Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe Review
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Review of Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe
According to our data, this Acana recipe provides complete & balanced nutrition for the maintenance of adult dogs. In other words, this formula is AAFCO approved.
Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for the maintenance of adult dogs.
Review of Ingredients
In our review of Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe, we'll examine all 49 ingredients and highlight the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.
While the first few ingredients typically dominate the recipe's composition, ingredients in small quantities can still have a meaningful impact on the overall nutritional profile of the recipe.
Chicken is a lean, easily digestible source of protein that provides essential nutrients for your dog's growth and maintenance. It's also a great source of vitamins and minerals to support overall health.
Chicken meal is a highly concentrated source of protein made from dehydrated and ground chicken. It provides essential amino acids for your dog's muscle development, tissue repair, and overall growth, making it a valuable ingredient for maintaining your dog's health and well-being.
Oat groats provide a wholesome source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, contributing to healthy digestion and overall well-being in your dog.
Whole Sorghum is a gluten-free grain that is a good source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and essential nutrients, promoting healthy digestion and sustained energy levels.
Whole millet is a nutritious and easily digestible grain that provides energy, essential nutrients, and fiber for your dog. It's a gluten-free alternative to other grains and can help support your dog's digestive health and overall well-being.
Egg is a highly digestible protein source that provides essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to support your dog's muscle growth, coat health, and overall wellness.
Catfish meal is a concentrated protein source that provides essential nutrients for your dog's overall health. It supports muscle growth, organ function, and immune system health, making it a valuable addition to your dog's diet.
Chicken fat is a highly palatable source of energy, providing essential fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat, as well as supporting your dog's immune system.
Whole oats are a nutritious and easily digestible grain that provides essential nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals, to support your dog's overall health and digestion.
Turkey is a lean protein source that can help build and maintain muscle mass in dogs. It is also rich in essential nutrients like vitamin B6 and niacin.
Chicken liver is a nutrient-rich organ meat that provides your dog with protein, fat, and vitamin A. It's also a great source of iron, copper, niacin, zinc, and phosphorus.
Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy skin and coat, supporting brain function, and promoting overall immune system health in dogs.
Ground Miscanthus Grass is a high fiber ingredient, helping to promote healthy digestion and bowel movements.
Natural chicken flavor is a dog food ingredient used to enhance the taste and aroma of the product, making it more appealing to your pet. It is derived from real chicken and does not contain any artificial additives or chemicals. This natural flavoring helps encourage your dog to eat and enjoy their meals.
Turkey liver is a nutrient-dense ingredient, rich in essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, iron, and B vitamins, which support overall health in dogs.
Turkey heart is an excellent source of high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. It contains essential amino acids, vitamin B, and iron, all of which contribute to your dog's muscle development, energy levels, and overall health.
Turkey gizzard is a nutrient-dense organ meat that provides a high-quality source of protein and essential nutrients, such as iron and zinc. It supports your dog's overall health, including muscle development, immune function, and energy levels.
Chicken Heart is rich in taurine and other essential nutrients that support your dog's heart health.
Whole butternut squash is a nutritious and easily digestible vegetable that provides essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber for your dog's diet. It can help support a healthy digestive system and promote overall well-being.
Whole pumpkin is a healthy, low-calorie ingredient that is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It can help support healthy digestion, maintain a healthy weight, and contribute to overall well-being in your dog.
While salt is a necessary component of a dog's diet, providing essential minerals such as sodium and chloride for proper cellular function, it should be provided in moderation to avoid health issues like hypertension or kidney damage.
Potassium chloride is an essential mineral supplement that helps maintain your dog's electrolyte balance and supports healthy nerve and muscle function.
Choline Chloride is an essential nutrient that aids in brain and liver function, muscle movement, and supports healthy metabolic processes.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that supports heart health, vision, and development and function of skeletal muscle.
Vitamin E supplement is an essential nutrient that helps support your dog's immune system, skin health, and overall wellness.
Dried kelp is a natural source of essential minerals and trace elements, which help support your dog's thyroid function and overall health.
Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.
Zinc proteinate is a highly absorbable form of zinc. It helps support a healthy immune system, skin, and coat in dogs.
Vitamin D3 supplement is an essential vitamin that supports bone health, immune function, and overall well-being in dogs. It helps regulate calcium and phosphorus balance in the body, promoting strong and healthy bones.
Vitamin A acetate is a form of vitamin A, which is essential for your dog's overall health. It supports healthy vision, immune function, and proper growth and development. Vitamin A acetate also plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin and coat, ensuring your dog looks and feels its best.
Copper Proteinate is a chelated form of copper that's easier for dogs to absorb, aiding in red blood cell formation and iron absorption.
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is essential for a dog's metabolism and energy production, and supports healthy skin and coat.
Thiamine mononitrate is a form of vitamin B1 that helps support your dog's nervous system function, energy metabolism, and overall health.
Riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2, is essential for energy production, cell function, and fat metabolism in your dog's body.
Calcium pantothenate is a source of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) that helps support your dog's energy metabolism and nervous system function.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a source of vitamin B6, which is essential for your dog's nervous system function, immune health, and red blood cell production.
Folic acid is a crucial B-vitamin that aids in the synthesis of DNA and supports healthy cell growth. It's essential for maintaining your dog's overall health, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
Vitamin B12 Supplement is an essential vitamin that helps support brain function and the formation of red blood cells.
Dried chicory root is a natural prebiotic fiber that can help promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and support your dog's digestive health. It also contains inulin, which can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and support overall immune system function.
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant spice that can help support your dog's joint health, immune system, and overall well-being.
Sarsaparilla root is used in herbal medicine and may have anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting effects.
Althea root, also known as marshmallow root, has been used traditionally to soothe and coat the digestive tract. It may help support healthy digestion and reduce inflammation in your dog's gastrointestinal system.
Rose hip is rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin C, and can support joint health in dogs.
Juniper berry is a natural source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, supporting a healthy immune system and overall wellbeing in dogs.
Citric acid is a natural preservative that helps maintain the freshness and quality of dog food. It also acts as an antioxidant, which can help protect your dog's cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Rosemary extract is a natural antioxidant that can help protect your dog's body from the harmful effects of free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can support your dog's overall health and well-being, particularly in regard to joint health.
Dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product is a probiotic that can aid in maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in your dog's gut, supporting overall digestive health.
Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product is a probiotic that aids in maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in your dog's gut, promoting digestive health.
Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product is a probiotic ingredient that helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria in your dog, promoting optimal digestion and immune system function.
Review of Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) of 27.00%: The high crude protein content is likely attributed to the first few ingredients listed, which are animal-based proteins: deboned chicken, chicken meal, catfish meal, eggs, deboned turkey, chicken liver, turkey liver, turkey heart, and turkey gizzard. These ingredients are rich in protein, which is essential for the growth and maintenance of a dog's muscles and overall health, especially for small breeds that may have high metabolic rates.
Crude Fat (min) of 17.00%: The crude fat content is primarily contributed by the chicken fat, fish oil, and the fats naturally present in the animal proteins listed (such as deboned chicken, catfish meal, and chicken meal). Fat is a concentrated source of energy for dogs and also supports a healthy coat and skin.
Crude Fiber (max) of 6.00%: Fiber in the diet aids in digestion and can be found in ingredients such as oat groats, whole sorghum, whole millet, whole oats, ground miscanthus grass, butternut squash, and pumpkin. These grains and vegetables provide the necessary fiber to help regulate the digestive system of small breed dogs.
Calories of 3440.00 per kg: The caloric content is a cumulative measure of the energy provided by all the ingredients, with the main contributors being the fats and proteins. The caloric density ensures that small breed dogs, which often require more calories per pound of body weight than larger breeds, receive sufficient energy from smaller amounts of food.
Review of Affordability
According to our data, Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe costs approximately $3.92 per pound. The following table provides our estimate of the monthly cost to feed this recipe exclusively as your dog.
| Adult Weight | Adult |
|---|---|
| 5 lbs | $24.44 |
| 10 lbs | $41.11 |
| 15 lbs | $55.72 |
| 20 lbs | $69.14 |
| 30 lbs | $93.71 |
Estimates are based on average prices and caloric requirements.
Summary of Customer Reviews
Customers are overwhelmingly pleased with the Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe, noting significant improvements in their dogs' skin, coat, and overall health. One Shorkie owner highlighted the eagerness of their picky eater to consume the food, with noticeable benefits to the dog's skin and no gastrointestinal issues. Another customer appreciated the high quality of the ingredients and the product's appeal to their discerning dog, Tinker.
Many reviews focus on the perfect kibble size for small breeds and the food's palatability, which seems to win over even the fussiest of eaters. Dogs with sensitive digestive systems are reported to handle the transition to Acana well, and the inclusion of wholesome ingredients like chicken, grains, and vegetables is frequently praised.
While there are mentions of the food being a bit pricey, the quality and the positive effects on dogs' health are seen as justifying the cost. The resealable packaging is also a hit, helping to keep the food fresh. Some dogs that were initially hesitant eventually warmed up to the food, suggesting that even picky dogs might need a little time to adjust to new flavors.
One customer noted that their dog had a digestive upset at the start but returned to normal after adjusting to the food, indicating that a gradual transition might be necessary for some pets. Despite a few instances of dogs not taking to the flavor right away, the general consensus is that Acana Wholesome Grains Small Breed Recipe is a high-quality, nutritious option that many small dogs enjoy.
