Acana Premium Chunks Dog Food Review (Wet)
Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Acana wet dog food receives the Dog Food Advisor second highest rating, 4.5-stars.
Acana wet recipes are formulated with high levels of protein and a great source of hydration.
Pros
- Responsibly farmed-raised meat
- Free-run chickens
- Protein rich ingredients
- Human-grade
Cons
- Expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppies), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The product line includes 5 dog foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Acana Premium Chunks Duck Recipe in Bone Broth | 4.5 | A |
| Acana Premium Chunks Poultry Recipe in Bone Broth | 4.5 | A |
| Acana Premium Chunks Pork Recipe in Bone Broth | 4.5 | A |
| Acana Premium Chunks Lamb Recipe in Bone Broth | 4.5 | A |
| Acana Premium Chunks Beef Recipe in Bone Broth | 4.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Acana Premium Chunks Duck Recipe in Bone Broth was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Acana Premium Chunks Duck Recipe in Bone Broth
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Duck, duck broth, turkey bone broth, sweet potatoes, turkey liver, cranberries, carrots, salmon, spinach, dried egg whites, dried egg product, natural flavor, organic guar gum, pumpkin, salt, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, selenium yeast, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), blueberries, calcium carbonate, vitamins (thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), choline chloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 22% | 25% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 36% | 44% | 21% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.1
Duck is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is duck broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is turkey bone broth. Although they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, bone broths are a common component in many wet products.
However, since broths consist almost entirely of water, the trace nutrients they contain account for only a fraction of the overall finished dog food.
The fourth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The fifth ingredient is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient is cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
The seventh ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is salmon, an oily 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 ninth ingredient is dried egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
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 the product.
This recipe has two notable exceptions.
Firstly, 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.
Also, salmon oil which is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Acana Premium Chunks Duck Recipe in Bone Broth looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.4%, a fat level of 22.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 25.3%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 44.4% and a mean fat level of 18.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 29.2% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 41%.
This means the Acana Premium Chunks range contains above-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, below-average fat, when compared to typical wet dog food.
Acana uses responsibly sourced high quality ingredients in every recipe and contains no man-made chemicals or preservatives. The recipes rely on meat and vegetables for nutritional value and are supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
Highly recommended.
Acana Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Acana through April 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Acana Dog Food
Acana uses responsibly sourced high quality ingredients in every recipe and contains no man-made chemicals or preservatives. The recipes rely on meat and vegetables for nutritional value and are supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
Highly recommended.
About
Acana is a cat and dog food brand owned by Champion Petfoods, a Canadian company. It was founded in 1985 by Canadian entrepreneur Reinhard Mühlenfeld. Originally a tiny operation serving local Alberta farmers, it is now Canada’s largest pet food manufacturer.
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