Acana Dog Food Review 2021

Almost all Acana dog food reviews rank this brand as a premium quality dog food based on the nutritional analysis, the ingredient quality, the recall history, and complementarity with the nutritional requirements of dogs of various breeds and sizes and at different life stages.

We are no different and believe that Acana is a good option to go with. It offers protein-rich recipes made of natural ingredients with meat as the core of any formula. No by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors are added. The company is dedicated to producing dog food with care and love, so you can be sure Acana dog food is a healthy and safe diet choice for your pet.

The company was established in 1975 as Champion Feed Services Ltd. by Reinhard Muhlenfeld in Canada. As all the pet food options were imported to Canada from the USA, the future pet food business owner thought that local stuff was always better, so he launched pet food manufacturing in a small facility in Barrhead, Alberta.

This belief is traced to the current company’s philosophy as well. All the ingredients are sourced locally, so, as Acana claims, a recipe manufactured in Auburn, Kentucky, will taste different compared to the ones produced in Alberta.

Acana is a brand owned by Champion Petfoods LP., a company known for producing premium dog and cat food. Acana pet food is manufactured in its own facilities located in Barrhead, Alberta (Canada), Kentucky (USA), and Parkland County, Alberta (Canada).

But the company refers to them as “kitchens,” accentuating the warmth and care during the manufacturing process. These state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with track-and-trace systems, which ensure quality, safety, and transparency. What it means is that the company records and tracks every step of the production process, starting with the ingredient sourcing and delivery to the final check-up of all the packages and cans before they leave the facilities.

In this Acana dog food review section, we’ll list some of the most popular recipes. We’ll take a closer look at the ingredients, nutritional information, age and breed appropriateness, and some more factors.

When you pick Acana as a basic dog diet, you get more than an exceptional quality pet food. You’ll also be able to choose the recipe that meets your canine’s needs most. The company offers recipes for puppies, adults, and senior dogs. You’ll also find formulas that are suitable for pets at any life stage. Besides, the brand has developed various product lines that target different nutritional needs of our furry buddies.

ACANA Grain-Free Light & Fit Chicken Healthy Weight Adult Dry Dog Food

• 60% of quality animal ingredients
• A reduced calorie level for weight management
• Rich in animal proteins

ACANA Pacifica Dry Dog Food

• Made of responsibly caught wild Canadian fish
• Excellent nutritional value with high protein, fat, and moisture content
• A grain-free formula packed with superfoods

ACANA Meadowland Grain-Free High Protein Freeze-Dried Coated Chicken Turkey Fish Cage-Free Eggs Dry Dog Food

• Made locally in the USA
• Manufactured from fresh and raw ingredients like meat and veggies
• A grain-free formula enhanced with functional ingredients

ACANA Freshwater Fish Heritage Dog Food

• A complete formula with 60% of fish ingredients
• Made of wild-caught raw rainbow trout and catfish
• Packed with fresh veggies and fruit

ACANA Grasslands Grain Free High Protein Freeze-Dried Coated Lamb Duck Trout and Quail Dry Dog Food

• Made in Kentucky from local ingredients
• Includes a blend of healthy animal and fish proteins
• Enhanced with vitamins and minerals

One might feel confused when browsing through Acana's website. There are so many options out there but no clear information about the product series. Let us fix this. We’ll go over Acana dog food lineups so that you know what recipe will work better for your canine.

Acana Classics

These are authentic Acana large breed dog food options, that are also suitable for small and medium canines, with 50% of meat or fish in them. They feature deboned chicken, turkey, meat meal, eggs derived from prairie farms as well as wild-caught fish from the Pacific ocean. The product series includes recipes for a puppy as well as for older dogs. You won’t find grains in these recipes, just meat, some functional plants, and supplements. Here are a few recipes:

• Acana Wild Prairie Dog Food
• Acana Puppy & Junior Formula

Wholesome Grains

If you don’t mind feeding your canine grain-inclusive recipes, this Acana product series will be a perfect solution for your household. Being still made of high-quality meat types like chicken, turkey, and some more, these formulas are also complemented with wholesome gluten-free grains like oats, sorghum, and millet. The mix of the ingredients offers additional nutritional value and helps maintain healthy digestive and immune systems.

• Acana Small Breed Dog Food recipe
• Acana Red Meat & Grains Recipe

Regionals

For those dog parents who prefer locally manufactured stuff over mass-market, Acana recipes from the Regionals series are a great match. These formulas are inspired by regional farming and landscapes, so are formulated to depict the nature of this or that region. They contain 70% of meat or fish with a blend of veggies and fruit, which together make a complete and nutritionally beneficial diet.

• Acana Wild Atlantic Dry Dog Food Recipe
• Acana Kentucky Farmlands with Wholesome Grains

Heritage

If you are curious as to how your dog will react to the original Acana recipe that was popular 25 years ago, you should definitely try something from the Acana Heritage dog food series. Being proudly made in Canada from the ingredients that are closely grown to the company’s kitchen, these formulas are known for being delicious and balanced. The Heritage recipes target puppies, adult canines, high-performance dogs, and senior pets.

• Acana Puppy Large Breed Recipe
• Acana Sport and Agility Dog Food Recipe

Singles

For those canines that suffer from any form of food intolerance, the company developed Acana limited ingredient dog food under the name Singles. The formulas contain a single source of proteins blended with superfoods like pumpkin, squash, apples, and pears to promote a healthy digestive system functioning.

• Acana Duck and Pear Dog Food
• Acana Pork & Squash Recipe

Freeze-Dried Patties

If you would like your pet to experience the benefits of raw nutrition with the comfort of kibble, then these freeze-dried recipes should be your pick. These formulas are meant to tame the true carnivore nature of your dog in a convenient freeze-dried form. This dog food comparable to Acana other recipes, has 90% animal proteins (while other recipes have from 50 to 70%), which means more meat and fewer veggies for your pooch.

• Acana Freeze-Dried Food, Ranch-Raised Beef Recipe
• Acana Freeze-Dried Food, Duck Recipe

Acana wet dog food recipes are not numerous. There are only six options for you to choose from: puppy, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, and duck recipes in bone broth. 85% of all ingredients are meat, with 15% of visible fruit and vegetable pieces. Acana canned dog food is not cheap, but when it comes to a quality dog diet, we are ready to spend a little bit more to ensure our four-pawed friends are healthy and happy.

• Acana Premium Chunks, Poultry Recipe in Bone Broth
• Acana Premium Chunks, Duck Recipe in Bone Broth

Acana offers specially formulated recipes for puppies with higher levels of animal protein and fat. These nutrients are essential for the proper development of all organs and systems in the dog’s body. You can also get formulas that are suitable for pets at any stage since they also have a superior nutritional portfolio.

If you feel like your aging dog needs a special diet to support its health, you can go with one of the formulas that are designed for mature canines. But as most of the recipes are universal and could be given to the canine of any age, you can pick any formula your pet loves most, on the condition they do not have any health issues.

You’ll be thrilled to know that there has been not a single Acana dog food recall since they entered the market. However, Acana and its brother-brand Orijen were involved in the lawsuit regarding false advertising. The FDA also added this brand to the list of dog food manufacturing brands that might be linked to heart diseases in canines. But no evidence has been provided as the health issues might be the result of other factors.

To sum it up, we believe that Acana dog food is an excellent diet option for your canine of any age or size. It contains one of the highest animal protein levels on the dog food market, which means that your dog would eat what they are supposed to with a minimal amount of plants. High protein levels help maintain lean muscle, a healthy immune system, proper digestion, and fuel the pet with energy for the rest of the day.

Besides, all the recipes are also packed with superfoods that include lentils, peas, carrots, apples, and some more. There are both grain-free and grain-based recipes, as well as formulas with limited ingredients. The company uses named meat meals and never adds by-products, corn, soy, wheat, and preservatives, which might be harmful to pets.

However, if your dog has some health issues and should stick to a special maintenance diet, you probably won’t find a recipe that would target specific organs or systems. Even though Acana offers a variety of flavors and formulas, you can only choose between recipes for weight management and digestion health.

In general, Acana dog food rating is high, and we would definitely recommend this brand if the price tag is OK for you. Indeed, the price might be the reason you’ll refuse to give this brand a chance. But once your dog tries it, you’ll understand why recipes by other companies don’t work for your pet. Because canines are crazy about Acana food and very few consumers report that their pets don’t like their new meals.