By now, you’ve probably started hearing more and more about ACANA Dog Food. So, what’s all the fuss really about? In our ACANA puppy food reviews and ACANA dog food reviews, we’ll look at who the food is made by, what it contains, and a little bit about how it’s prepared.We’ll also highlight the different brands of ACANA food available to hopefully save you time when you’re shopping.
Quick Review: Top-5 Dog Foods From Acana
 | Best Grain Free Food ACANA Heritage Grain Free
| |
| | Best Puppy Food ACANA Heritage Puppy & Junior
| |
| | Best Adult Food ACANA Heritage Dry Dog Food
| |
| | Best Regionals Food ACANA Regionals Dry Dog Food, Grasslands
| |
| | Best Hypoallergenic Food ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient
|
About ACANA
Who Are ACANA?
ACANA is a play on letters — that is, ACANA stands for Alberta, Canada. It’s where a lot of the brand’s ingredients come from, and it’s also where some of the Champion Pet Food-owned company has their kitchens. You may already know that Champion also creates Orijen dog foods, but did you know they have been around for almost 45 years?
ACANA makes a huge selection of healthy cat, dog, and puppy foods, as well as dog treats that feature up to 95% real meat. They use what they refer to as Whole Prey Ratios when creating their kibbles, which means that their formulas aim to mimic a naturally evolved canine diet. Where it might be possible to use supplements, ACANA will always use natural, animal-, fruit-, or veggie-based solutions for the same effect.
What’s Special About ACANA?
There are many special things about ACANA! One thing the brand may be best known for is using healthy ingredients. All veggies, fruits, and livestock used for ACANA foods come from regional sources and, as far as we can tell, they are from small or known, trusted suppliers. That’s a lot more than we can say about most brands, to be fair!
ACANA’s also known for producing incredibly meat-focused recipes which include between 60 and 70% animal protein. Expect to see things like wild-caught flounder, nest-laid eggs, and grass-fed lamb on the ingredients lists here, as well as nutrient-rich organs like liver. And where a lot of low-cost brands might use grain or corn fillers to bulk up their foods, ACANA only uses wholesome non-GMO veggies like pumpkin and peas.
If you’re wondering where to start, it helps to know that ACANA has four main ‘lines’ of food for owners to choose from:
- ACANA Classics – In this line, you’ll find ACANA’s original blends in delicious flavors like Wild Coast, Classic Red, and Prairie Poultry. All made using regional meat and vegetable produce, and all prepared in Canada;
- ACANA Heritage – This line is about naturally-raised meat like Angus beef and US bison, all of which is free from hormones and additions like antibiotics. There are nine products in this line, including food for puppies, adults, senior dogs, dieting (weight management) dogs; and more athletic, sporty dogs. All contain 70% meat;
- ACANA Regionals – These are four different recipes made in ACANA’s Kentucky kitchens, each featuring a different combination of 60% real meat and protein-rich ingredients; and
- ACANA Singles – Here’s where you’ll find ACANA’s limited ingredient formulas, and each contains only one type of animal ingredient. There are six types, in six different flavors: pork, turkey, duck, lamb, beef, and mackerel.
Sadly, there aren’t any wet foods for those pups who love a good loaf or pate. As is the case with Orijen, ACANA as a brand is not keen on outsourcing. Because it doesn’t own any of its own canning facilities, therefore, it is not creating any canned foods at all.
ACANA Dog Food Recalls
To the very best of our knowledge, there aren’t any ACANA dog food recalls at the time of reviewing. So, there aren’t any voluntary or FDA recalls at all to mention here.
Why the ACANA Puppy Food Reviews and ACANA Dog Food Reviews?
We’ve already covered a lot of key advantages why ACANA makes great dog food, and we’ll look more in depth at some specific grain-free, puppy, and hypoallergenic foods in our ACANA dog food reviews. For now (or if you’ve skipped ahead to this point!), here are the key reasons we think this is one of THE best brands out there:
- ACANA offers breed-specific puppy and adult formulas to satisfy a bunch of different canine requirements;
- All of their food is manufactured either in the States or Canada;
- In most cases, it’s ridiculously easy to trace the packaged food right back to a specific (award-winning!) kitchen;
- A large proportion of ACANA dog food is made using ingredients which are fit for humans to eat—human-grade ingredients;
- All recipes are entirely zero-grain; and
- We can find no evidence of ACANA dog food recalls to date.
How about a closer look at those appetizing dog foods then?
Our ACANA Dog Food Reviews
The Grain Free ACANA Dog Food Reviews
We’ve already covered the fact that ACANA dog food is grain- and gluten-free, so let’s look at the other things it offers your pooch…
- ACANA Heritage Dry Dog Food Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free
Pros
- Lentils, green peas, and pinto beans provide fiber and minerals for your dog;
- Provides your pooch with 29% protein;
- Contains 60% dried, raw, or fresh meat (as opposed to artificially preserved meat!);
- A 25-pound bag contains 15 pounds of animal ingredients; and
- Contains lovely glucosamine that will aid in protecting your dog’s joints.
Cons
- None! We’re hugely happy to see such healthy ingredients and a balanced, protein-rich nutrient profile.
- ACANA Regionals Dry Dog Food Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free
Pros
- All six top ingredients in this formula are from either poultry or fish;
- Contains carrots, spinach, kale, kelp, and so many other delicious veggies for vitamins;
- Provides a hefty, yet healthy, 33% protein;
- The Omega acid content comes from natural pollock oil; and
- It gives your growing or grown pooch nice levels of glucosamine and DHA.
Cons
- All-natural, high-quality ingredients can make dog food more expensive than one that uses fillers and cheap ingredients. So, like all the ACANA dog food reviewed in this article, this recipe’s a little pricey.
The ACANA Puppy Food Reviews
ACANA puppy food is quickly earning a good reputation for itself. This Puppy & Junior blend is the most popular product.
- ACANA Heritage Puppy & Junior
$32.40
Pros
- Provides your puppy with 31% protein and 19% fat;
- Flavor comes from chicken broth and other natural sources (like the generous natural meat content!);
- Provides pup with EPA and also DHA, both of which are healthy acids;
- Protects your fluffy friend’s hips and joints with natural glucosamine; and
- Uses no GMO ingredients at all.
Cons
- Like most other ACANA and Orijen foods, this puppy recipe has a fairly high price point!
The ACANA Heritage Dog Food Reviews
We’ve noticed how interest in ACANA heritage is growing super-quickly, so here in our ACANA Heritage Dog Food Reviews, we weigh up the pros and cons for you.
- ACANA Heritage Dry Dog Food, Freshwater Fish
Pros
- This formula has no potato at all, meaning it’s a safe choice if your puppy has specific allergies or intolerances;
- Uses ingredients that are delivered on a very regular basis to the ACANA kitchens — daily, actually;
- Includes fish liver that’s a good source of fatty acids;
- Gives your growing or mature dog 29% protein; and
- It has a suitable, if not optimal, calcium-phosphorus content for larger puppies and dogs.
Cons
- It’s hard to find fault with ACANA food in general, and the same applies here.
The ACANA Regionals Dog Food Reviews
The Regionals range includes even more fresh and dried prey ingredients than ACANA’s Heritage line. In fact, you’ll find a 70:30 ratio of real, delectable, non-GMO meat to vitamin-packed fruit and veggies.
- ACANA Regionals Dry Dog Food, Grasslands
Pros
- There’s a super-wide range of meaty inclusions featured, like goat, quail, duck, lamb, and catfish;
- Lots of tasty vitamins abound, along with fiber, from pumpkin, kelp, butternut, and peas, to name a few;
- Contains 33% protein and 17% fat (especially good for pups);
- Provides your little pup or grown best friend with DHA; and
- Boasts Omega acids that promote gorgeous coats.
Cons
- You might find things getting expensive pretty quick if you’ve got lots of dogs eating ACANA…
Hypoallergenic ACANA Dog Food
As we’ve noted, there are so many different limited ingredient options for your puppy to enjoy in the ‘Singles’ line. Here’s one of the most delicious-sounding options…
- ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food
Pros
- Not only is it chicken-free, but like other ACANA foods, it also cuts out potato;
- Lamb liver gives healthy fats and iron;
- Lamb cartilage offers glucosamine, to a total of 500mg per kilo (in regular speak, that’s a good amount!);
- It’s a good choice for dogs with sensitive skin, as it offers Omega acids; and
- Contains zinc, a critical nutrient for great skin.
Cons
- None, really. Even if lamb’s the one thing your pup can’t tolerate, there are five different single-meat recipes in this range!
FAQ
What do veterinary professionals think of ACANA dog food?
ACANA dog food is gaining popularity among dog owners and veterinary professionals for their healthy ingredients. With offering quality protein, veggies, fruits, and other essential ingredients, your pup will have everything they need to grow into a healthy adult canine. Their puppy food is their most popular product, and it makes perfect sense. As a vet tech examining the main ingredients, it’s clear that this brand has health in mind when they created this diet.
What does ‘freeze-dried’ mean in your ACANA dog food reviews?
ACANA does make a big point about how some ingredients are freeze-dried, so it’s natural to wonder why that’s so exciting. In a few words, the ingredient in question is frozen, then the ice is removed from the product. This keeps the food itself very close to perfect in terms of its quality and shape, and at the same time, it locks in the nutrients that our best friends need most.
Freeze drying is also one of the more expensive ways to preserve meat ingredients, as it requires specialized technology. This is part of the reasons why ACANA dog food is considered very high-quality, and typically priced at a premium.
Isn’t chicken broth full of salt? Why is it in dog food?
That’s not a common question, but it is a very clever one! Technically, ‘broth’ in dog food is just liquid in which animal ingredients have been boiled. Those can be bones or meat, but the broth itself isn’t what we’d usually find on the supermarket shelves. So when you see ‘broth’ in a dog food, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be full of salt. What it means primarily for our fluffy friends is some extra flavor in their food, and it can also provide a small dose of nutrients, too.
Helpful Links
Last update on 2025-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
