Both my dogs have reasons to be on a fish based grain free formula dog food.

I have been feeding Orijen 6 Fish for some time. Buddy's hair is longer and wavy for the first time since I have known him (5 years) and Skye likes it and has medical reasons to be on a novel (for her) protein. She has done quite well on it.

But....life is getting more expensive, gas, insurance, etc.

I worry about changing dog foods, but the cost difference is significant.

Orijen is $73 a bag. Acana Pacifica would be $52.

I can't find a chart to compare them side by side, but I know this: Acana Pacifica has a 33% protein and 18% and does have russet potatoes and I can't find the max carbs..

http://www.naturalk9supplies.com/Dog-Food/acana-pacifica.aspx

Orijen 6 Fish has 38% protein and 18% fat, carbs 25% max and has sweet potatoes instead of whote potatoes.

http://orijen.ca/products/six_fish_dog/analysis

Anyone using Arcana? If close, I will save the $20 but if I can't tell for sure, I will keep them on Orijen and eat off the $1 menu myself.

Bonnie - could you mix them? I know some say not to but they are pretty close. Or alternate. I have done both of those things. I like the Acana. Pinnacle is making a grain free salmon - not sure if it's only fish in it, but mine did well on that. http://www.pinnaclepet.com/Canine/dog_food_salmon.htm I wish there weren't so many taters in these grain frees and I am always trying to figure out (with no progress) if alternating between grain free and grain foods might be okay.

My food guy gave me two of the Acana beef samples and I use that as treats. No reason to say that except I think it smells good.

Keefer is doing really well on the Orijen 6 Fish too, but it is VERY expensive! I just switched Halo to the Earthborn Holistics Primitive Natural from Orijen Adult, so I'm going to try him on their Coastal Catch fish based food. It has potatoes AND sweet potatoes, not sure if that's a deal breaker for you or not: http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/us/dog_formulas/coastal_catch/

It's only $39.99 for a 28 pound bag at doggiefood.com, WAY less than Orijen. If he doesn't do as well on it I'll just switch him back, but Halo doesn't have any dietary restrictions and can eat anything, so I'll probably keep her on it. They have $4.95 flat rate shipping, and free shipping if you spend over $100. For a bag each of the Orijen foods I was spending over $150 including tax, and that lasts a little over a month. I ordered 2 bags of Earthborn Holistics and to get over $100 for the free shipping I got a bag of salmon treats and one of dried tripe.

I think I want to stay with the Orijen 'family' and Acana is part of the same company.

I just spoke with the store owner where I buy their food and I think I will eventually switch to Acana Pacifica and see how it does.

I just bought two bags of the Orijen. I thought I had a bag back but I didn't. These two should get my free bag I have coming. Then I will give Acana a try.

It is difficult to know for sure how much of the great results is Orijen and how much the Springtime Longevity and Omega 3-6-9 makes a difference. I just know together my dog's coats are way better.

The Earthborn Holistics sound good, though.

I'm reading this with interest.

Every time I switch from Orijen Six Fresh Fish, my dogs get itchy. It's crazy expensive for me - no one sells it locally.

I didn't like the Acana Pacifica as well, but would try it again at these rates!

Sofie doesn't do well with chicken anything...

Keep the ideas and opinions coming.

Glad it helps you too, Anne. It took a long time to get the right combination. Kind of scary to think about a change, but with my store local it isn't like I can't change back quickly.

I just don't want either dog to back track.

I hope others chime in with their experiences with either food.

Oh yeah, I also use the 3-6-9 but use the joint and fresh factors, not longevity. I'm going to check out the Earthborn too.

I am waiting for the right weather for the crumbly Nature's Logic poop! It does not work in the snow and if it's too hot, I like to pick up quick, so maybe fall for that! HA! But I do like that food for them.

I thought about switching to Acana, but the prices locally are only a few bucks cheaper than Orijen.

I'm using my last purchased bag of 6 Fish now. Since my earlier post Orijen 6 Fish has gone up to $74.99 a bag and Acana Pacifica $59.99. Still - that's $15 a bag less for very similar ingredients.

I will get my free bag of 6 Fish and then go to Acana. At the rate I use a bag we are still at least 6 weeks away from the change.

Last night's supper:

Buddy and Skye: 3/4 cup (Buddy) and 1 cup (Skye) Orijen 6, 2 TB organic yogurt, a sprinkling of fresh blueberries, 1 scoop longevity, 2 omega 3-6-9 capsules, 1 transfer factor capsule and a drizzle of local raw honey.

Bonnie: 1 fresh ear corn on the cob, 1 fresh tomato, cubed with a little salt.

Hm..........guess you can tell where most grocery money goes.

OK - back to Orijen 6 Fish.

Buddy has been itching for 3 months. No sores or excessive scratching, but never completely itch free. I tried additional fish oils and I rarely ever give my dogs commercial treats (another thing that sometimes sets him off.) I know fall is worst time, but he usually comes out of it after a few weeks. When he is doing animal therapy and people hit his trigger spots he flinches and tries to scratch himself and that is not good.

Skye initially didn't seem to have any negative results of the Acana Pacifica, but now her coat just is not good. I know it is partly due to our mild winter and her constant shedding in clumps, but I believe it is also the food.

The only thing that stands out to me is that Acana has white potatoes and 6 Fish has sweet potatoes. ?? There could be some other ingredient difference I am not seeing, but that is the main one.

By the time I used my last purchased bag and the free bag of Orijen it was October when I started Acana. So- interesting, we are in our 4th month of the change and Buddy is in at least his 3rd month of itchies.

So this week I bought Orijen 6 Fish again and it will be interesting to see if/when Buddy feels better.

I still have to pinch $$ - don't tell SamCat. He did not get Orijen this month. He has a much less expensive, but still good food - Earthborn - to try. He eats most anything and that change will save me about $15.00 a month.

http://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/us/cat_formulas/primitive_feline/ingredients.php

And - I am rarely eating out anymore so that helps too.

Bonnie,

I took a look at the Orijen and Acana formulas and there are more differences in the formulas than you might think.

INGREDIENTS

Fresh boneless salmon*, salmon meal, herring meal, fresh boneless herring*, fresh boneless walleye*, russet potato, sweet potato, peas, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), fresh boneless lake whitefish*, sun-cured alfalfa, fresh boneless flounder*, fresh boneless northern pike*, pea fiber, organic kelp, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, apples, cranberries, blueberries, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium

Acana
INGREDIENTS
Boneless salmon (natural source of EPA, DHA), salmon meal, herring meal, russet potato, peas, whitefish meal, sweet potatoes, salmon oil (preserved with vitamin E), sun-cured alfalfa, boneless herring, boneless flounder, natural fish flavors, pumpkin, turnip greens, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, apples, organic kelp, cranberries, blueberries, juniper berries, black currants, chicory root, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile flowers, lavender flowers, summer savory, rosemary, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, zinc proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, iron proteinate, vitamin B6, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, selenium, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product

The most notable thing - the first 5 ingredients in the Orijen are fish or fish meal. Only the first 3 out of 5 in the Acana are fish, then you get the potatoes and peas. That means that there is more fish in the Orijen than in the Acana and more potato and peas in the Acana formula. Also, note that the alfafa is listed before the boneless herring in the Acana, which would mean more alfafa in the Acana. It's easier to see some of the differences if you put the ingredient lists in a table.

I also wonder about the "natural fish flavors" in the Acana - it's not a named fish so exactly what is the source?

Hope Buddy does better with the switch back to the Orijen.

Thank you! That makes it so much easier to see. I appreciaet it.

Looks like several reasons why some of us see such good with 6 Fish and not so much with Pacifica,

I am on a 'buy 12 get 1 free' plan and have 4 Pacifica bar codes. I can still use it for the 6 Fish but they will take off the price of the lower one after I get 12. that's fair. At least I don't have to start all over.


Buddy also hopes this helps, poor boy.

OK - Buddy is all but itch free. We will be staying with 6 Fish as long as it works this well for Buddy.

It is so nice to be able to ruffle his fur and have it feel nice AND to not have him wriggle all over from the itchie-twitchies.

Skye is almost finished blowing her coat (again) and I think her she is shinier and softer as well.

Sticking with 6 Fish, expense and all.

Glad to hear Buddy is feeling better.