Rating: 
Acana Dog Food receives the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.
The Acana Dog Food product line lists ten dry dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Three of the recipes are made for puppies, three for adults, one for dogs with allergies, one for performance dogs, one for overweight pets and one for seniors.
- Acana Adult Dog
- Acana Senior Dog
- Acana Sport and Agility
- Acana Puppy and Junior
- Acana Adult Small Breed
- Acana Adult Large Breed
- Acana Puppy Small Breed
- Acana Puppy Large Breed
- Acana Light and Fit (overweight dogs)
- Acana Lamb and Apple (dogs with allergies)
Acana Adult Small Breed was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Acana Adult Small Breed
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, steamed oats, fresh free-run chicken, peas, brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and rosemary), fresh de-boned salmon, chicken liver, fresh whole eggs, sun-cured alfalfa, salmon oil, pumpkin, chicken cartilage (natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin), red delicious apples, carrots, turnip greens, cranberries, saskatoon berries, organic sea vegetables (kelp, bladderwrack, dulse), burdock root, marshmallow root, juniper berries, fenugreek, sweet fennel, angelica root, sea buckthorn, chicory root, stinging nettle, red raspberry leaf, milk thistle, peppermint leaf, marigold flowers, chamomile flowers, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin, lysine, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin), minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, colbalt proteinate, copper proteinate)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains almost 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient lists oats… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oats are naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and (unlike many other grains) are mostly gluten-free.
The third ingredient is fresh 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 occupy a lower position on the list.
The fourth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
The fifth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
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 lists salmon. Salmon is a fatty marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The eighth ingredient includes chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The ninth ingredient mentions eggs… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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 have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, the salmon oil listed here is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog for life.
Next, the manufacturer 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.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to proteins. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Acana Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Although there are some differences, all ten Acana Dog Foods are remarkably similar in composition.
With the sole exception of the Lamb and Apple formula (which uses lamb meal) , each product features chicken meal as its dominant meat ingredient and its primary source of protein.
So, judging by its ingredients alone, Acana Dog Food appears to be an above-average kibble.
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 37%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 36%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 38% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Average fat. And below-average carbs… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing significant amount of meat.
In addition, it’s important to acknowledge the complete absence here of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Acana is essentially a meat-based dry dog food using a notable amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand five.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a grain-free version of this product may wish to check out our review of Acana Grain-Free dog food.
A Final Word
This review is 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 a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to 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 veterinarian for help.
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
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.