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ACANA Appalachian Ranch Highest Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
ACANA

Appalachian Ranch Highest Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $4.36/lb

ACANA Appalachian Ranch Highest Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 78/100 (A) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Strong protein profile with new: beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with new: beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.

ACF

Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..

CIP
Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 38% ⓘ
Protein
33%
min (as fed)
Fat
17%
min (as fed)
Fiber
6%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

113 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    new: beef
  2. 2
    pork

    Real meat. Dense protein and fat, though less common in dog food than chicken or beef.

  3. 3
    lamb

    Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.

  4. 4
    lamb meal

    Lamb cooked down to a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh lamb.

  5. 5
    beef meal

    Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef.

  6. 6
    pork meal

    Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.

  7. 7
    red lentils

    Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →

  8. 8
    pinto beans
  9. 9
    pork liver

    Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.

  10. 10
    beef fat

    Real animal fat, a clean energy source. Stable on the shelf without synthetic preservatives.

  11. 11
    lentils

    Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →

  12. 12
    chickpeas

    Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  13. 13
    catfish meal
  14. 14
    pea starch

    Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.

  15. 15
    catfish
  16. 16
    fish oil

    Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.

  17. 17
    lentil fiber
  18. 18
    bison

    Real meat, leaner than beef. Used as a novel protein, mostly in premium formulas.

  19. 19
    natural pork flavor
  20. 20
    green peas

    Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →

  21. 21
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  22. 22
    beef tripe

    Stomach lining. Strong-smelling but nutrient-dense, with natural digestive enzymes.

  23. 23
    lamb tripe
  24. 24
    lamb liver

    Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver, dense in B vitamins, iron, vitamin A.

  25. 25
    beef kidney

    Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and trace minerals. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.

Showing first 25 of 113. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

18 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.