Acana is a dog food brand focused on delivering "whole food nutrition" to dogs, blending quality meats and nutrient-rich produce to keep pups happy and healthy. Acana caters to all doggy diets with a wide variety of recipes that include freeze-dried raw foods, grain-free options, and limited ingredient formulas. 

We give Acana dog food a 4 out of 5 paw rating because of its diverse recipe range and the quality of its ingredients. But is Acana right for your dog? 

Read our 2025 Acana dog food review, where we'll examine product ranges, recall history, considerations, and more!

At the time of writing, Acana offers around 50 dog food varieties split across seven ranges and sub-ranges. All recipes are made from 50% to 90% animal ingredients and up to 40% quality fruit and vegetables. 

All Acana recipes are "complete and balanced" according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines. Each recipe meets the criteria to be suitable for all life stages, growth (puppies), or maintenance (adults).

Let's look at each range and why they might be suitable for your pup!

Acana offers six dry food recipes under the standard Acana branding. Each recipe has no filler ingredients like soy, corn, or tapioca. All recipes consist of 60% animal ingredients and 40% fruits and vegetables. And all but one of these Acana dry foods are grain-free. 

Acana standard dry food recipes list a quality meat source as the top ingredient. They aren't "human-grade" as all recipes include meat meal. 

As well as adult poultry, fish, and beef recipes, Acana offers special recipes for puppies, weight management, and even recently adopted doggos. Each standard adult Acana dry food contains 32.9% protein as dry matter and 19.3% fat as dry matter.

Acana Classics is a brand-new dry food sub-range consisting of three recipes. All recipes are grain-inclusive, with barley as the primary grain. Barley is a healthy fiber-rich rice alternative containing potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Acana Classics recipes list a quality meat source as the top ingredient. Meat meals are one of the top three ingredients in each recipe. Acana Classics Chicken and Barley dry dog food contains 28.4% protein as dry matter and 18.1% fat as dry matter. 

Wholesome Grains is Acana's grain-inclusive dry dog food range, consisting of nine products, two of which are also part of the Limited Ingredient range and are listed there. Each recipe uses oat groats, whole sorghum, and whole millet as primary grains — all considered nutritionally beneficial to pups. Most Wholesome Grains recipes contain 60% animal ingredients and 40% fruits and vegetables. 

All Wholesome Grains recipes list a quality named meat as the first ingredient. All recipes include meat meals and are not human-grade. Red meat, poultry, duck, and lamb recipes are available. 

Acana Whole grain has varieties especially for small dogs and large breeds, as well as limited ingredient diets. 

Like its Classics range, Acana Wholesome Grains recipes are lower in protein than its standard dry foods—likely because they don't contain any much plant-based protein. For example, Free-Run Poultry & Grains recipe contains 30.6% protein as dry matter and 19.3% fat as dry matter. 

Acana Limited Ingredient recipes include single animal proteins and fewer ingredients than Acana's other ranges. These six recipes are intended to help fur-babies with food allergies or sensitive stomachs. Standard Acana Limited Ingredient recipes include 65% animal ingredients and 35% fruits and vegetables. 

Acana's Limited Ingredient recipes include around 13 primary ingredients and multiple carbohydrates, which means they aren't among the best limited-ingredient dog foods. 

Each recipe lists a quality named meat as the top ingredient. All recipes include meat meals and aren't human-grade. Beef, lamb, duck and pork recipes are available. All Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Diet recipes contain 35.2% protein as dry matter and 19.3% fat as dry matter. 

Acana Highest Protein is an good dry dog food range for working dogs and pups in their twilight years. Made from 70% animal ingredients and 30% fruits and vegetables, Highest Protein recipes can help dogs maintain a healthy weight and increase muscle mass. 

All 4 Highest Protein recipes list three quality named animal proteins as the top ingredients. All recipes contain meat meals and aren't human-grade. 

Each recipe has multiple meat sources; for example, the Appalachian Ranch recipe incorporates beef, lamb, and pork. As a result, they may not be best suited to dogs with sensitive stomachs. Acana Highest Protein recipes contain notably more protein than its other dry foods—the Meadowland recipe includes 37.5% protein and 19.3% fat as dry matter. 

Butcher's Favorites is a premium Acana dry food range consisting of kibble mixed with jerky pieces. With its strong meaty taste, Butcher's Favorites is ideal for picky eaters that prefer the finer things. You'll find 3 available recipes made up of 70% animal ingredients and 30% fruits and vegetables. All recipes are grain-free. 

The 3 Butcher's Favorites are beef and liver, salmon, and poultry and liver. Each recipe lists a named quality meat as the top ingredient. Recipes contain several meat meals from multiple animals. 

Every Butcher's Favorites recipe contains 40.9% protein as dry matter and 19.3% fat as dry matter, with higher protein ratios than the Highest Protein range. 

Acana's Freeze Dried range consists of eight dog foods in two styles: patties or kibble-style morsels. Acana Freeze Dried has the highest animal ingredients ratio of all Acana dog foods, with 90% animal ingredients and 10% fruits and vegetables.

The top three ingredients in all Acana Freeze-Dried recipes are a quality named animal protein. Acana Freeze-Dried recipes contain no meat meal. The inclusion of organic produce like pears, butternut squash, and carrots suggests Acana's Freeze Dried range is high quality. 

Chicken, turkey, duck, and beef flavors are available. Just be aware Acana Freeze-Dried recipes include whole herring or mackerel as a secondary ingredient and may not be best for pups with sensitive stomachs. Most Acana Freeze-Dried recipes include 44.2% protein as dry matter and 29.4% fat as dry matter. 

Acana offers a Premium canned dog food range available in 6 flavors and 2 consistencies. Each recipe consists of 85% animal ingredients and 15% fruits and vegetables. 

Poultry, beef, lamb, duck, and pork recipes are available. All recipes list a quality named meat source as the top ingredient. Acana Premium wet dog food contains no meat meals. 

Due to its high moisture content, Acana Premium wet food works great as a dry food topper, helping your canine compadre stay hydrated, with an 78% moisture content. 

Acana Premium wet dog food have good protein-to-fat ratios—Chunks Poultry in Bone Broth contains 36.3% protein as dry matter and 22.7% fat as dry matter. 

One of the newest additions to the Acana range, Classics wet foods is the brand's budget-friendly grain-inclusive alternative to its Premium wet dog foods.

A side-by-side comparison of the two range's pâté poultry recipes suggests they're largely the same, with similar moisture, protein, and fat levels. Both list unprocessed cuts of chicken as the top ingredient.

The most significant difference is Classics Pâté Chicken lists rolled oats and barley as primary ingredients. Classics Pâté Chicken also contains higher amounts of sweet potato than Premium Pâté Poultry.

Acana Classics Pâté Chicken dog food contains 36.3% protein as dry matter and 27.2% fat as dry matter.

Acana offers two treat sub-ranges: Chewy Tenders and Freeze-Dried Treats.

You'll find three Chewy Tenders recipes, each supporting a different aspect of your pup's health. For example, the Chicken Chewy Tenders support immune health and contain cranberries rich in antioxidants. Recipes are made with 90% animal ingredients and contain meat meal.

Acana Freeze-Dried Treats come in three flavors and contain less than five ingredients each, making them ideal for canines with food allergies or sensitivities. They're also only five calories per treat, making them great for training. 

Let's dive into why we rate Acana 4 out of 5 paws up!

Acana uses premium fresh and frozen meat in its recipes, providing pups with nutrient-rich meals at dinnertime. All of Acana's fresh meat is only ever refrigerated and never frozen. Its raw meat is frozen at its freshest. From frozen to freeze-dried, all Acana's dog food recipes list a quality named meat as the top ingredient. 

Acana also uses quality whole vegetables sourced from vetted partners in its dog foods. Acana Freeze-Dried recipes go a step further by only using organic produce. Acana's grain-inclusive recipes include nutritionally rich grains like whole sorghum and whole millet. 

Whether your pooch is young or old, large or small, Acana has a dog food that’ll meet their nutritional needs. As well as selling dog foods specially formulated for puppies and different breed sizes, Acana offers high protein, limited ingredient, and healthy weight options. You'll also find some unique recipes, including one for recently rehomed rescue dogs. 

Acana uses some of the best ingredients available and sources them responsibly. Its poultry is free-run, its beef and lamb are ranch-raised, and its fish is wild-caught. Plus, the origins of its meat are traceable for the sake of transparency. For example, Acana's lamb is from New Zealand, while its fish is from Scandinavia. 

Acana's DogStar kitchen meets strict quality standards to ensure its products are safe for your canine compadre. Acana's kitchen facility is Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Safe Feed/Safe Food (SFSF) certified, with a track-and-trace system for monitoring ingredients through every processing stage. The kitchen takes food safety super seriously and is enrolled in a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) program.

Here are a few things to bear in mind when purchasing Acana dog food. 

Due to the quality of its ingredients, Acana dog food is more expensive than many other dog foods. At the time of writing, a 25-lb bag of Acana Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food costs $80.99 or $3.24 per lb.

 

By comparison, a 35-lb bag of Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Dog Food costs around $72.49 or $2.07 per lb. 

It's worth noting that some of Acana's dog food recipes include potentially controversial ingredients. For example, many recipes list natural flavors as an ingredient. While natural flavors are harmless to dogs, the term is ill-defined by the FDA regarding pet foods and lacks transparency. 

Some dry dog food recipes include lentil fiber as an ingredient. Lentil fiber is an agricultural by-product with little to no nutritional value besides being a source of fiber. 

In 2018, the FDA launched an investigation into reports of links between grain-free dog foods and the development of an enlarged heart (DCM). The investigation focuses on dog foods with high quantities of potatoes, legumes, and pulses. More recent statements by the FDA suggests that their research affects grain-free and grain-inclusive dog foods. 

According to the FDA's investigation, Acana was the most frequently named dog food brand in DCM cases. The investigation is ongoing, and as of December 2022, the FDA has no new scientific information to share. 

"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!

Despite these reports, there's insufficient evidence to declare a definitive relationship between grain-free diets and DCM. Contact your veterinarian if you have concerns about feeding your dog Acana grain-free dog foods.

"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!"

Acana dog food has been around since 1979. The brand takes its name from Alberta, Canada, where it was founded. 

It was owned until recently by Champion Petfoods, which also owned premium dog food brand Orijen. In 2023, Mars Incorporated acquired Champion Petfoods. 

Today, Acana is available in over 60 countries worldwide. Its kitchens are located in Edmonton, Alberta and Auburn, Kentucky.

There have been no recalls of Acana dog food as of March 2025.