for your adorable pup? We took a deep dive into both brands, including their product lines, recall history, ingredient list, and much more.
Read on as we cover everything you need to know about these two brands in our battle of Science Diet vs. Orijen.
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Contents
- 1 Brand Histories
- 2 Recalls
- 3 Food Ingredients
- 4 Range Of Formulas
- 4.1 Science Diet
- 4.2 Orijen
- 5 Puppy Formulas
- 5.1 Science Diet
- 5.2 Orijen
- 5.3 Winner
- 6 Adult Formulas
- 6.1 Science Diet
- 6.2 Orijen
- 6.3 Winner
- 7 Senior Formulas
- 7.1 Science Diet
- 7.2 Orijen
- 7.3 Winner
- 8 Wet Food
- 8.1 Science Diet
- 8.2 Orijen
- 8.3 Winner
- 9 Final Thoughts
Brand Histories
So, where do Science Diet and Orijen stand? Do these companies have the same vision for your pet that you do?
Science Diet
Science Diet is a brand marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive company. This brand was created by a sort of "happy accident". In the 1930s, a heartbroken dog owner turned to his vet, Dr. Mark Morris, Sr., searching for a dietary way to treat his dog's kidney failure. Dr. Morris successfully created a dietary plan that helped alleviate the dog's condition. With his son's help, the vet team of Morris Senior and Junior went to market with various dog food recipes designed to support specific health conditions. They created two product lines under the Prescription Diet and Science Diet brand names.
Today, Science Diet is one of the most popular dog foods globally and one of the most respected. You can find a full selection of Hill's products in virtually every pet store and veterinary office in the country.
Science Diet is a leader in dog food nutrition. We've analyzed them against several other brands in the following head-to-head comparisons:
- Science Diet vs. Blue Buffalo
- Science Diet vs. Nutro
- Science Diet vs. Royal Canin
Orijen
Orijen has taken the torch from companies like Science Diet in recent times, and for the last three decades, they've been producing incredibly nutritious dog and cat foods. Champion Pet Foods manufactures Orijen, and they maintain two production facilities, one in the United States and one in Canada.
Orijen operates by three guiding principles:
- Biologically appropriate – Orijen's foods are in line with a dog's natural carnivorous diet.
- Regionally sourced ingredients.
- They maintain all production in-house.
Orijen's commitment to quality products and regionally sourced ingredients has quickly made them a favorite among discerning dog owners who demand the best for their pets.
Recalls
Recalls are relatively common in the dog food industry, and they occur when a product doesn't meet the company's standards or when the FDA steps in and issues a recall of the product. How a company deals with a recall can tell you a lot about how they do business.
Science Diet
Science Diet has one of the most sterling reputations in the industry concerning recalls. While the brand has been on the market for well over 50 years, they've only had three dog food recalls to speak of.
- June 2014 – Voluntary recall of 62 bags of Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food for potential salmonella contamination. The recall was limited to California, Hawaii, and Nevada, and no consumer issues were ever reported.
- November 2015 – Science Diet initiated a market withdrawal of several soft food flavors due to labeling issues. No consumer issues were ever reported.
- January 2019 – Science Diet recalled batches of soft food for elevated levels of vitamin D.
Orijen
While Science Diet has an impressive recall reputation, Orijen blows them out of the water in that regard. Orijen's foods have never been recalled either voluntarily or by the FDA.
It's worth noting that while they've never recalled these products, Orijen is currently involved in a class-action lawsuit, which alleges that Orijen's foods contain heavy metals and BPA. The company did not disclose that to customers.
Lab tests for heavy metals and BPA in Orijen foods fall well within the established legal averages. It remains ongoing and depends on how the plaintiffs argue their case. It's worth noting that even though it appears Orijen has done nothing wrong, the elevated levels of BPA in some of their kibble foods are concerning.
Food Ingredients
Both Science Diet and Orijen are committed to producing quality foods to keep your dogs healthy and happy. They do practice different philosophies regarding the ideal canine diet, so their ingredients diverge quite a bit.
Science Diet
The brand has always positioned itself as a company that produces an optimal diet steeped in science. Science Diet claims they follow science to build their recipes, which doesn't always mean using all-natural ingredients and flavors. Hill's Science regularly uses artificial ingredients, flavors, and preservatives in its food.
Real meat is almost always the first ingredient, but there are a few varieties where it isn't. Science Diet also includes meat by-products in their recipes, frowned upon by many experts and pet owners. By-products can consist of things like organs, blood, beaks, and bones. Obviously, not stuff you'd want your pet to be eating.
Science Diet is a grain-inclusive line, and they only have a single product line that's grain-free. This line is for adult dogs with sensitive stomachs or skin issues. Otherwise, all other Science Diet foods include grain, corn, wheat, and soy. A grain-inclusive diet isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn't agree with every dog.
The brand attests that all their dog food is made in the United States using globally-sourced ingredients you can trust. But, it's unclear what they're sourcing globally and what ingredients are from the U.S.
Orijen
Orijen is in a class of their own when it comes to ingredients, thanks to the fact that everything they use is sourced regionally and manufactured in an exclusive Orijen facility.
Their dog diet philosophy is unique compared to other manufacturers. Not only do they offer grain-free foods, but they also omit ingredients like corn and wheat. Their biologically appropriate philosophy also means that their foods contain much more meat than the average brand.
Orijen's ratio is 85% animal protein for dry foods, with the remaining 15% coming from fruits, vegetables, and botanicals. Their recently-introduced freeze-dried foods are even more protein-rich, with 90% of the ingredients derived from animal proteins and 10% from fruits, vegetables, and botanicals.
Further, two-thirds of all the animal protein is either raw or fresh, which means your pet should enjoy more nutrients and a better-tasting meal than you'll be able to find from other manufacturers.
Orijen's products are grain-free and exceptionally rich in protein, so it seems to defy the convention that the food holds its shape at all. Thanks to the magic of legumes, Orijen's kibbles contain together just fine, and the legumes provide a healthy dose of fiber.
Range Of Formulas
Here's how Science Diet and Orijen's different formulas stack up against each other.
Science Diet
Science Diet offers:
- 6 puppy kibbles for the growing puppies
- 2 diet options for large breed dogs
- 1 dog food option for small breed puppies
- 1 diet option for the toy breed pups.
The two recipes for large breed puppies include lamb or chicken, with the lamb recipe being free of any wheat and corn.
Orijen
Orijen maintains a smaller product line than most brands. Since their recipes rely so heavily on fresh and regionally-sourced ingredients, producing 40+ formulas isn't realistic. Instead, Orijen focuses on a curated line of 9 different dry food formulas and three different freeze-dried formulas.
Each of Orijen's formulas features similar ingredients, with minor changes made for each recipe. If your dog prefers a lot of variety, they might not like Orijen since so many of their formulas offer a similar taste.
Puppy Formulas
Nutrition is critical for your little guy to grow up strong and healthy, so you must be feeding your puppy the best foods possible as they develop.
Orijen Grain-Free Puppy Food
- Blend of free-range chicken and turkey.
- Includes cage-free eggs and wild fish.
- Grain-free recipe.
- Contains vegetables, like zucchini and squash.
- No fillers, artificial colors or flavors.
- 449 Calories per cup.
- 38% Protein, 20% Fat, 6% Fiber.
View at Chewy.com
Science Diet
Science Diet offers a substantial product range for puppies. There are six different kibble formulas, and each one addresses a different breed size. You'll find an option for toy breeds, one for small dogs, two for larger pups, a standard recipe, and one for sensitive canines with dietary restrictions.
Their sensitive diet formula omits wheat, corn, and soy from the ingredients, but it still contains grain. If your dog has a grain sensitivity, Science Diet may not be a strong fit for you.
Orijen
Orijen offers two different formulas that cater to the needs of growing dogs. The brand makes one formulation for puppies and another for large breed puppies. Both recipes are rich in protein without any grains, corn, wheat, or soy.
Winner
The puppy category is tough since each brand has strong and weak points within the class.
Science Diet scores points for their variety of formulations for different breed types. Few brands offer different formulas to cater to puppies of all sizes. While Orijen does provide a regular and large breed formula, Science Diet blows them out of the water with six different recipes.
Orijen has a definitive edge in ingredients, as no manufacturer offers a more nutritious formula.
We believe the content of a dog's food is more important than your puppy's size, and for this reason, we give Orijen the slightest of edges in the puppy category.
Adult Formulas
After their first year, your puppy is ready to graduate to adult dog food. These foods are designed for dogs ages 1-7, and aim to provide a balanced diet.
Orijen Original Grain-Free Adult Dog Food
- First four ingredients are real meat.
- Fresh chicken & turkey.
- Contains whole fruits and vegetables.
- Includes natural herbs and roots for antioxidants.
- Grain-free recipe.
- 449 Calories per cup.
- 38% Protein, 18% Fat, 4% Fiber.
View at Chewy.com
Science Diet
Science Diet provides an impressive array of 28 different kibble formulas for adult dogs. They offer recipes specific to different breed sizes, and there's also a sensitive diet formula for each breed size that omits corn, wheat, and soy. However, they don't have any grain-free options. The primary protein sources for all their grown dog formulas are lamb and chicken.
Several formulas target different health and hygiene concerns, such as joint support, oral health support, and weight management.
Orijen
Orijen maintains a smaller selection of six different adult breed formulas. Orijen offers their original recipe, one for small breeds, and a weight management option. They also offer three different selections that derive their protein from other sources. One recipe is exclusively red meat, another is all fish, and a third prioritizes wild proteins like boar, goat, and venison.
Winner
While Science Diet produces more than quadruple the number of adult dog formulas, Orijen manages to hold their own with their product selection and vastly outperforms Hill's Science in other areas.
Despite all of Science Diet's different formulas, they all derive their protein from the same two primary sources. Orijen offers a much more holistic approach, and each recipe has six animal protein sources. With four different flavors, you'll be able to provide your dog with an excellent variety of tastes, too.
Orijen gets the nod in the adult dog food category, as well.
Senior Formulas
As dogs age, their health and nutrition requirements change. To provide your dog with the best life possible, you'll need to adapt their diet to their changing needs with senior dog food. Which brand triumphs in the battle of Science Diet vs. Orijen? Read on to find out!
Hill's Science Diet 7+ Senior Formula
- Made from high-quality, natural ingredients.
- Antioxidant-rich.
- Veterinarian-endorsed brand.
- Made in the United States.
- 353 Calories per cup.
- 15.5% Protein, 10.5% Fat, 4% Fiber.
View at Chewy.com
Science Diet
Science Diet offers a substantial selection of ten dry formulations for senior dogs, including several for small and large breeds. Several different formulas address different dietary needs, and there's also Science Diet's only grain-free formula in the senior line.
This is the category where Science Diet shines, and it represents their most diverse line, including their only grain-free offering. The only knock against their older dog offerings is that they don't publish glucosamine and chondroitin information for most of their products. These ingredients are essential for dogs with aging joints, especially if they're a large breed.
Orijen
Orijen offers a single formula of dry food for senior dogs, so there's not much in the way of choice. However, it's a holistic formula packed with the key ingredients that aging dogs need to thrive, including plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin.
Winner
While Orijen's one senior offering is an excellent choice for complete nutrition, it can't compete with Science Diet in this category. Science Diet's broad selection of recipes addresses the most common health and wellness issues among older dogs, and it's the one category where they offer a grain-free recipe. Science Diet is the clear winner for senior dogs.
Wet Food
Wet food is a great way to supplement your dog's meal for some extra flavor and texture, and it's a necessity for dogs with poor teeth. But you might be surprised to find there is a soft, healthier alternative to wet food that we like from Orijen. Let's take a look.
Orijen Freeze-Dried (wet food alternative)
- Add water to make a soft, wet-food like option.
- 100% raw ingredients frozen at peak freshness.
- Dried in small batches to preserve nutrients and flavor.
- Use as a meal or enhance your dog's kibble as a topper.
- Made in the USA.
- Mirrors the diet your dog would eat in the wild.
View at Chewy.com
Science Diet
Science Diet manufactures nine different wet foods, including several life-stage options and a few that address specific health and dietary needs. Several different flavors exist, but most come in only one flavor.
Orijen
Orijen takes a decidedly different approach when it comes to wet food. Instead of the traditional canned variety, they offer freeze-dried foods that you must mix with water before serving. While the process may be different, the results are essentially the same.
In this formulation, Orijen offers their original, Regional Red and Tundra freeze-dried recipes. In this case, it's more a question of flavor since all three varieties are very similar nutrition-wise. Orijen doesn't have any traditional wet foods that address different life stages or health concerns but we think this is a great alternative.
Winner
It depends.
While Orijen's offerings are superior to Science Diet's from an ingredient perspective, they don't offer enough options to be the category winner. And, let's be honest, if you are a faithful wet food dog feeder, Orijen's freeze-dried foods may not fit the bill.
Science Diet's foods aren't quite as nutritious as Orijen's, but they offer a broader selection of traditional wet food, especially for dogs with dietary requirements.
If your dog eats a regular diet with no restrictions, Orijen's freeze-dried line offers an innovative wet food choice. But, for puppies, seniors, or any dog with dietary concerns, Science Diet is the winner in the wet food category.
Final Thoughts
Science Diet and Orijen are two of the most popular and trusted dog food manufacturers, whom discerning pet parents have turned to these brands for decades. Each brand is a solid choice, but depending on your dog's individual needs and life stage, you may find that one brand better suits your canine companion.
Orijen has a clear advantage in their puppy and adult dog offerings, while Hill's Science has an edge in their senior and wet food selections. While it's difficult to pick an overall winner in Science Diet vs. Orijen, we believe Orijen has the slight edge in most cases.
While Science Diet may be better suited for those dealing with a health condition, most dogs benefit from Orijen's holistic diet. It's the pricier option, but Orijen uses superior ingredients from trusted sources, which justifies the higher price.
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