Wholesome Grains, Puppy Recipe
ACANA Wholesome Grains, Puppy Recipe earns a Sniff Score of 76/100 (A) with Good evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..
Graded by The Sniff System
Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
- 2protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken.
- 3oat groats
Whole oats with only the inedible hull removed. The most intact form of oats available.
- 4grainsorghum
Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.
- 5grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
- 6fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.
- 7grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
- 8protein animalchicken liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
- 9catfish meal
- 10ground miscanthus grass
Same as miscanthus grass. A plant fiber source, mostly there for stool quality.
- 11eggs
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.
- 12protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
- 13fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
- 14othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 15protein animalchicken heart
Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.
- 16turkey giblets
- 17vegetablevegetable
Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.
- 18vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 21supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 22vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 23supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 24supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 25preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative.
Showing first 25 of 48. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
ACANA WHOLESOME GRAINS PUPPY is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages – including growth of large breed dogs (70lbs or more as an adult)