Acana is a Canadian brand with a loyal following. It’s made by the same company who make the long-standing brand Orijen.
Let’s take a look at the Cobb Chicken & Greens formula as a benchmark for the Heritage grain-free range. They also offer a more premium Regionals range, a Singles “limited ingredient” range for dog’s suffering allergies or intolerances, and a Classics range containing decent quality grains.
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Firstly, the guaranteed analysis of this food is really good. The protein and fat are both above average, which in turn lowers the amount of carbohydrates. Pet food manufacturers cut costs by using excessive carbs, so it’s nice to see Acana have put your dog over profit with this food. I estimate 35% carbs which is much better than most. Dog’s need protein and (animal) fats much more than they need carbs.
It’s great to see the percentages listed of all main ingredients The meat and fish constituents amount to way over half the formula, and legumes to just over a third. Chicken and turkey are decent quality lean meats, and it’s great to see chicken liver, hearts, and kidneys as vital sources of nutrients. Chicken fat and cartilage (great natural source of glucosamine for joints), as well as herring meal, herring oil, and fresh whole flounder which all have nutritional merit and support joint health, skin, coat, and overall wellbeing. It’s nice to see such a mixture of wonderful meat and fish ingredients.
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On the legumes side we also find a wide range, inclusive of red lentils, whole green peas, field beans, green lentils, and yellow peas. Legumes aren’t as digestible for dogs as meat, but these are all good inclusions and it’s good to see a mix rather than a product half full of peas.
If I were to explain each of the remaining ingredients and their nutritional and health benefits then this would be a very long review. There are so many well-considered ingredients in the food and absolutely nothing to be sniffed at.
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This is a very good dog food. If you want something better, take a look at the Regionals range which has even more meat and less legumes.
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Fresh chicken meat (11%), chicken meal (10%), turkey meal (10%), red lentils, whole green peas (9%), field beans (8%), fresh chicken giblets (liver, heart, kidney) (6%), herring meal (5%), chicken fat (5%), green lentils (5%), whole yellow peas (4%), fresh whole eggs (4%), fresh whole flounder (4%), herring oil (3%), sun-cured alfalfa (3%), pea fiber, fresh chicken cartilage (2%), dried brown kelp, fresh whole pumpkin, fresh whole butternut squash, fresh whole parsnips, fresh kale, fresh spinach, fresh mustard greens, fresh turnip greens, fresh whole carrots, fresh red delicious apples, fresh Bartlett pears, freeze-dried chicken liver, freeze-dried turkey liver, fresh whole cranberries, fresh whole blueberries, chicory root, turmeric, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rose hips, enterococcus faecium.
