Would you like to buy your dogs Acana puppy food? Before making a purchase, read this review of Acana puppy food.
Several of the dry dog food formulas offered by the Canadian dog food company Acana are formulated for a grain-free diet. Even though Acana dog food isn’t typically found in supermarkets, this premium brand offers a reasonable price while still using a variety of high-quality ingredients in its recipes.
These Acana dog food evaluations are based on the reliability of the ingredients.
Read More: Nutrisource Puppy Food Review: Is It Good Dog Food?
Who Makes Acana and Where is It Produced?
Champion Pet Foods owns and produces two different dog food brands, the other being Orijen. One of these brands is Acana. Though it began in Canada, Champion Pet Foods now has a U.S. presence. factory in Since 2016, the Kentucky-based Acana factory has produced all goods that are formally sold in the country.
The use of locally raised animal meat is emphasized in Champion Pet Foods’ products, in contrast to Acana, which does appear to use imported ingredients in its formulas.
Recall History
We’ve searched high and low and were excited to learn that there have been zero recalls for any Furthermore, there has only ever been one recall for Acana’s sister product, Orijen.
We are in awe that they have never faced penalties for their products despite having been in business for more than forty years. But that recognition instills confidence in us that this is a premium brand.
FDA Warning
It is worth mentioning that the FDA has listed Acana along with fifteen other dog food brands connected with multiple pets developing DCM, also known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a serious heart condition.
However, there hasn’t been any concrete evidence linking the brands to the diseases. The problem is mostly with grain-free products, not the brand.
Pros
Uses sustainable and local meat sources
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Owned by a small pet food company
- No history of product recalls
- Offers “biologically appropriate” recipes
- Manufactures grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas
- Excellent ingredient transparency
Cons
- History of class-action lawsuits
- Not available in all pet food retailers
- No wet food options
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Despite being a high-quality product, raw chicken can contain up to 73% water. Most of that moisture is lost during cooking, leaving the meat with only a small portion of its initial weight.
After processing, this component would likely make up a smaller portion of the overall finished product’s content. The second ingredient is turkey, another quality, raw item inclusive of water.
The third ingredient is chicken meal. As a meat concentrate, the chicken meal has nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
It’s important to note that the next 6 out of 10 ingredients included in this recipe are each a type of legume:
- Green peas
- Red lentils
- Pinto beans
- Chickpeas
- Green lentils
- Yellow peas
There is a crucial factor to take into account even though they are made of high-quality plant ingredients. And that is ingredient splitting, a technique used in recipe design.
If we were to combine all these individual items together and report them as one, that newer combination would likely occupy a significantly higher position on the list.
A factor that must be taken into account when evaluating the meat content of this dog food is the 25% protein content of legumes.
The seventh ingredient in this food is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. When chicken is rendered, which is done similarly to making soup in which the fat is skimmed from the surface of the liquid, chicken fat is obtained.
A vital omega-6 fatty acid found in abundance in chicken fat is linoleic acid. Chicken fat is a quality ingredient, despite the fact that it doesn’t sound delicious.
The ninth ingredient is catfish meal, yet another high-protein meat concentrate.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this merchandise from Champion Petfoods.
First, we find lentil fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from lentils. This agricultural byproduct offers no nutritional value to a dog other than the typical fiber benefits.
Next, we note the use of pollock oil. The highly sought-after EPA and DHA classes of omega-3 fatty acids are naturally abundant in fish oil. The highest bioavailability to humans and dogs is attributed to these two premium fats.
Fish oil should be regarded as a commendable addition depending on its level of purity and freshness.
In addition, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers. Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, but it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
And lastly, with the exception of zinc, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. Thus, it might be harder to comprehend them. Higher-quality dog foods are frequently linked with chelated minerals.
Reviews of the 3 Best Acana Dog Food Recipes
Since the ingredients and nutritional breakdowns of Acana dog foods are so important to the brand, let’s take a closer look at three of its most popular recipes:
Acana Kentucky Farmlands With Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food
The Kentucky Farmlands with Wholesome Grains recipe is one of the formulas available in Acana’s new grain-inclusive line, as you might guess from the name. This formulation is gluten-free even though it contains grains.
70% of the ingredients in this formula are derived from animals, of which 50% are used in fresh or raw form. These animal protein sources are, in descending order, chicken, turkey, duck, and eggs. Acana consumes organs, cartilage, and other essential sources of canine nutrition in addition to muscle meat.
As always, we want you to make the best decision for your dog when selecting a new food.
Acana High-Protein Grain-Free Adult Blend
Having an active breed means that you’ll need to provide high-quality dog food higher in protein, which is how your pup gets his energy. He’ll also require a lot of fat and carbohydrates to maintain strong muscles. Finding a dog food with essential amino acids, such as glucosamine, is also recommended because this nutrient supports healthy bones, joints, and cartilage.
It’s not advisable to feed puppies or dogs under a year old dog food designed for high agility due to the higher protein content. The developing organs of a puppy may suffer from eating too much protein.
You can feed your dog this breed of dog food made for working and high-activity dogs once it has transitioned from puppy food to adult dog food without risk.
Acana guarantees that your pet will have plenty of energy thanks to all the protein derived from animal sources, such as the organs, meat, cartilage, and bones of various animals, such as chicken and turkey.
Red meat is an excellent source of protein for dogs with sensitive digestion as it’s blander than red meat and is easier on the stomach and digestion. There are also a lot of delicious fruits and vegetables that are grown on nearby farms and in nearby waters.
Acana American Waters With Grains
Many adult recipes from Acana are made with wholesome grains and fresh or uncooked animal meats. These formulas are “all life stages,” meaning you can feed them to your adult dog over the age of one, but they can work for most puppies and senior dogs as well.
However, we advise substituting puppy and senior food. Most dogs will do well on grain-inclusive recipes and do not require a grain-free diet. To find out if your dog needs grains, however, the best source is your veterinarian.
Acana with wholesome grains like oats, sorghum, and millet is available in six yummy flavors. Grain-based recipes do cost more than grain-free recipes. There is no benefit to choosing a grain-free diet over one that contains grains if your dog does not exhibit any digestive issues.
Many parents are willing to pay a small price premium for the added safety of grain-based dog food.
With grains, this recipe has WholePrey ratios of real animal proteins that mimic the type of diet your pet would get in the wild.
Animal organs, cartilage, bones, and meat are all included in Acana to provide natural nutrients, negating the need for dietary supplements like glucosamine, vitamins, or essential amino acids. Potatoes, tapioca, and gluten are not included, nor are any fillers or other common allergens.
Is ACANA a Good Dog Food?
Both in the US and Canada, ACANA is produced locally. The company primarily sells ultra-processed kibble but also has lines of freeze-dried and canned food.
As a premium food, which the company takes great pride in, it is undoubtedly superior to many others. The food is fortified with fewer minerals than most kibbles, and most importantly, it typically doesn’t require a vitamin premix. In addition, the protein level is high for kibble, which is commendable, and the carbohydrate content is notably low.
With the exception of homegrown botanicals, Champion Petfoods claims that all of its ingredients are sourced locally. On their website, they also state that the animal proteins they use are fresh, not frozen, and not dried.
They do, however, consume a lot of meals, which are dried and heated animal proteins. The foods that Champion Petfoods sells seem to be all produced in their own factories, not by a co-manufacturer.
Additionally, ACANA guarantees a minimum amount of probiotics and adds them to their foods.
The food falls a little short in terms of ingredient safety. The top 5 ingredients frequently include natural flavor as well as ingredients with a high pesticide and herbicide content.
With the exception of the Rescue Care line, which is rated as high-risk overall based on ACANA’s scores, the company’s dog food is thought to be moderately risky overall.
The business also does not offer the omega-6:omega-3 ratio. As pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, AAFCO permits a very high ratio of 30:1.
What Other Users Are Saying?
The more knowledge you have, especially when making a purchase that will have an impact on your dog’s health and well-being, the better. Here are comments from other reviewers who have taken a deep dive into Acana and its product lines:
- Dog Food Network: “Acana dog food is establishing itself as a dependable brand for nutritious dog food for all breeds thanks to its all-fresh ingredients and state-of-the-art Kentucky-based kitchens.”
- Woof Whiskers: “With a goal of completing the supply chain from field to factory in under 48 hours, ACANA arguably has some of the highest-quality ingredients in the entire industry.”
- Dog Food Insider: “[One of Acana’s Singles, the Duck & Pear Formula only contains one source of protein, in this case, duck. Although there is only one source of meat protein in the food, it does not contain only those ingredients.”
- TreeHouse Puppies: “Acana is without a doubt a fantastic option for dog owners seeking a high-protein kibble made with natural and secure ingredients.”
- DogFoodAdvisor: “This profile resembles a kibble with a moderate amount of meat when you consider the multiple legumes’ ability to boost protein.”
Conclusion – Acana Dog Food
This is a premium food that contains a little less protein and fat than their other blend, Orijen. Consequently, a larger proportion of dog owners can purchase food. In all the United States, food is still not completely accessible.
Acana is a dog food company that sells a number of dry formulas with good nutritional profiles and top-notch ingredients. Although Acana was originally a grain-free company, it has since introduced a line of formulas that include grains in addition to adhering to the FDA’s warning about the potential health risks of a grain-free diet.
