A number of Acana dog food reviews rank the brand highly when it comes to premium-quality ingredients, the primacy of animal proteins, and the completeness of the nutrition that each formula delivers to all dogs of different breeds and life stages. It is well-known for its Classics, Heritage, and Regionals Acana dog food formulations, although its Singles and Singles Treats formulas are also doing good. In this review we take a look at why many pet parents consider the Acana brand of pet food to be simply the best that they are very much willing to pay a hefty price for a bag of this brand of canine nutrition.
Acana Dog Food Review
1 ACANA Red Meat Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Brand: ACANA
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, Deboned Pork, Beef Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans
- Primary Proteins: Beef, Pork
- Calories: 388 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Beef
- Life Stage: All
With beef and pork raised in the fertile grasslands of Kentucky forming the core of this Heritage variant of Acana dog food, one can always feel confident about the nutrients that dogs receive. Every single edible and easily digestible part of beef and pork are included in this Acana dry dog food formulation that it can be considered as a meat-lover’s special for dogs.
With about 60% of its ingredients being premium meat ingredients and the remaining 40% filled by healthy fruits and vegetables including wholesome botanicals without the worrisome grains, glutens, and potatoes, the Red Meat is a smorgasbord of regional flavors that every dog will surely be able to appreciate. It’s one of those biologically appropriate dog foods that pet parents love about the brand and what several Acana dog food reviews have consistently cited.
Beef, Deboned Pork, Beef Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Green Peas, Pork Meal, Beef Fat, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Chickpeas, Whole Yellow Peas, Deboned Lamb, Fish Oil, Lentil Fiber, Natural Pork Flavor, Pea Starch, Beef Tripe, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Pork Liver, Pork Kidney, Salt, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Zinc Proteinate, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Taurine, Calcium Pantothenate, Freeze-Dried Beef Liver, Freeze-Dried Pork Liver, Freeze-Dried Lamb Liver, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla, Althea Root, Rose Hips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
2 ACANA Free-Run Poultry Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food
- Brand: ACANA
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans
- Primary Proteins: Chicken & Turkey
- Calories: 396 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Poultry
- Life Stage: All
Give your dog a taste of free-ranged chicken and turkey including the whole eggs that these poultry provide with the Free-Run Acana dry dog food. Even the giblets of both chicken and turkey are added to provide a rich source of micronutrients that dogs need.
The unique blend of ingredients help guarantee that your dog gets the right amounts of calcium, phosphorus, EPA, DHA, and even a complete range of vitamins and other minerals to get its immune, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, digestive, and integumentary systems come alive. Collard greens and other healthy vegetables are added, forming 40% of the total ingredients of the Free-Run while 60% are dedicated to the use of only the finest quality chickens and turkeys in Kentucky.
Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Green Peas, Chicken Liver, Chicken Fat, Catfish Meal, Whole Chickpeas, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Yellow Peas, Lentil Fiber, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Eggs, Fish Oil, Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicken Heart, Pea Starch, Salt, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Zinc Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver, Freeze-Dried Turkey Liver, Copper Proteinate, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla, Althea Root, Rose Hips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
3 ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Apple
- Brand: ACANA
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Lamb Liver, Sweet Potato, Whole Chickpeas
- Primary Proteins: Lamb
- Calories: 371 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Lamb & Apple
- Life Stage: All
Utilizing only a single animal protein that is carefully chosen to allow for easier digestibility and then mixed with a bunch of healthy veggies, botanicals, and fruits, the Lamb & Apple Singles Formula is perfect for pets that are on an elimination diet. There are no grains or gluten, too, so you can rest assured that it will be a lot easier for you to identify the food allergen in your pet.
While this Acana dry dog food only utilizes a single animal protein which is lamb, it makes sure that your dog will get no less than 60 percent of the premium meat ingredient and only 40 percent of the other ingredients. This helps guarantee that the amino acids you’re giving to your pet is complete, eliminating the need for supplementation.
Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Lamb Liver, Sweet Potato, Whole Chickpeas, Pollock Oil, Whole Lentils, Lentil Fiber, Lamb Fat, Apples, Natural Lamb Flavor, Lamb Cartilage, Lamb Tripe, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Cranberries, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Freeze-Dried Lamb Liver, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Chicory, Turmeric, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
4 ACANA Grasslands Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Brand: ACANA
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Deboned Duck, Eggs, Lamb Meal, Goat Meal
- Primary Proteins: Lamb, Duck
- Calories: 388 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Lamb, Duck
- Life Stage: All
This Acana Regionals dog food boasts of the bounties of the lush grasslands of Kentucky. It features the land’s premium grass-fed lambs, Muscovy duck, rainbow trout, free-run quail, and nest-laid eggs. The Acana Grasslands is a delicious feast of all the freshest possible ingredients one can ever find in this part of the country where every living organism thrives on what Mother Nature provides.
It is no wonder that the same goodness can be easily translated into your dog, whether it is their coat, their skin, their eyes, their heart, their digestive tracts, or even their brain, muscles, bones, and joints. It’s complete and well-balanced nutrition that epitomizes what the Acana dog food brand has been espousing all these years. The Acana Regionals dog food, especially the Acana Grasslands is simply ideal for those pets that require the right kinds of nutrients at the right amounts and without any glutens that can upset their tummies.
Deboned Lamb, Deboned Duck, Eggs, Lamb Meal, Goat Meal, Catfish Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Duck Fat, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Chickpeas, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Quail, Rainbow Trout, Duck Meal, Fish Oil, Natural Lamb Flavor, Whole Green Peas, Whole Yellow Peas, Lamb Liver, Duck Liver, Lamb Tripe, Lamb Kidney, Collard Greens, Salt, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Whole Carrots, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Freeze-Dried Lamb Liver, Freeze-Dried Duck Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Copper Proteinate, Chicory, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
Acana Dog Food Review Buying Guide
Company Information
Acana is a brand of dog food that is under the management of Champion Petfoods, the same company that brings to the world another premium-quality dog food brand, Orijen. Because of their ties, one can expect that the dog food formulations of Acana closely mimic those of Orijen, making for a worthy alternative in cases where one is pricier than the other.
Find out more about Orijen Dog Food.
Acana prides itself on using only the finest qualities of animal proteins in its formulations, accounting for at least 60 percent of the total composition of dog food. The brand also doesn’t believe in the inclusion of unnecessary starches like potatoes and sweet potatoes as well as glutens and grains. Instead, Acana strongly believes in the better nutrient profiles of healthier fruits and vegetables. Its ingredients are sourced from local producers, growers, farmers, and fishermen within their respective localities. They make sure that these ingredients arrive at their Kentucky kitchens within 3 days so that they can be processed into dog food instantly. This greatly preserves all the freshness and nutrients that these ingredients have.
There’s free-run poultry, ranch-raised meats, and wild-caught fish that eventually get blended with the freshest local produce from Kentucky farms to give the Acana dog food brand one of the richest in whole-prey nutrient ratios.
The numerous awards that the biologically appropriate dog food formulations of both Acana and Orijen have brought for Champion are testament to the ingenuity of their products.
Why Choose This Brand?
The use of premium-quality animal proteins is one of the best reasons why pet parents choose this brand over the others. It is also one of the reasons why many Acana dog food reviews speak of the brand in high regard. The primacy of animal proteins clearly provides the right amino acids and essential fatty acids that dogs need to thrive in their optimum best.
There are no artificial ingredients used in the blends. Each ingredient is carefully selected and then processed to lock in all of the nutrients and flavors that dogs need to grow, mature, and lead happier life. The company observes strict quality control measures to help guarantee that the product you give to your dog stays as fresh as the day it was formulated.
Acana never uses glutens, grains, or potatoes in its formulas. And while some would argue that potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, it can also be very starchy and which has a high glycemic index. For dogs that are quite prone to diabetes, this is simply not a good way to go. Instead, dogs are given nutrient-dense, low glycemic index vegetables, and fruits so dogs can take full advantage of the many benefits of antioxidants present in these ingredients.
Pet parents who are looking for variety in their dog’s diet can always rely on the different formulas of Acana. From its Classics to the Heritage to the Regionals and even to its Singles formulations, one can have the right blend of all-natural ingredients for their pets designed in a way to simulate the dog’s biological needs.
Ingredient Analysis
Clearly one of the greatest strengths of the Acana dry dog food is its biologically appropriate formulation. What this means is that the clinical veterinary nutritionists of the company take to heart what the bodies of dogs really need. Specifically, they know the exact nutrients in the right amounts that dogs need to get to grow healthy, strong, and optimize their full canine potential. Here’s a look at how the main ingredients of Acana dog food stack up.
Above-average to high protein
Looking at the 5 Acana dog food products in this list we can compute for the average protein content to be 31.4%. When its 12% moisture content has been accounted for, the protein content reflects an above-average to the high protein level of 35.6%. While canned and wet dog food formulations can have protein contents of as much as 50 to 60%, the 35% for dry dog food is already considered as high.
The good thing about Acana dog food is that the brand always makes sure that only animal ingredients are used in supplying the formulations’ protein requirements. This is very unlike other brands that use powdered plant proteins to jack up the protein content of the dog food. While vegetarians will argue that a protein is still a protein regardless of where it comes from, research indicates that proteins from plant sources contain an incomplete list of essential amino acids. As such, many of these so-called powdered plant protein-based dog foods often require amino acid supplementation. This means that the amino acid must be given pre-packed. This is very different from the amino acids that are already present in animal proteins.
Additionally, many of the formulas of the brand utilize novel proteins like duck, lamb, and the like. Of special note is their Pacifica Regionals formulation that features a sizeable number of freshly-caught wild fish. These are different from fishes farmed in pens, ensuring your dog gets the best possible source of high-quality proteins. Not only that, you also get the richness of EPA and DHA in these marine animal protein sources.
Acana also doesn’t hide its true ingredients from consumers. It strives to name all of its ingredients. As such you can read ‘deboned lamb’ instead of ‘deboned meat’. One of the cardinal signs of a good pet food product is that it should have a named protein in its list of ingredients.
Above-average fat
Just like its protein content, the fat content of Acana dry dog food is average to above-average. Our list shows it is flat at 17%, although this translates to 19.3% on a dry matter basis. Still, one can feel reassured that the fats included in the blend are not the synthetic or unhealthy kind as this effectively comes from the very same animal ingredients that the brand uses in its formulas.
What is noteworthy is its amazing profile of essential fatty acids. Many dog food products put their emphasis on omega-6. While this is a beneficial fatty acid, too much of it can have the opposite effect. That is why nutritionists and veterinarians alike actually recommend following a more ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids of at least 4:1. In many products of Acana, this ratio is substantially improved to 2:1 and even a perfect 1:1 ratio.
Below average carbs
On average, the carbohydrate content of Acana dry dog food is only 29% based on a calorie-weighted computation. What is more remarkable is that, while Acana dog food provides about 6% of the fiber in dry matter, it never uses any of the grains and starchy substances that most dog food products put into their formulas. Instead, Acana chooses to include only the freshest possible vegetables and fruits it could source from its local partners.
Micronutrients
Every formulation is designed to meet and even exceed the minimum nutrient requirements of AAFCO for canine food. Calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, and selenium are supplied by a vast array of natural ingredients. Even water- and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as the nutraceuticals chondroitin and glucosamine, are provided to help your pet grow healthier.
- 60 to 70 percent of the ingredients in each product formulation are made of premium quality animal ingredients
- 30 to 40 percent of the ingredients in each product formulation are made of healthy botanicals, fruits, and vegetables
- Above-average to high protein content with animal meats as principal protein sources
- Doesn’t contain grains, glutens, and potatoes, as well as other highly starchy ingredients
- , Exceeds the minimum nutrient requirements of AAFCO
- Utilizes only freshly –caught, -farmed, or –harvested ingredients from local suppliers
- Includes chondroitin and glucosamine in many formulas
- Provides one of the best ratios for omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids
- Includes probiotic organisms in many formulations
- Pricier than most
Acana, like Orijen, thrives because of its insistence on using only the highest quality of ingredients it can source. Together with its biologically appropriate pet food formulas, the brand’s continuing focus on giving dogs the kind of nutrition that their bodies are naturally designed to accommodate is what makes this dog food brand very worthy nutrition to give to one’s pet.
