Is Acana Dog Food Good?

The Short Answer

Acana is a cautionary tale of premium marketing meeting concerning health data. While the brand uses excellent animal proteins and nutrient-dense organ meats, their popular grain-free formulas are heavily loaded with peas and lentils.

Because of this legume-heavy formulation, Acana is the #1 most frequently cited brand in the FDA's canine heart disease investigation. If you want to feed Acana, skip the grain-free bags entirely and opt for their "Wholesome Grains" line to minimize the risk of diet-related heart issues.

Why This Matters

For over a decade, Acana and its sister brand Is Orijen Good were considered the gold standard of dry dog food. Produced by Champion Petfoods in Canada, they pioneered the "biologically appropriate" diet with massive amounts of fresh, regional meat.

But their commitment to grain-free formulas caught up with them. When the FDA began investigating a spike in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, Acana was named in 183 cases—more than any other brand on the market. This sparked a massive shift in how we view the safety of legumes in pet diets. Does Grain Free Cause Heart Disease

To complicate matters, Mars Petcare acquired Champion Petfoods in 2023. Mars is the corporate giant behind budget brands like Pedigree and Whiskas. When massive conglomerates buy independent premium brands, ingredient quality almost always suffers over time to cut costs and boost profit margins.

What's Actually In Acana Dog Food

Acana's ingredient lists are complex, mixing incredible whole-food proteins with controversial plant fillers. Is Kibble Bad For Dogs

• Named Meats and Organs — Acana excels at using a "whole prey" model. Ingredients like deboned chicken, beef liver, and turkey heart provide highly bioavailable, natural nutrients instead of relying on synthetic vitamin powders.
• Peas and Lentils — This is the primary danger zone in their grain-free line. You will often see green peas, red lentils, pinto beans, and chickpeas clustered together, which is heavily linked to taurine-deficiency and heart disease. Is Pea Protein In Dog Food Bad
• Meat Meals — Ingredients like "chicken meal" or "herring meal" are concentrated protein powders. While they boost the protein percentage on the bag, they are highly processed and lack the natural moisture of fresh meat. Is Meat Meal Bad

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Whole prey ratios — Acana includes cartilage, bone, and organ meat, which naturally provides essential joint support like glucosamine.
• Wholesome Grains — Their grain-inclusive formulas use oats, sorghum, and millet, which support healthy digestion without the DCM risks associated with legumes.

Red Flags:

• Ingredient splitting — Acana breaks their legumes down into multiple ingredients (e.g., "whole green peas," "whole yellow peas," "lentil fiber") so meat stays at the top of the label, but the total volume of legumes in the bag is dangerously high.
• Corporate ownership — Now under the Mars Petcare umbrella, there is ongoing risk of quiet formula changes and cheaper sourcing.

The Best Options

If you choose to feed Acana, the specific line you pick matters much more than the flavor. Grain Free Vs Grain Inclusive

The Bottom Line

1. Avoid the grain-free bags. The heavy reliance on peas, lentils, and chickpeas makes them too risky given the ongoing heart disease data. Is Grain Free Dog Food Safe

2. Switch to Wholesome Grains. If your dog thrives on Acana, transition them to the grain-inclusive formulas which use safe, nutritious oats and sorghum.

3. Consider fresh food instead. If you're paying premium prices for high-end kibble, you might get better health outcomes by switching to real, gently cooked food. Fresh Dog Food Vs Kibble

FAQ

Is Acana linked to heart disease in dogs?

Yes, Acana is the most cited brand in the FDA's investigation into diet-linked canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This is primarily associated with their grain-free formulas, which use high amounts of peas and lentils that may block vital taurine absorption. Does Grain Free Cause Heart Disease

Did Mars buy Acana?

Yes, Mars Petcare officially acquired Champion Petfoods (the maker of Acana and Orijen) in early 2023. While they claim they will operate Champion independently, many pet owners are closely watching for signs of cheaper ingredients or shifting manufacturing standards.

Is Acana better than Orijen?

Orijen is the more expensive "sister brand" to Acana, featuring a higher overall percentage of fresh meat and less plant matter. However, both brands suffer from the same heavy reliance on legumes in their popular grain-free lines. Orijen Vs Acana

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