Acana Dog Food (Dry)

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Rating: ★★★★★

Acana Dog Food receives the Advisor’s highest rating of 5 stars.

The Acana Dog Food product line lists eleven dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

  • Acana Senior Dog
  • Acana Light and Fit
  • Acana Sport and Agility
  • Acana Puppy and Junior
  • Acana Adult Large Breed
  • Acana Adult Small Breed
  • Acana Puppy Small Breed
  • Acana Puppy Large Breed
  • Acana Chicken and Burbank Potato
  • Acana Duck and Bartlett Pear (4 stars)
  • Acana Lamb and Okanagan Apple (4 stars)

Acana Adult Small Breed dry dog food was selected to represent others in the line for this review.

Acana Adult Small Breed

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 36% | Fat = 21% | Carbs = 35%

Ingredients: Chicken meal, steel-cut oats, deboned chicken, whole potato, peas, chicken fat, whole egg, deboned flounder, sun-cured alfalfa, chicken liver, herring oil, pea fiber, whole apples, whole pears, sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, spinach, cranberries, blueberries, kelp, chicory root, juniper berries, angelica root, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, lavender, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis32%19%NA
Dry Matter Basis36%21%35%
Calorie Weighted Basis29%42%29%

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient is oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

The third ingredient is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The fourth item is potato. Assuming they’re cooked, potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The seventh ingredient is whole eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The eighth item lists flounder. This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1

Although it is a quality item, raw fish contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The ninth ingredient is alfalfa, a flowering member of the pea family. Although alfalfa is more commonly associated with cattle feeds, it can still provide healthy nutrients to any dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

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 product.

With three notable exceptions

First, chicory root is naturally rich in a substance called 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, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

Next, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

And lastly, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

Acana Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Acana Dog Food looks to be an above-average dry dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 21% and estimated carbohydrates of about 35%.

Unfortunately, with a protein content of about 28% (and their apparently lower meat content), the duck and lamb recipes did not qualify for our top rating.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a dry kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Acana Classic Series Dog Food is a plant-based dry kibble using a significant amount of poultry or lamb meal as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Please note some products may have been given higher or lower ratings based upon our estimate of their total meat content.

Those looking for a grain-free version of the same brand may wish to visit our review of Acana Grain Free dry dog food.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.

However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

01/27/2010 Original review
09/02/2010 Review updated
02/02/2012 Review updated
02/05/2013 Review updated
02/05/2013 Last Update

  1. Adapted by The Dog Food Advisor from the official definition of other fish ingredients as published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials
  • Scooter4

    Hello Sharron,

    I work for a pet food store and I can say that vets do not know the first thing about pet foods. They know the animal, not the food. Think about it like this, doctors know the body but don’t know everything about the drugs they prescribe but pharmacists do. We are the ladder. In my opinion Acana is the best food available, it’s what I feed to my dog. General rule of thumb is, if you can buy it at the grocery store, it’s not a good food. If you want your dog to lose weight, keep exercising Lexee and reduce the amount of food you serve by 2% each week until you get your desired results. You don’t need to cut out treats but I would stick to low calorie, single ingredient treats like Benny Bullies freeze dried liver treats or Pure Bites Trail mix (Liver, green beans and sweet potato) or Crumps Naturals are really good. My dog gets the Sweet Potato Crumps rawhides. They are just dried sweet potato, so it is like him chewing a rawhide but without the unhealthy and potential choking hazard aspect. Hope this helps

  • Pattyvaughn

    Hi Michael George
    I have noticed, and several other people here concur with me, that when I start learning about how to keep my dogs their healthiest, I start watching my own health and eating habits better too.

  • http://www.webhealthforyou.com/ Michael George

    It is important that our pets are healthy, but it is MORE important that we are healthy than our pet. i reflects how well disciplined we are.

  • moonbeam

    Thanks for the quick answer. I kept looking at all the formulas and for some reason didn’t notice that…derp! Lol

  • Hound Dog Mom

    The duck and lamb are lower in protein than the other varieties.

  • moonbeam

    Sorry for the noob question but why is the duck/lamb only 4 stars while the chicken is 5 stars?

  • http://www.facebook.com/Ebonyshadow Sandy Smith Ebonyshadow

    Hi Sharon
    Acana is a good food,so I would stay with that.Try cutting back abit and see if that helps,You should now in acouple of days if that does the trick.But no table scrapes or anything extra.If you still find that he isn’t at the right weight you could try the lamb and apple.I don’t know what food you are on,but alot of the Acana is high in protein/fat.I feed chicken/potatoe and lamb/apple.
    Also I might add vets do not have a clue when it comes to nutrition.

  • InkedMarie

    We adopted an obese dog and she lost her weight with Wellness Cores reduced fat. I generally prefer less of a high quality food but I like the stats and ingredients of the Core reduced fat.

  • Alexandra

    Hi Sharron,

    I would AVOID EVO, they are all in a current recall.

    An alternative could be wellness Core.

    The light and fit is grain inclusive, if you go to a gran free Acana formula and you are sensible about what you feed she should lose weight.

    As for the high protein, that is myth that has been disproved. High protein does not harm their kidneys.

    My two get anywhere from 45-55 percent protein each meal. I feed Orijen or brothers complete with a raw topper for the morning and all raw for their second meal.

  • sharron

    Hi Alexandra – thanks for your input
    the only Acana that is low in fat is the Light and Fit at 10% fat which Lexee will eat every now and then – she definitely likes it better than vet clinic food but she is very picky about kibble. I’ve alot of comments on other sites that Evo weight management is supposed to be a really good food but 52% protein seems awfully high for a little house dog – she’s a yorkie/chihuahua

  • smitty

    Yes you can feed her a decent regular food. Exercise her more and feed her the same and she will lose weight

  • Alexandra

    Hi Sharron,

    First, I agree with you to not feed the vet diet. They are insanely expensive and offer inferior ingredients.

    If you are feeding Acana, which I am assuming since you posted here, please correct me if I am wrong. You just need to cut back on the amount fed. I would cut out all treats as well. Do you free feed or do you offer meals?

    A grain free diet will offer you the lowest amount of carbs, the higher the protein the lower the carb count.

    Some Acana is higher in fat then others so you would have to look at the labels.

    Your dog sounds like it has sufficient activity level.

    To help with the weight loss, you could feed her what is recommended for a less active dog. Just monitor your dog closely and adjust amount fed as needed.

    The calories while at around 350-400 / cup, are better calories based on the ingredients in the food, compared to a vet diet.

  • sharron

    Hi – i am really confused – Lexee was at the vet for a weigh in – she is 10.5 lbs – about a lb to a lb and half overweight – the vet insists that i feed her a vet clinic weight loss food which Lexee will not eat – the vet knows this but insist that i don’t give in to her little tantrums, and give her something else to eat. the vet at the other clinic where lexee goes for boarding says to feed her a food with less fat and less calories but it doesn’t have to be a weight loss food. well i can’t find a food that is less in fat, calories, etc that isn’t high in carbs – can’t i just feed her a decent regular food
    with more exercising – she gets 4 walks a day – 20 mins each and 10 mins of playing fetch in the yard – shouldn’t this be sufficient for loosing weight?
    thanks

  • Roger Biduk

    Nice post, Hound Dog Mom. Nothing, nothing beats a balanced,raw food diet and never listen to a vet regarding diet, vaccinations or drugs unless he/she is a good holistic vet. The big problem is the 80% of vets out there. http://www.bestcatanddognutrition.com/?cat=87 Roger Biduk

  • Roger Biduk

    Royal Canin? How could anyone recommend this junk?
    Royal Canin is one of the worst brands, with ingredients such as Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Gluten, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Egg Powder, Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Oil, Soybean Oil, Sodium Silico Aluminate, Dried Brewer’s Yeast, Sodium Bisulphate, Ground Psyllium Husk, Brewer’s Yeast Extract. And that’s in their “Veterinary Exclusive” brands!

    All of the above are on lists of ingredients to Absolutely Avoid in Pet Foods. http://www.bestcatanddognutrition.com/?cat=12

    People fall for Royal Canin’s marketing, saying
    different breeds of cats/dogs need different food and they get away with charging a premium for it. We all know that going back to the dinosaurs, carnivores are carnivores.
    Regardless, all of their different brands of food have similar ingredients and none are species-appropriate. Roger Biduk

  • lilo’smom

    Sharron,
    I believe any of the addiction canned food are a good choice. Or you can add some raw for a little cheaper. If you let it thaw out it’s a piece of cake to mix all together.

  • Angel

    I am truly sick of all of the dog food and treat recalls due to ecoli and salmonilla, or some other contaminant. This has been going on far too long with these supposed trusted companies, yet it is happening over and over again. I feed my girl Origin or Acana and will continue to.The fact that they are one of the few that get it and use selenium “yeast” and so many other naturals it tops in my book and my furry child couldn’t look better for 10 with coat and white teeth.The FDA needs to get involved in this pet food tragedy!! It really is enough already, and un-excusable!!!!!!!!

  • sharron

    Hi – i have lexee on acana light and fit – she’s about a 1 – 1/2 lbs overweight – she likes it but prefers wet mixed with it – since acana doesn’t make canned dog food – what would be an appropriate wet food that i can use with the light and fit?
    thanks

  • Crystal D

    He already eats more than the recommended amount, I’ve gotten to the point of just keeping food in his dish at all times, so if he feels even slightly hungry he can eat. I personally like TOTW, its the only food he has been on that didn’t make him sick… he used to constantly throw up from his other dog foods on top of chewing himself raw because he is allergic to the corn in most dog foods.

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    You might add some olive oil or coconut oil to his kibble and also give a fish oil supplement. Oils add calories and fat. There are some raw commercial diets that have a high fat content that you could give also in addition to his kibble like Primal’s chicken, lamb and beef formulas. Also Nature’s Variety Instinct raw bison, Northwest Naturals beef and chicken, Oma’s Pride chicken, lamb and beef. You can even modify a “satin balls” recipe to your liking. I know some who use nut butter (instead of peanut butter). Unfortunately sporting dog foods seem to have corn and corn gluten in them. You might even look at some canned foods. They can have a high fat content as well. Wellness 95% Lamb is 27% protein but 50% fat!

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Crystal –

    My two year old bloodhound Gertie – the dog pictured in my avatar – has a similar problem. I didn’t get her to a healthy weight until I switched her to a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate grain-free, homemade raw diet. She’s currently 68 lbs. (up from 58 before going raw), still skinny but I can’t see her hip bones any more. She eats about 2,700 kcal. per day with protein levels in the 45% – 55% range and fat levels in the 30% – 40% range. The most calorie-dense grain-free dry food I know of is Canine Caviar – the GF Buffalo has 638 kcal. per cup and the GF Puppy has 636 kcal. per cup.

  • Storm’s Mom

    Why not just try feeding him more of the TOTW High Prairie? I’m not a huge TOTW fan, but if you’ve got some of it left, might as well use it up.

  • Crystal D

    I have a question and hopefully someone may be able to help me out… I have an extremely high energy lab who is losing weight like crazy, I took him in to be checked out and see what the problem is and the vet suggested putting him on a diet that has a higher fat content and lower protein. He is currently on TOTW high prairie because he has to be on a grain free diet due to allergies and I have to try and find something that he can eat that will provide him with everything he needs to increase his weight. Do any of you have suggestions on a dog food that is a high energy grain free blend?? I am having an extremely difficult time finding something that won’t make him sick.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    The minimum protein level they need is only around 6% of a high quality protein on a dry matter basis – not advisable, but a dog could survive on this. Acana is a wonderful food (assuming you’re referring to the grain-free regional line), it’s lower in protein than EVO but still has enough to keep your dog healthy and much more than most other brands of dry dog food. If you are concerned about the lower protein content you might want to consider Orijen. Orijen is made by the same company as Acana (Champion) but is higher in protein (38% – 40%).

  • http://www.facebook.com/nightrabbit1 Lindsey Masewicz

    Does anyone know the minimum protein content dogs need? I’m switching my dog from Evo to Acana and noticed the protein content is quite a bit lower.

  • Cate

    Wikipedia: WellPet LLC is a cat and dog food company formed by the combination of Eagle Pack Pet Foods and Old Mother Hubbard,[1] after both had been purchased by Berwind Corporation.
    Their brand names are Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, Prism,
    Hy-Ration, Old Mother Hubbard, Holistix, and (previously) Neura Meats.
    The company is a fully owned subsidiary of Berwind Corporation, along
    with (among others) Elmer’s Glue and the National Pen Company

  • neezerfan

    Lol! The secret money hating thing is out in the open now! Now everything makes sense. FWIW, our vet feeds her dogs half canned, half home cooked. When we discussed raw, she did not advise against it but recommended caution with food handling, bowls and poop pickup. When I questioned her about kibble she said she prefers canned but she did not volunteer that info. She’s almost awesome.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    Hey Melissa,

    I’ve never bought bully sticks, but was kicking around the idea ~ since I haven’t been able to spend all of my money on food alone ~ they have what I think might be a good price on them at Petflow.com right now:

    Edit: Grrr, iPad…. If you go to their website, just type in trials and scroll down the page a bit.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Well, I’m not telling my husband, so that makes it my secret agenda too. SSSSHHHH!!!

  • Melissaandcrew

    Lol..well after buying bully sticks today for $8 a piece, I have to think I do hate having an extra couple bucks around..: )

  • Pattyvaughn

    Oh, is that how it works? I started to say that her raw agenda isn’t hidden, but then I read the rest, it’s the secret money hating agenda.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper

    your hidden agenda is clearly to promote feeding raw foods to dogs so that everyone starts doing it and the price to buy said foods rises and it costs you more to buy the same foods because secretly you hate money and you want less of it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper

    from my experience, pet store workers know more about pet nutrition than vets do. the first time i ever heard someone say pedigree, purina, iams, etc were garbage was a $10/hr employee at petsmart. she made no commission and she quickly steered me away from the national brands and recommended the cheapest four star food they had.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper

    yes acana regional pacifica grain free. smartest vet i’ve ever heard of. maybe they feed their own pets good food and recommend their clients buy science diet, which in turn helps them pay for their pet’s good food?

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Just realized this post was 10 months old…showed up at the top of my thread and thought it was new. New disqus lol

    No, knowing that she’s a vet I’m not surprised. But I would still like an explanation of what that “agenda” is. “Hidden agenda” seems to imply we have an ulterior motive??

    If I do recall correctly, she feeds her dogs Acana/Orijen – MUCH better than most vets. So yes, props for that.

  • Shawna

    Kaliberknl is a vet. Surprised???

    I have to give her props though — she does advocate higher protein and better quality kibbled foods…

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Very interesting blurb… thanks.

  • Shawna

    Here’s another for good measure — however in this one they don’t use high fiber. Also from Journal of Nutrition

    “Several studies showed the potential benefits of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet on reducing body weight in humans (6,7). These diets are also associated with decreases in serum TG as compared to diets high in carbohydrates. The results of the study reported here suggest that these same benefits can also be obtained in dogs fed high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets.

    Despite claims that subjects consuming high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets lose weight with no reduction in calories, recent evidence indicates that the ad libitum consumption of low-carbohydrate diets compared to high-carbohydrate diets is associated with increases in satiety and an overall decrease in total caloric intake (8). In a review of the efficacy of low-carbohydrate diets (3), weight was associated with decreased caloric intake and increased diet duration and not simply with a change in the macronutrient profile of the diet. Low-carbohydrate diets also help stabilize blood glucose levels throughout the day, preventing the hypoglycemia after a high-carbohydrate meal that causes hunger (8,9). This study, however, found no differences in the calories consumed among the groups, whereas the low-carbohydrate groups still lost significantly more weight and fat mass than the high-carbohydrate groups. This suggests that decreased caloric intake is not the sole mechanism of action of low-carbohydrate diets.” http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/8/2087S.full

  • Shawna

    Hi Bryan,

    I’m really late to the game here but wanted to share this with you. This was taken from the “Internet” but sometimes you can find GREAT info even on the Internet.

    “Dietary fibers are used to dilute energy density of the food and to provide a feeling of satiety by causing gastric distension. This latter effect remains controversial in dogs. A concern with feeding weight-reduction diets is that reduced energy intake is associated with suboptimal intake of essential nutrients, especially protein (12). Feeding a high-protein diet in obese dogs resulted in a better conservation of lean body mass (4).

    As expected, dogs of both groups lost their excess body weight and reached their predetermined target body weight over a period ranging from wk 12 to wk 26. Although the weight loss was more rapid in the control group than in the high-protein group, the differences were not significant between the diets for the duration (P = 0.11) nor for the rate of weight loss (P = 0.22).” http://jn.nutrition.org/content/132/6/1685S.full

    I’m quite certain aimee has seen this study before. She must have forgot about it.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hidden raw food agenda?

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Here’s Dr. Mike’s list of “Best Grain Free Dry Dog Foods”:

    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/best-grain-free-dog-foods/best-grain-free-dog-foods-dry/

    There are many on the list that don’t contain fish. Try one out. You could also try topping the dry food with canned food to make it more appetizing.

  • Moose is loose

    My dog hates this food. He has allergies to grains and hates anything with fish or seafood. Any ideas?

  • Erin

    Just saw your post. I’d do a little research on Wellness. They sold a out a number of years ago to a larger company and their quality of food went down.
    I’d also just look into portion control when it comes to weight loss. I started feeding my dog part of her “meal” when we would go on walks so that her treat intake was reduced. She lost 2lbs in just over a month.
    Treats are some of the highest fat content your dog will get so reducing those may help.
    best of luck
    Erin

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  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    I’ve been feeding Acana Duck & Pear for about 2 months now. We’ve gone through a few 5lb. bags. I just bought a small bag of the Lamb & Apple I’ve been phasing in and so far so good. I’m thinking of eventually trying the Chicken & Potato and Ranchlands but for now they’ll just rotate between the Duck and Lamb. Laverne has a sensitive stomach and some intolerances (not sure exactly to what) so I want to keep the rotation simple for awhile. They’ve also been getting freeze dried as a topper (rehydrated).

  • Aslat

    This is the only food my puppy has been able to eat without terrible digestive issues! It earns a 10 star in my books! He’s now happy and healthy and we love Acana!!!

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

    Earthborn Holistic Grain Free is a really good food at a very reasonable price.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=515163480 Willard Rube Jackson

    Thanks Bryan! What do you personally recommend that is resonablely priced?

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Unless there is some sort of medical condition going on then the possibilities are plentiful. If I were you I’d simply go through the 5-star foods here, making sure they are either for all life stages or puppy, and give them a try. Most will have free samples available, either through their retailer or by contacting them directly.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=515163480 Willard Rube Jackson

    I love these back and forth conversations about the best dog food! Keep up the good work folks! Just kidding what is the best food for an Amstaff 7 month old puppy?

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  • aimee

    Sharron,

    I think both diets are fairly equivalent. The percent of calories fed as protein looks higher in the Acana and using the manufacturers numbers there are fewer calories /kg in the Acana vs the Wellness.
    I think either would make a suitable diet.

  • sharron

    thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

    i will get a bag of the wellness

  • InkedMarie

    It worked wonderfully. Katie should have weighed about 25lbs but weighed 43.7. She had alot of other issues, including hip dysplasia, exercise couldnt’ happen so Wellness was the only thing that helped. I would never hesitate to use it again

  • sharron

    the acana has oats – lexee has to lose 2 – 2 1/2 lbs
    the wellness core worked for your dog?

  • sharron

    the acana has oats in it – lexee has to lose 2 – 2 1/2 lbs
    the wellness worked for your dog?

  • InkedMarie

    I can’t answer about the Acana but want to ask, is it a grainfree food? Core is grainfree. I used it a few years back when we adopted a dog that needed to lose almost half of her body weight. I liked the ingredients and like how my dog did on it.

  • sharron

    thought i would toss out this question and see what people think
    acana light and fit or wellness core reduced fat?
    what would be better
    thanks

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I didn’t think you were dismissing the source of the calories, but I wanted to make sure. Fat content is something I didn’t think about, to go along with a higher protein (that being animal-based protein) diet.

    The part about feeding more animal-based protein, as opposed to a diet with higher carbs, is just for that lower calorie intake reason. If the dog is getting less calories, it’s important that the calories they do get come from more highly digestible sources. Otherwise you’re running into “empty” calories, and you’ll end up with a dog that’s at least slightly malnourished.

  • aimee

    Hi BryanV21,
    Sorry if I didn’t make that clear. The diet for weight loss should have a high percentage of calories fed as protein. There is less loss of lean body weight during weight loss when a significant percentage of the calories fed are from protein. Additionally I prefer a low fat diet ( 10% or less) for weight loss. This makes it easier to feed greater percent of the calories as protein and it allows a greater volume of food to be fed.

    Once the diet is chosen if the dog isn’t losing weight then yes you should lower calories.

    If you want to try to use the same number of calories than you need to find a diet with more calories fed as protein.

    Do date there is nothing to substantiate feeding fewer calories as carbohydrate facilitates weight loss unless you exchange them for protein.

    Currently it is reported that when increasing the percentage of calories as fat ( which decreases the amount from carb) higher body fat levels on the dog were seen.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Oh, that’s a fun game. It allows you to dismiss any opinion that doesn’t agree with you. That’s awesome!

  • aimee

    Well bryanV21,
    I find that I constantly change my thinking based on what I learn.

    Yes…I do choose my sources carefully. I don’t want to end up like the girl on the State Farm commercial who believes her date is a

    French model because she read it on the internet : )

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    “If there is a plethora of carbohydrates, fat will be stored instead of used”

    “Excess carbohydrates are stored in the liver and the muscles as glycogen AND in the body as fat.”
    -http://rawfed.com/myths/carbs.html

    Here’s another article for you that talks about carbs and dogs – http://www.k9criticalcare.com/news/9/11-Ways-Carbs-Hurt-Your-Dog.html

    There you go… something other than out of my mouth. Is that better? I know I’m just some schlub banging away at a keyboard, so I hope this helps.

    And I already admitted to simplifying things too much by just saying “digest”. But thank you for driving home the point.

    The problem with going strictly by science, which is all I ever read from you, is that there are many scientific studies that contradict each other. Just look at the argument of carnivore vs. omnivore, which is all over this very site. So you can quote whoever and whatever you want, because it doesn’t change anything in my mind.

  • sharron

    hi aimee
    thanks for your comment
    i know i come across as a very confused dog owner. i have found in the past when lexee was fed just canned food she was always hungry – the canned didn’t fill her up – when it comes to dry dog food she is very paticular -alot of the dry foods she doesn’t like. The hill’s metabolic food she was on is suppose to target the dog’s metabolism – measurements were taken of lexee and these were enterted into the computer and it figured out how much the dog should ideally weigh and how much to feed – well lexee’s results showed that she should weigh 6 lbs. (which i don’t agree with) and she should get 160 calories/day. which i also think is too low. – besides she started to chew on her paws and everything else.

  • aimee

    Ok fair enough..have you ever seen anyone explain it? Maybe people are all just repeating what someone has said in which case the number of people saying it is immaterial!

    If protein or carb aren’t digested than the colonic bacteria get a crack at them and the dog/cat may get some caloric benefit. But practically if a food isn’t digested, it ends up on the lawn not as fat on the body.

    I also can’t figure out where the notion that carbs aren’t digested well even comes from when there is GOBS of documentation in the literature that they are!

    I recently found a paper that on a calorie basis cats, were more efficient gaining weight on a low carb/high protein food than on an high carb food “ad libitum feeding of LCHP diets is not recommended as they have higher energetic efficiency and result in greater weight gain.” Coradini 2011

    That initially blew me away! In dogs holding fat constant and exchanging protein for carb we saw the opposite. Which is what I’d expect. Then I thought well maybe since cats are carnivores vs the dog, an omnivore, they are very efficient at metabolizing protein over carbs. I don’t know… but I do know you just can’t reason science.. you need data!

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    So you’re advice is to simply feed less calories? Really? I suppose not feeding the dog anything would be the most ideal, that way it can’t possibly be taking in more than it’s burning? Right?

    What about the quality of the calories? Doesn’t that mean anything?

  • aimee

    Hi Sharron,

    I know you have been struggling with Lexi’s weight for a long time. In regards to diet composition, fat in the diet is the easiest to become fat on the body followed by carbohydrate and lastly protein. You’ll see it written, as it is on this site, to choose a higher protein lower fat food for weight loss.

    A dog can lose weight on any diet though if the calories on intake are less than output. The higher the fat content in the diet the smaller the volume fed will be . Volume fed may contribute to satiety.

    My advice is to invest in a baby scale so you can accurately weigh Lexi and a food scale to weigh her food. If she is eating Acana and ONLY Acana..(no canned or treats) and your goal is to feed 220 calories a day you would divided 220 kcal by 3100 kcal/ kg and feed .07kg (70 grams) a day. By using the calories fed/day and dividing by the calories in the food you will be able to calculate how many grams to feed no matter what food you feed. This way when you change foods as you often seem to do you can calculate out how much to feed.

    You said she lost weight on the food from the vet YEAH! That is the first time in months you have ever said she had lost any weight! You also said she didn’t lose as much as she should have. That means that the number of calories you were feeding needs to decrease. Your vet should be able to guide you. For example if she was on 250 cal/day then she may need to go to 220. Then weigh her again in a few weeks and see if she is reaching her goals. You need to keep track of every single calorie fed.

    Some dogs have very low energy requirements and for weight loss need very few calories. This is where foods from vets that are specifically formulated for weight loss are recommended. This is because they will have a higher ratio of nutrients to calorie so that when feeding very little calories you won’t be feeding too few nutrients.

    In the past you had written statements that seem conflicting; Lexi is hungry all the time, Lexi won’t eat the food. Unless there is a medical reason, it may be that If Lexi doesn’t want to eat it may be her own body signaling that she doesn’t need food. Lexi may still beg though for tasty items.

    Good Luck

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Perhaps “digest” isn’t the right term, but I go by a little saying (and I’m paraphrasing)… “if one person says something you can dismiss
    it, if two people say something it’s probably okay to dismiss it, but if 3 or more people say something then it’s time to pay attention.”

    I’m not a doctor, so I can’t explain how the body processes certain foods. But I’ve not only read about it, I’ve seen it first-hand when it comes to overweight dogs. However, I do know that just because a food is not digested it doesn’t mean the body doesn’t turn it into something else, be that fat or whatever.

    I know you like science, but sorry… I can’t provide it for you.

  • aimee

    Bryanv21,
    I have frequently heard people make statements as yours which I don’t understand. Please explain If the dog isn’t digesting carbs than how in the heck can the dog gain weight from them?

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Yeah, Hill’s is a grain inclusive diet, and that could very well be the issue. Besides that 2oz in 3 weeks is not acceptable.

    Acana Light & Fit is a good food, however it does contain oats. Oats on their own are gluten-free, so they would likely be okay, but seeing as how they aren’t certified gluten-free you may want to skip them.

    So I’d look at the Acana grain-free foods. They are higher in fat and calories, but you’ll feed less of it. And keep in mind that your dog will digest more of the meat, making the calorie/fat difference not important.

  • sharron

    about 2 1/2 weeks ago i talked to the vet and told her that i was having trouble getting extra weight off of lexee – she suggested i try a new diet food from hill’s that they just got – so i did – lexee lost 2 oz in 3 weeks – should have been more – i was feeding the correct amt. – well it turns out she can’t eat it – she started licking her paws and everything else. so that’s when i bought a trial size bag of the acana light and fit yesterday.
    she’s 2 lbs overweight – weighs 10.8 lbs – should be 8 lbs

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I don’t think so. Like I said in response to another post of yours, lowering the carbs will work in most cases. Dogs digest animal-based protein (meat, organs, etc) better, but don’t do so well with carbs (grains, potato, etc).

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Sorry to butt in, but I thought another opinion may be welcome.

    A lot of times I find that people are feeding foods that are too high in carbs. Although dogs can digest some carbs, they don’t do it so well. So it’s easy to gain weight on them. Are you still feeding the Acana? And how long has it been?

  • sharron

    is it necessary to feed a weight control food to an overweight dog
    she’ not obese just a little chubby – and is it the calories i have to watch out for?

  • sharron

    thanks – i’ve been thinking the same thing – should get her tested again to make sure it’s not a medical reason – can you tell me what causes weight gain, i know it’s usually over feeding but what about the fat level and carb level do they play a part in it too? – i feel she gets enough exercise, with the length of walks and playing in the house – lexee is the first dog i’ve had where i’ve have to watch the weight.
    thanks

  • Melissaandcrew

    Hi sharron-

    I would not base the health of the dog on 3 yr old blood work results. I would really suggest that it be done again, just to be sure nothing is changing : )

  • sharron

    Hi Betsy

    thanks for your comments

    Lexee had bloodwork done about 3 yrs ago and everything was fine. this weight issue comes down to overfeeding. I overestimated how much she should weigh. I had her at 9-9.5 lbs, she should be 7-8 lbs. She is very particular about dry dog food – Acana seems to be the only one she will actually eat without any fuss and i don’t have to jump through hoops to get her to eat.

  • Pattyvaughn

    The dog food calculator says 0.89 cups/day. But only use that as a starting point, monitor her weight and adjust as needed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    Hi Sharron,

    Acana Lit & Fit is a good product. I was just wondering though if you had ever tried either Nutrisca or Horizon Legacy ~ both of which have a lower glycemic index and might help Lexee shed the weight she seems to be having some trouble losing.

    I assume she’s had bloodwork and everything came back normal?

  • sharron

    the feeding guide starts at 11 lbs – she was on a hill’s vet prescribed food for weight loss for about 2 weeks then she started licking her paws and everything else
    a couple of days ago that’s when i switched her food to acana – the vet food has 252 calories/cup and acana light and fit has 325 calories/cup

  • Pattyvaughn

    How much does it say to feed a 10 lbs dog? Or how much were you feeding of her old food and how does the calorie count compare? I would try 4/5 of the amount it says for a 10 lbs dog and watch her closely to make sure she starts losing weight.

  • sharron

    i should clarify that lexee currently weighs 10.5 lbs and should weigh weigh 8 lbs.

  • sharron

    Hi – i started lexee on acana light and fit today and i am assuming it is a decent dog food for her. My problem is figuring out how much to feed her. On the bag it starts at 11 lbs . How much should i feed her for 8 lbs. – she’s 4 yrs old – 2 lbs. overweight and gets 1 – 1 1/2 hr/day (weather permitting)
    thanks!!!!!!

  • InkedMarie

    I hope you realize that foods affect dogs differently. Just because your particular dog didn’t do well on Acana doesn’t meant that it’s one of the worst foods. It may be one of the worst for your dog but not for other dogs

  • InkedMarie

    I agree with both Sandy and HDM. That being said, we feed Brothers Complete Allergy formula to one & Dr. Tim’s Pursuit to the others. We do feed pre made raw (Darwins and Bravo Balance) as well as canned and dehydrated (The Honest Kitchen and Grandma Lucy’s)

  • Pattyvaughn

    You must have blinders on, if you think Acana is worse than Ol’ Roy, Beneful, Pedigree, Be Happy, and a few hundred more I could name. No, it isn’t the very best food on the market, but it is extremely far from being the worst.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    I agree with Sandy, there will be negative comments out there about any food. Petcurean and S&C are both good foods. My dog all eat a homemade raw diet now, but I’ve occasionally used freeze-dried S&C as treats and I’ve used Percurean (GO) in my rotation back when I was feeding kibble and my dog did well with it. My only suggestion would be to try switching things up occasionally – don’t stick with the same food. When I fed kibble me dog got a new brand at the end of each bag and I rotated canned toppers daily. Some of my favorite kibbles were Orijen, Acana, Nature’s Variety Instinct and the Great Life. I liked Tripett, Nature’s Logic, Nature’s Variety and ZiwiPeak for canned. Some other freeze-dried raws you could check out are NV Instinct, Primal, Vital Essentials and Wysong – Orijen has a freeze-dried raw coming soon that looks great.

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    There will always be something negative about a food as all foods don’t work for all dogs, even the ones considered to be great foods. Sometimes it’s not the food’s fault. Sometimes it’s a case of a dog not having a healthy gut and therefore is just unable to digest properly. And then sometimes the food is bad. Over the past 3 years I’ve fed Core Ocean, Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Instinct, Nutrisca, Great Life, Amicus, Merrick 5 Star Entrees (now reformulated), Epigen, and Brothers Complete, Nutrisource and Nature’s Select (still currently use the last 4). While my foster dogs haven’t had any negatives other than normal food transition woes, others might have horrible gas, diarrhea, hair loss, itching, etc. I give my dogs probiotics and enzymes.
    My personal dogs have frequent food changes so they’re use to it and don’t need transition time. They eat all forms of food – kibble and raw and freeze dried and canned.
    I feed Instinct/Nutrisca/Vital Essentials freeze dried, all flavors. Dogs love them all and I also feed an assortment of canned goods – Merrick, Nutrisca, Weruva, Addiction, Wellness, and Tripett.
    While my dogs do well on all these foods, I’m sure someone else’s dog has not.

  • Orbit

    This has to be one of the worst foods made. I used it twice and both times all the dogs had gas and elephant-sized stools. If you do some research on the company it becomes clear it is a marketing company.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.b.haislip Jennifer Bridges Haislip

    Hi! I would love to know what (if any) dry kibble you feed your dog(s). There is just so much information out there…. Every time I feel I’ve found a good food, I hear something negative about it. I know it would be best to feed raw, but that is just something I can not do. Currently I am feeding NOW by Petcurean with Stella & Chew’s freeze dried mixed in. Appreciate you thoughts! You can email me at jbridges18@verizon.net.

  • rescuedogmom

    I totally agree, Science Diet was recommended by my vet for our 8 dogs, within 1 40lb. bag my 2 Blue Heelers started to scratch like crazy, I mentioned it to my vet and told her they never did that on Orijen, her reply was we didn’t give it enough time! Sorry yes we did and they went back on Orijen.

  • Pattyvaughn

    At least when you are steering people towards Canadian products, it’s Orijen, Acana, etc. not Royal Canin garbage. You haven’t hurt anyone or their dogs. Don’t feel bad. Live and learn. We all do.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    LOL, you got me. I just feel bad that I’ve said it to people, and it’s not true.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Maybe that antibiotic isn’t illegal there.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I’ve conceded to others already that I was ill-informed.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I wasn’t sure how to take your original response, sorry.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Of course there is a reason for every ingredient. So the food will be cheaper is a reason. To add calories is a reason. So it looks better is a reason. They have lots of reasons, they just aren’t all good reasons.

  • Pattyvaughn

    I had heard the same thing. I think it’s an assumption that people have made and passed on as fact.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    I was just curious to know if it was the case because I’ve always thought US pet food regulations and Canadian pet food regulations were pretty similar. I think Canada makes a lot of the best foods (like Orijen), I’m just not sure that they’re any better regulated.

  • Cate

    If Canada is so good about pet food why didn’t they pull the antibiotic contaminated treats from stores 2 weeks ago like the US ?

  • JellyCat

    Yeah, there is no regulations on pet food in Canada. Check this out http://www.pfac.com/learn/industry/index.html
    They say the following : “Pet food manufacturers do not include unnecessary ingredients. Every ingredient used in pet food is there for a reason. Extensive research has gone into formulating pet foods that meet the complex nutritional needs of cats and dogs.”

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I wish I knew where that information came from. For some reason I just accepted that and went with it. It’s pretty pathetic, huh?

  • Pattyvaughn

    A few weeks back, someone from Canada was telling me that they have no regulations on dog food. She described a situation much like ours. Many people think they have tough regulations because some US foods can’t be exported to Canada, but that has to do with mad cow scares, not dog food quality.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Sorry, I couldn’t tell you. Now that you bring it up, I have no clue either way. It’s just something I’ve repeated, and probably wrongly so.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    What sources? I’ve never heard that. I agree that the regulations in Europe are far more stringent but I’ve never heard or read anything suggesting that the Canadian pet food industry is more stringent. The Canadian dog food industry is essentially self-regulated like the US dog food industry. They also experience a lot of the same “issues” we experience here in the US (i.e. vets/shelters sending euthanized animals to be rendered).

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I’ve heard that from various sources. The same goes for England.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    How does Canada have more stringent pet food regulations?

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Yes, because the country of origin is more important than the product itself.

    I like Canada for their more stringent pet food regulations, but to say all of their products are superior is ridiculous.

    I’ll put it bluntly… Royal Canin sucks.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Pen –

    Kibble is a bakery product and has to contain a starch to bind it. So all kibbles are going to contain either grains, white potatoes, tapioca or legumes (peas, lentils, garbanzo beans). The other alternatives to legumes for grain-free foods (white potatoes or tapioca) aren’t any more healthful or species-appropriate than legumes and are higher glycemic. The only way you can completely avoid grains and starches is to feed a non-kibble product. Despite containing legumes Orijen is very high in meat and most of the protein is coming from the meat, not the legumes – the first legume ingredient doesn’t come in until ingredient #16 and I was told by their customer service that each legume is 2% or less of the formula.