Category: News & Press

To look at Jem today, with her bright eyes and bouncy personality, you would never know what she went through as a young puppy. Little Jem was born into a life where her only job was to produce more puppies to sell, as quickly and as cheaply as possible. She was destined to become a breeding bitch as soon as she reached her first season at around five months old. Luckily for Jem, she was surrendered to, Friends Of Animals Wales (registered charity 1182414), by an illegal, unlicensed breeder.

The dog with the broken heart

When she arrived at her new foster home, Jem was in an emaciated state. Her coat was in poor condition and she was nothing more than skin and bone, with her spine clearly visible. It was discovered Jem had a heart condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) with a grade four heart murmur, which was life-threatening.

Because Jem weighed just 1.4kg, the vet advised she needed to gain 2.5kg before she could undergo the medical procedure she desperately needed. Sharon, Jem’s foster carer, knew that she would need to provide a nutritious diet to help Jem gain strength and to reach a healthy weight.

 What to feed this rescue puppy?

When Bern Pet Foods heard about Jem’s case they were keen to help. Coming from a low-quality diet, the nutritionists at Bern Pet Foods advised the importance of slowly transitioning Jem to her new food. Initially she started with ACANA Puppy & Junior, containing 70% quality animal ingredients along with fruits, vegetables and botanicals. Jem later transitioned to ORIJEN Puppy, a recipe which contains 85% animal ingredients, rich in fresh meat in WholePrey ratios of meat, organs, cartilage and bone.

While being nursed back to health, Jem was doing a little rescuing of her own.  Already fostered by Sharon was another little dog, Poe, who had also been surrendered by a breeder.  Poe was an older puppy, unsold due to his absolute terror of humans after suffering  abuse. Jem being a lively youngster didn’t understand why Poe was being so shy. She invited him to play often and, to Sharon’s delight, her persistence paid off and Poe eventually reciprocated in play. Poe is learning from Jem to trust again.

What does the future hold for Jem?

By the time she was four and half months old Jem reached her target weight. In this short time her condition had advanced from grade four to a grade six heart murmur. Luckily, Jem was able to have her life-saving surgery. At nine months old Jem will have a follow-up scan at her vets and the hope is that she will be able to live a full and happy life without the need for any further treatment.

When ORIJEN Small Breed was first launched to the UK market, Jem was first in line to be a taste tester and gave it her full approval!

Jem is one of the lucky ones, a true success story in finding her forever home with three doggy friends and Sharon, who couldn’t bear to part with her.

Delivering big taste in small bites!

 ORIJEN launches Small Breed, a dog food designed especially for smaller breeds that is loaded with 85% quality animal ingredients in a small, freeze-dried infused, tasty kibble.

Formulated to entirely nourish small dogs, ORIJEN Small Breed:

• Meets high-energy needs: protein-rich to support higher energy needs and nutritionally balanced to help maintain a healthy weight.
• Provides total system support: specially formulated to support your dog’s immune system and joint mobility for active living and healthy ageing
• Promotes healthy skin and coat: nutrient-rich with properly balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat.

ORIJEN Small Breed is loaded with 85% quality animal ingredients: free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish and quail, in WholePrey ratios. The top 10 ingredients on the bag are fresh or raw, comprising 2/3 of the animal ingredients.

Colin Rodger, Managing Director of Bern Pets Foods, the exclusive importers and distributors of ORIJEN into UK and Ireland, says: “ORIJEN Small Breed contains all the quality you would expect from ORIJEN, formulated to nourish small breeds completely. The freeze-dried infused kibble is smaller, making it easy to eat for little mouths, with a taste that dogs love”

ORIJEN Small Breed is suitable for all life stages and available in two sizes: 1.8kg and 4.5kg.

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In her infinite wisdom, Mother Nature matched the nutrients in whole fish, fowl and game to perfectly meet the dietary needs of dogs and cats.

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is the ancestor and closest relative of all domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiarius), sharing 97% of their DNA, while the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) is the closest relative of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus).

Despite years of breeding, the internal workings and anatomical capabilities of domestic dogs and cats remain the same as their wild cousins, so it’s no surprise their food requirements remain the same too.

In nature there are no synthetic food supplements, with wolves and wildcats deriving their nutritional needs by consuming prey animals. By eating the ‘whole of the prey’ they are getting protein from the muscle meat, vitamin and minerals from the, liver, kidney and tripe whilst the cartilage and bone deliver calcium and phosphorus.

Our WholePrey foods mirror this natural diet. Our recipes incorporate meat, organs and cartilage or bone in ratios that deliver nutrients naturally and completely, without the need for long lists of synthetic ingredients.

SUPERFOOD FOR DOGS & CATS

Meat (70%) | amino and fatty acids

Meat provides protein, fat, vitamins A, B, D, and K, copper, chromium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium and zinc – all in highly bio-available forms.

Organs (20%) | almost every nutrient

Liver, kidney, tripe, and heart provide a richly concentrated and highly bio-available source of virtually everything dogs and cats need to thrive – including essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and amino acids.

Bones & cartilage (10%) | minerals

Cartilage and bone provide a rich source of minerals including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium – all in natural and easily absorbed forms.

Find out more about Biologically Appropriate foods

Win a selection of ORIJEN Freeze Dried Treats – 3 prizes to give away!

GENTLY FREEZE-DRIED, THESE DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS TREATS ARE BURSTING WITH A NATURAL TASTE AND SAVOURY AROMA YOUR DOG WILL LOVE.

100% meat, 100% natural. Our meats are delivered daily FRESH (refrigerated, without preservatives) or RAW (flash-frozen, without preservatives), then gently freeze-dried.< Nutrient-dense WholePrey ratios of fresh meats, organs and cartilage provide a natural source of virtually every nutrient your dog needs to thrive. Gently freeze-dried in our own kitchens without cooking or preservatives, to lock in natural, delicious goodness for a pure and tasty treat. Visit our Instagram page to enter this competition;

*Follow us on Instagram

*Tell us your ideal destination for a dog friendly holiday

*Tag a friend in the post

Entries from the UK only please. Each prize consists of a selection of 5 bags of treats. 3 prizes to give away. Delivery of prize must be to a UK address. Competition closes midnight Sunday 9th August. Winners will be announced on OrijenPetFoods.co.uk and ORIJEN UK & Ireland Instagram account within 7 days of the close of the competition.

Obesity at any age can cause serious health issues. While all of our foods have feeding guidelines printed on the package, every cat is different and these guides really are just a starting point. Keep a close eye on your cat’s body condition. If he or she looks too thin, feed a little more. If he looks like he is carrying too much weight, scale back a little at a time.

These tools from the PFMA can help to assess your pet’s body condition:

Cat Body Score Chart

Dog Body Score Chart

To promote peak body conditioning, overweight cats need a protein-rich diet with moderate fat and limited carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are empty calories, which means they have no essential function in the body and provide only sugar for energy, which converts quickly to glucose in the blood. If carbohydrates are provided in excess (as they often are), they convert easily into body fat.

Protein supplies the same amount of energy as carbohydrates but has a very different effect on the body. Unlike carbohydrate, protein is essential for life, and is a Biologically Appropriate source of energy.

By providing more calories from protein and fat (and fewer from carbohydrates), ORIJEN Fit & Trim distributes calories to mirror the natural diet, reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes.

With 44% richly nourishing protein, 15% low-glycemic carbohydrates, and a unique blend of fibres to nourish overweight cats according to their evolutionary and biological needs.

Unmatched by any other food, 2/3 of the meats are fresh (refrigerated, without preservatives) or raw (flash-frozen, without preservatives), including the top 10 meat ingredients.

1/3 of the meats are prepared at 90°c from fresh chicken, turkey and fish to create a concentrated source of richly nourishing protein that cannot be supplied by fresh meats alone.

Nutrient-dense wholeprey™ ratios of fresh meats, organs, and cartilage plus fresh whole fish and fresh whole eggs provide a natural source of virtually every nutrient your cat needs.

Infusions of gently freeze-dried liver enhance flavour and palatability naturally, making ORIJEN deliciously tasty, even for selective eaters.

It is important to remember that your cat or kitten is unique and her feeding requirements will vary with her environment, age, and activity. That’s why we suggest starting with amounts given in the guides which can be found on our website or on the packaging, and then monitoring her weight and adjusting portions as needed. Feed twice daily and remember to always keep fresh, clean water available.

Hungry all the time? While your cat may act hungry, their body condition is the best gauge of how much to feed. If you’re having problems, just call us on 01737 767679, email sales@bernpetfoods.co.uk. or join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Find out more about Fit & Trim Cat Food

Visit our library to find out more about high protein diets and weight loss for cats

ORIJEN and brand ambassador Elsa have teamed up with Stay in a Pub to offer an exclusive prize to visitors to Crufts. To enter simply visit Hall 3, Stand 52. Stay in a Pub is a collection of 1700 + boutique pubs, traditional coaching inns and affordable pub accommodation across the UK. Book your stay online and enjoy delicious locally sourced food, cracking beers, open fires, warm local hospitality and of course a comfortable bed for the night. Many of the venues in the Stay in a Pub network are dog-friendly.

Visit the website to find out more: stayinapub.co.uk/

Eileen Jones, Founder & Rescue Coordinator of Friends of Animals Wales, will also be on the stand each day. Eileen has dedicated much of her life to rescuing animals who desperately need a second chance in life. Friends of Animals Wales is run solely by volunteers and they work around the clock to make a difference to the animals who may not have had a good start in life.

Thursday 5th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 3pm: ORIJEN brand ambassadors Elsa & Buffy travel the length and breadth of Great Britain visiting dog-friendly places and sharing ORIJEN treats along the way. Come and meet these wonderful Lhasa Apsos and their owner Kelly to find out how to keep your dog nourished on journeys and holidays.

Friday 6th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 3pm: Laura Hill, of Stauntonvale Labradors, will be on stand with Field Trial Champion Moose. Laura has qualified for the IGL Retriever Championships more than ten times since 2009, with six different dogs. In 2019, the Kennel Club awarded Laura the Hanlye Trophy for breeding the highest scoring Retriever in Field Trials and also the Gavosie Trophy for the top female handler 2018/19 across all Gundog sub-groups.

3pm – 4pm: Springer Spaniel Max, along with partners in crime Paddy and Harry, plus owner Kerry will be joining us on the stand to kick-off the launch of Kerry’s first book ‘Max the Miracle Dog: The Heart-warming Tale of a Life-saving Friendship’. With over 100,000 followers on Facebook, these boys have fans all over the world!

Saturday 7th March

10am – 11am: Get your own ‘pawtographed’ copy of ‘Max the Miracle Dog; The Heart-warming Tale of a Life-saving Friendship’.
In 2006, Kerry Irving’s life changed forever when a traumatic car accident left him with serious neck and back injuries. After his accident, Kerry developed severe depression, suffering from panic attacks and even thoughts of suicide until he met Max the Springer Spaniel. Max, along with fellow spaniels Paddy and Harry, have now gained over 100,000 followers on Facebook, a commendation from the PDSA, raised over £127,000 for various charities and, in 2019, Max received an invitation to Buckingham Palace.

2pm – 3pm: Max, Paddy, Harry and owner Kerry will be back on the stand to catch up with their fans

Sunday 10th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 3pm: Meet Cara, a Belgian Mallinois who is part of the UK International Search & Rescue Team. She’ll be on the stand along with her handler Mick, from The West Midland Fire Service, to showcase just what it takes to help in the rescue of people involved in major natural and man-made emergencies.

We are very excited to once again be sponsoring the world’s most famous dog show. If you are attending, please do come and find us in Hall 3, Stand 52. We will be running some great competitions to win a stay in the Lake District AND vouchers for a dog-friendly break away with ‘Stay in a Pub’ . We also have some exciting guests for you to meet on the stand – please see the full line-up below.

Eileen Jones, Founder & Rescue Coordinator of Friends of Animals Wales, will also be on the stand each day. Eileen has dedicated much of her life to rescuing animals who desperately need a second chance in life. Friends of Animals Wales is run solely by volunteers and they work around the clock to make a difference to the animals who may not have had a good start in life.

ORIJEN at Crufts 2019: Star-studded programme of canine ambassadors and owners announced

Facebook superstars Max and Paddy join a number of award-winning working and family dogs in Hall 3, stand 52

Bern Pet Foods, the exclusive importers and distributors of ORIJEN and ACANA pet foods, today announces an illustrious line-up of canine guests on its stand at Crufts 2019:

Thursday 7^th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm: Laura Hill, of Stauntonvale Gundogs, will be on stand with her Labrador Kitty to demonstrate why they were selected to compete in the England Gun Dog Team last summer. Laura Hill has been competing in and winning field trials since 2005.

Friday 8^th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm: Meet Cara, the first-ever Belgium Malinois to qualify as an Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) canine in the UK. She’ll be on the stand along with her handler Mick, from The West Midland Fire Service, to showcase just what it takes to help in the rescue of people involved in major natural and man-made emergencies.

10am onwards: Both Eileen Jones, of Friends of Animals Wales, and CARIAD’s (Care And Respect Includes All Dogs) Linda Goodman will be on the stand to talk about their experience in animal rescue and welfare as well as their involvement in campaigning to end puppy farming and puppy dealing in the UK. Linda can also talk about Foster First, an initiative recently launched by CARIAD to connect dogs in rescue centres with pet lovers who may consider fostering.

Saturday 9th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm: Springer Spaniels Max and Paddy, who recently featured on ITV’s Top One Hundred Dogs and regularly keep their 74,000 Facebook fans entertained, are back this year.  Come and find out how owner Kerry keeps this lively pair in the best possible condition to explore their beloved Lake District each day.

Sunday 10th March

10am – 12pm, 2pm – 4pm: Elsa, who was crowned ORIJEN brand ambassador at Crufts last year, travels the length and breadth of Great Britain visiting dog-friendly places and sharing ORIJEN treats along the way. Come and meet this wonderful Lhasa Apso and her owner Kelly to find out how to keep your dog nourished on journeys and holidays.

All of ORIJEN and ACANA’s ambassadors and guests will be available for media interviews or to have photographs taken with visitors on the stand.

Protein-rich and carbohydrate-limited, ORIJEN features the highest fresh meat inclusions of any dry dog or cat food. Distributed by Bern Pet Foods in the UK and Ireland, ORIJEN and ACANA pet foods are prepared by Champion Pet Foods in its award-winning NorthStar® kitchens, produced to Biologically Appropriate™ and Fresh Regional Ingredients standards.

For more information, further images or to arrange an interview with any of the guests or an ORIJEN / ACANA spokesperson, please contact: marketing@bernpetfoods.co.uk

Stay in a Pub is a collection 1700 + boutique pubs, traditional coaching inns and affordable pub accommodation across the UK. Book your stay online and enjoy delicious locally sourced food, cracking beers, open fires, warm local hospitality and of course a comfortable bed for the night. Many of the venues in the Stay in a Pub network are now dog friendly.

Visit the website to find out more: https://www.stayinapub.co.uk/

Prize draw terms and conditions

The promoter is Bern Pet Foods Ltd, whose registered office is Bancroft House, 10 Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7RP.

• These competitions are free-to-enter prize draws and winners will be chosen at random after Crufts 2019 from all valid entries submitted.
• Entry to the prize draw is restricted to one entry per person per competition, multiple entries will be disqualified.
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
• The prize draws are strictly open only to those in attendance at Crufts between 7^th and 10^th March 2019 and will run exclusively on the ORIJEN stand in Hall 3, Stand 52.
• All entrants must be over the age of 18.
• The draws will take place on Wednesday 13^th March, and winners will be notified by Friday 15th
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.
• Winners will be contacted via email or phone.
• Prizes can only be sent to a valid UK address unless otherwise stated.
• No cash alternative or other alternative prize will be available on entrants’ request.
• Bern Pet Foods Ltd reserve the right to amend these rules at any time. Entry in this free prize draw implies acceptance of these rules.
• Bern Pet Foods Ltd, will not pass your details to any third party without your prior consent.
• By entering these competitions, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
• This prize is for £150 of vouchers from Stay in a Pub only. No cash alternative is available.
• The winners will need to book their accommodation directly through Stay in a Pub themselves.
• The winners will need to make their own travel arrangements to and from their chosen destination at their own expense.
• The winners will need to pay for any food and drink during not included in their accommodation