Acana dog food positions itself as a provider of “whole food nutrition” for dogs, emphasizing high-quality meats and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables to support canine health and happiness. With a diverse range of recipes, Acana caters to various dietary needs, including freeze-dried raw food options, grain-free formulas, and limited ingredient diets.
Wag! gives Acana dog food a rating of 4 out of 5 paws, acknowledging its wide selection and ingredient quality. But is Acana truly the right choice for your dog?
This 2025 Acana review explores product lines, recall history, key considerations, and more to help you decide.
Acana Dog Food Product Ranges and Flavors
Currently, Acana offers approximately 50 different dog food varieties across seven main ranges and sub-ranges. All recipes are formulated with a significant proportion of animal ingredients, ranging from 50% to 90%, complemented by up to 40% fruits and vegetables.
Acana states that all its recipes are formulated to be “complete and balanced” according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines. Each recipe is designed to meet nutritional standards for all life stages, puppy growth, or adult maintenance.
Let’s explore each range to understand which might be the best fit for your dog:
Acana Dry Dog Food
Acana offers a core range of six dry food recipes under its standard Acana branding. These recipes are formulated without filler ingredients such as soy, corn, or tapioca. They feature a composition of 60% animal ingredients and 40% fruits and vegetables, with the majority being grain-free.
Acana standard dry food recipes prioritize a quality meat source as the primary ingredient. While not “human-grade” due to the inclusion of meat meal, they maintain a high standard of ingredient quality.
Beyond adult recipes featuring poultry, fish, and beef, Acana provides specialized formulas for puppies, weight management, and even newly adopted dogs. Standard adult Acana dry foods typically contain around 32.9% protein and 19.3% fat on a dry matter basis.
Acana dry food flavors include:
- Puppy
- Free-Run Poultry
- Freshwater Fish
- Red Meat
- Light & Fit
- Rescue Care for Adopted Dogs with Red Meat, Liver and Oats
Acana Classics Dry Dog Food
Acana Classics represents a newer dry food sub-range with three grain-inclusive recipes. Barley, a fiber-rich grain and a healthy alternative to rice, is the primary grain source in these formulas, providing potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Similar to the standard dry food, Acana Classics recipes list a quality meat source as the top ingredient, with meat meals among the top three ingredients. The Chicken and Barley recipe in the Classics line contains approximately 28.4% protein and 18.1% fat as dry matter.
Acana Classics flavors:
- Chicken and Barley
- Beef and Barley
- Salmon and Barley
Acana Wholesome Grains Dog Food
The Wholesome Grains range is Acana’s grain-inclusive dry dog food line, offering nine recipes. Oat groats, whole sorghum, and whole millet are the primary grains, chosen for their nutritional benefits for dogs. Most Wholesome Grains recipes combine 60% animal ingredients with 40% fruits and vegetables.
Each Wholesome Grains recipe starts with a quality named meat as the first ingredient and includes meat meals, maintaining a focus on animal protein sources. Recipes are available with red meat, poultry, duck, and lamb.
The Wholesome Grains line includes specific formulas for small dogs and large breeds, as well as limited ingredient options within the range.
Acana Wholesome Grains recipes generally have a slightly lower protein content compared to the standard dry food range, likely due to the inclusion of grains and reduced reliance on plant-based proteins. For example, the Free-Run Poultry & Grains recipe contains around 30.6% protein and 19.3% fat as dry matter.
Wholesome Grains flavors:
- Free-Run Poultry & Grains
- Red Meat & Grains
- Sea to Stream Fish & Grains
- Small Breed
- Large Breed
- Large Breed Puppy
- Puppy
- Puppy Sea & Farm
Acana Limited Ingredient Dog Food
Acana Limited Ingredient recipes are formulated with single animal proteins and a reduced number of ingredients compared to other Acana lines. These six recipes are designed for dogs with food sensitivities or digestive issues. Standard Limited Ingredient recipes feature 65% animal ingredients and 35% fruits and vegetables.
While positioned as limited ingredient, Acana’s recipes in this line contain around 13 primary ingredients and several carbohydrates, which means they may not be the most restrictive limited-ingredient dog foods available.
Each recipe features a quality named meat as the top ingredient and includes meat meals. Options include beef, lamb, duck, and pork. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Diet recipes typically provide around 35.2% protein and 19.3% fat as dry matter.
Limited Ingredient Diet flavors:
- Singles Duck & Pear
- Singles Pork & Squash
- Singles Lamb & Apple
- Singles Beef & Pumpkin
- Wholesome Grains Lamb & Pumpkin
- Wholesome Grains Duck & Pumpkin
Acana Highest Protein Dog Food
Acana Highest Protein is a dry dog food range suitable for active working dogs and senior dogs needing to maintain muscle mass. Formulated with 70% animal ingredients and 30% fruits and vegetables, these recipes aim to support healthy weight and muscle development.
All four recipes in the Highest Protein line list three quality named animal proteins among the top ingredients. Meat meals are included in these recipes.
Each recipe incorporates multiple meat sources, like the Appalachian Ranch recipe with beef, lamb, and pork. This variety may not be ideal for dogs with very sensitive stomachs. Acana Highest Protein recipes boast a higher protein content than other Acana dry foods; the Meadowland recipe, for instance, contains 37.5% protein and 19.3% fat as dry matter.
Highest Protein flavors:
- Meadowland with Poultry, Fish & Eggs
- Atlantic with Mackerel, Herring & Redfish
- Appalachian Ranch with Meats & Catfish
Acana Butcher’s Favorites Dog Food
Butcher’s Favorites is Acana’s premium dry food range, combining kibble with jerky pieces for enhanced palatability. The meaty taste is designed to appeal to picky eaters. The range includes three grain-free recipes with 70% animal ingredients and 30% fruits and vegetables.
The three Butcher’s Favorites recipes feature beef and liver, salmon, and poultry and liver. Each recipe lists a named quality meat as the primary ingredient and includes meat meals from multiple animal sources.
Butcher’s Favorites recipes have a higher protein content than the Highest Protein range, with around 40.9% protein and 19.3% fat as dry matter.
Butcher’s Favorites flavors:
- Free-Run Poultry & Liver
- Wild-Caught Salmon
- Farm-Raised Beef & Liver
Acana Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Acana’s Freeze Dried range offers eight dog food options in patty or kibble-style morsel formats. This line has the highest proportion of animal ingredients in Acana’s portfolio, with 90% animal ingredients and 10% fruits and vegetables.
The top three ingredients in all Acana Freeze-Dried recipes are quality named animal proteins. These recipes are formulated without meat meal. The inclusion of organic produce like pears, butternut squash, and carrots indicates a focus on high-quality ingredients.
Flavors include chicken, turkey, duck, and beef. However, the inclusion of whole herring or mackerel as a secondary ingredient in some recipes may not be suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Most Acana Freeze-Dried recipes contain approximately 44.2% protein and 29.4% fat as dry matter.
Freeze-Dried dog food flavors:
- Freeze-Dried Patties Farm-Raised Beef
- Freeze-Dried Patties Free-Run Chicken
- Freeze-Dried Patties Free-Run Duck
- Freeze-Dried Patties Free-Run Turkey
- Freeze-Dried Morsels Beef
- Freeze-Dried Morsels Free-Run Chicken
- Freeze-Dried Morsels Duck
- Freeze-Dried Morsels Free-Run Turkey
Acana Wet Dog Food
Acana offers a Premium canned wet dog food range in six flavors and two textures. Each recipe contains 85% animal ingredients and 15% fruits and vegetables.
Recipes are available with poultry, beef, lamb, duck, and pork. All recipes list a quality named meat source as the top ingredient and are made without meat meals.
With a high moisture content of 78%, Acana Premium wet food is suitable as a dry food topper to help keep dogs hydrated.
Acana Premium wet dog foods have favorable protein-to-fat ratios; for example, the Chunks Poultry in Bone Broth recipe contains 36.3% protein and 22.7% fat as dry matter.
Premium wet dog food flavors:
- Pâté Poultry
- Pâté Beef
- Pâté Duck
- Pâté Lamb
- Pâté Puppy in Bone Broth
- Chunks Poultry in Bone Broth
- Chunks Beef in Bone Broth
- Chunks Lamb in Bone Broth
- Chunks Duck in Bone Broth
- Chunks Pork in Bone Broth
Acana Classics Pâté Chicken Wet Dog Food
Classics wet foods are a recent addition to the Acana range, offering a budget-friendly, grain-inclusive alternative to the Premium wet dog food line.
Comparison of the pâté poultry recipes from both lines reveals similar moisture, protein, and fat levels, with unprocessed chicken cuts as the top ingredient in both.
The primary difference is the inclusion of rolled oats and barley as key ingredients in Classics Pâté Chicken. It also contains a higher proportion of sweet potato than the Premium Pâté Poultry.
Acana Classics Pâté Chicken dog food provides 36.3% protein and 27.2% fat as dry matter.
Acana Classics Wet Dog Food flavors:
- Pâté Chicken
- Pâté Beef
- Pâté Fish
Acana Dog Treats
Acana offers two treat sub-ranges: Chewy Tenders and Freeze-Dried Treats.
The Chewy Tenders line includes three recipes designed to support different aspects of canine health. For instance, the Chicken Chewy Tenders, containing antioxidant-rich cranberries, are formulated to support immune health. These treats are made with 90% animal ingredients and include meat meal.
Acana Freeze-Dried Treats come in three flavors with fewer than five ingredients each, making them suitable for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. With only five calories per treat, they are also ideal for training purposes.
Acana dog treat flavors:
- Chewy Tenders Chicken
- Chewy Tenders Beef
- Chewy Tenders Salmon
- Duck & Pear Freeze-Dried Treats
- Lamb & Apple Freeze-Dried Treats
- Beef & Pumpkin Freeze-Dried Treats
Why Wag! Likes Acana Dog Food
Wag! gives Acana a 4 out of 5 paw rating for several reasons:
Quality Top Ingredients
Acana prioritizes premium fresh and frozen meat in its recipes to provide nutrient-rich meals. All fresh meat is refrigerated, never frozen, while raw meat is frozen at its peak freshness. From frozen to freeze-dried, all Acana dog foods list a quality named meat as the top ingredient.
Acana also uses high-quality whole vegetables from vetted partners. The Freeze-Dried recipes exclusively use organic produce. Grain-inclusive recipes incorporate nutritious grains like whole sorghum and whole millet.
Recipes for Every Lifestyle, Breed, and Age
Acana offers a wide variety of dog foods to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of all ages, sizes, and lifestyles. Beyond breed- and age-specific formulas, Acana provides high-protein, limited ingredient, and healthy weight options. Unique recipes, such as one for recently adopted rescue dogs, are also available.
Responsibly-Sourced Ingredients
Acana uses high-quality, responsibly sourced ingredients. Poultry is free-run, beef and lamb are ranch-raised, and fish is wild-caught. The origin of meats is traceable for transparency; for example, lamb is sourced from New Zealand and fish from Scandinavia.
Strict Manufacturing Standards
Acana’s DogStar kitchen adheres to strict quality standards to ensure product safety. The facility is Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Safe Feed/Safe Food (SFSF) certified, with a track-and-trace system for ingredient monitoring throughout processing. The kitchen follows a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) program for food safety management.
Concerns & Considerations
Despite its strengths, consider these points when evaluating Acana dog food:
Above Average Cost
Acana’s ingredient quality results in a higher price point compared to many other dog foods. For example, a 25-lb bag of Acana Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food can cost around $80.99, or $3.24 per lb.
In comparison, a 35-lb bag of Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Dog Food is approximately $72.49, or $2.07 per lb.
Potentially Controversial Ingredients
Some Acana recipes include ingredients that may raise concerns for some pet owners. “Natural flavors” are listed in many recipes. While generally considered safe for dogs, the term lacks precise definition in pet food regulations and can be less transparent.
Lentil fiber is another ingredient in some dry food recipes. It is an agricultural by-product with limited nutritional value beyond fiber content.
Concerns About Grain-Free Diets
In 2018, the FDA initiated an investigation into a potential link between grain-free dog foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart condition. The investigation focused on diets high in potatoes, legumes, and pulses. Later FDA statements suggest the research now encompasses both grain-free and grain-inclusive diets.
Acana was frequently mentioned as a brand in DCM cases reported to the FDA. The investigation is ongoing, and no new scientific information has been released as of December 2022.
“For most dogs, these diets are just fine. They have real benefits for those with grain sensitivities, though this isn’t a very common food allergy. For some dogs, however, grain free diets could be damaging.”
— Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon and Vet Consultant with Wag!
Currently, there is insufficient evidence to definitively link grain-free diets to DCM. Consult with your veterinarian if you have concerns about feeding your dog Acana grain-free formulas.
What Pet Parents Say About Acana Dog Food
“Our dogs thrive on Acana. German Shepherds can have sensitive guts and skin, we have had no problems with Acana. I can feed less of this nutrient dense food so despite the higher initial cost, I find it costs less in the long run.”
“We have a multi-dog household and there is one that has sensitivities to other proteins. Finding a food that works for everyone is ideal and this food checks all the boxes for my dogs. I have tried other brands for variety but have always come back to this food. Sticking with a good thing!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Acana History
Acana dog food has been produced since 1979, originating in Alberta, Canada.
Until recently, it was owned by Champion Petfoods, also the maker of Orijen premium dog food. Mars Incorporated acquired Champion Petfoods in 2023.
Acana is now sold in over 60 countries, with kitchens in Edmonton, Alberta, and Auburn, Kentucky.
Acana Dog Food Recalls
There have been no recalls of Acana dog food to date.
All product images are from Chewy.com. Copyright Mars Incorporated.
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FAQ
Do vets recommend Acana dog food?
Despite the FDA investigation regarding grain-free dog foods and DCM, there is no conclusive evidence of harm. Veterinarians may still recommend Acana based on individual dog needs. Consult your vet if you have concerns about grain-free diets.
Who owns Acana?
Mars Incorporated acquired Acana in 2023.
Is Acana dog food formulated to meet AAFCO standards?
Yes, all Acana dog food is “complete and balanced” per AAFCO guidelines. Some, like Acana Free-Run Poultry Dry Food, are for all life stages, while others, such as Butcher’s Favorites, are for adult maintenance only. Check packaging for nutrient profiles to ensure suitability for your dog.
How does Wag! determine paw ratings for dog food?
Wag!’s editorial team conducts independent research for food features and ratings. Paw ratings are based on ingredients and nutritional content:
- 1 paw: High filler content, meat not first ingredient
- 2 paws: Meat meal, bone meal, or by-products first ingredient
- 3 paws: Named meat first ingredient (e.g., chicken)
- 4 paws: Same as 3 paws, plus whole, limited ingredients, minimal processing
- 5 paws: Same as 4 paws, plus vet or veterinary body approved, human-grade ingredients
- Half-paws: For extra benefits like affordability, trustworthiness, etc.
