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Scientific pet product discovery

Score 48
Reviewed formulaextruded kibble

ACANA

ACANA Red Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food

Use this page when you are deciding whether this dog food deserves a closer look, a side-by-side comparison, or a deeper ingredient check. It is meant to move you from product curiosity into a clearer decision.

4.8out of 10

Decision snapshot

Built for adult maintenance

A quick read on whether this formula deserves a closer look.

Quick verdict

Best for

  • Dog
  • All Life Stages
  • Dry

Not ideal for

  • Strict calorie-control plans
  • Pets that do better on moisture-rich diets

Key highlights

Primary protein: BeefGrain-free formulaProbiotics includedLow omega-3 support388 kcal per cup

How to use this product page for a real decision

This page is strongest when you are deciding whether this formula deserves a place in a shortlist, a direct comparison against another option, or a deeper ingredient review. It is not just a static reference page.

Use the score breakdown, ingredient panels, related needs, and linked ingredients together. The goal is to make the product easier to judge, not to imply clinical certainty from a single page.

Best next clicks from this product page

Use Compare when you want tradeoffs, Analyzer when the label needs inspection, need pages when the decision depends on a specific feeding goal, and Finder when this page sends you back into shortlist building.

Decision path

Use this product page as part of the wider decision system.

Product pages work best when they feed directly into comparison, label inspection, need context, and methodology review.

Page tour

How to read this analysis.

This page is dense on purpose. Follow this order if you want the shortest path from first impression to a defensible conclusion.

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Quick verdict

Ingredient quality scores 41, nutrition balance scores 0, and safety scores 52. The formula is best interpreted as

Product score card

Ingredient quality

41

Nutrition balance

0

Digestibility

70

Safety

52

Overall

48

Nutrition breakdown

MetricValueBasis
Protein min29%
Fat min17%
Fiber max6%
Moisture max12%
Ash0%
Estimated carbs (as fed)0%
Estimated carbs (dry matter)0%
Protein dry matter29%
Fat dry matter17%
Calories3405kcal/kg
Calories per cup388kcal/cup
kcal per 100g0kcal

Calorie density analysis

Calories per cup

388

Protein per 1000 kcal

85.2

Fat per 1000 kcal

49.9

Estimated glycemic load

Not estimated

This is a moderate-density formula for its format. Its macro energy profile is best judged alongside fit scores rather than calories alone.

Ingredient breakdown by role

Protein sources

Beef, beef meal, pork meal, beef fat, lamb, fish oil, beef tripe, beef liver, beef kidney, zinc proteinate, freeze-dried beef, freeze-dried lamb

Carbohydrate sources

pea starch

Fat sources

beef fat, fish oil

Fiber sources

whole pumpkin, dried chicory root

Functional additives

pork, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, whole green lentils, whole chickpeas, whole yellow peas, fish oil, lentil fiber, natural pork flavor, pork liver, pork kidney, salt, vitamin E supplement, dried kelp, whole pumpkin, collard greens, whole apples, whole pears, mixed tocopherols (preservative), taurine, calcium pantothenate, freeze-dried pork, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, dried chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rose hips, juniper berries, citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product

Ingredient interpretation

Positive ingredient signals: Marine omega support, Named animal protein, Targeted fiber support.

The label is anchored by these protein contributors: Beef, beef meal, pork meal, beef fat, lamb, fish oil, beef tripe, beef liver, beef kidney, zinc proteinate, freeze-dried beef, freeze-dried lamb.

Digestive-support ingredients are present through whole pumpkin, dried chicory root.

Watch-outs on this label: Generic animal ingredient, Legume presence, Legume presence signal, Transparency warning signal.

Support boundary

Ingredient signals now carry conservative claim mapping so analyzer, product, and need surfaces can distinguish source-backed interpretation from internal scoring policy.

Signal presence and score effects are separate. Support mapping describes interpretation framing, not the validity of the score impact.

Partially supported: 5. Internal methodology: 1. Unresolved: 0.

Ingredient quality

41

Digestibility

70

Safety

52

Ingredient deck

Beef, pork, beef meal, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, pork meal, beef fat, whole green lentils, whole chickpeas, whole yellow peas, lamb, fish oil, lentil fiber, natural pork flavor, pea starch, beef tripe, beef liver, beef kidney, pork liver, pork kidney, salt, vitamin E supplement, dried kelp, whole pumpkin, zinc proteinate, collard greens, whole apples, whole pears, mixed tocopherols (preservative), taurine, calcium pantothenate, freeze-dried beef, freeze-dried pork, freeze-dried lamb, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, dried chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rose hips, juniper berries, citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product.

Ingredient signals visualization

Generic animal ingredient

caution

Generic animal terms weaken transparency because the source material is less clear.

Partially supportedRefs 3
moderate

Partially supported because transparency-focused guidance supports caution around vague sourcing, while the severity of the penalty remains internal methodology.

Matched ingredients: fish oil

IQ -6Digestibility -1Safety -5

Legume presence

caution

Legume-heavy formulas deserve closer interpretation when they materially shape the ingredient deck.

Internal methodologyRefs 1
low

Internal methodology only because this layer uses legume presence as a prompt for closer context review, not as proof of harm or poor formulation.

Ingredient rules
Presence alone should not be overstated.

Matched ingredients: whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, whole green lentils, whole chickpeas, whole yellow peas, lentil fiber, pea starch, whole pears

IQ -4Digestibility -3Safety -1

Legume presence signal

caution

Legumes are materially present in the ingredient deck and should be interpreted in context.

Internal methodologyRefs 1
low

Internal methodology only because this layer uses legume presence as a prompt for closer context review, not as proof of harm or poor formulation.

Ingredient rules
Presence alone should not be overstated.

Matched ingredients: whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, whole green lentils, whole chickpeas, whole yellow peas, lentil fiber, pea starch, whole pears

IQ -4Digestibility -2Safety 0

Marine omega support

positive

Named marine oils are a useful positive signal for skin, coat, and inflammatory support.

Partially supportedRefs 2
low

Partially supported because broad literature context exists, but product-level effect and dosing relevance are not mapped here.

Omega-3 review [ext]Ingredient rules
Presence alone is not proof of efficacy, adequacy, or bioavailable dosing.

Matched ingredients: fish oil

IQ +3Digestibility +1Safety +1

Named animal protein

positive

The ingredient deck clearly includes named animal protein rather than relying on vague animal terms.

Partially supportedRefs 3
moderate

Partially supported because transparency-focused guidance and professional review norms support the direction of this interpretation, but the exact signal effect is internal.

This is a transparency interpretation, not proof of superior health outcomes.

Matched ingredients: Beef

IQ +6Digestibility +2Safety +2

Targeted fiber support

positive

Targeted fibers such as pumpkin or chicory can support stool quality and digestive tolerance.

Partially supportedRefs 2
low

Partially supported because digestive-support framing is literature-informed, but real-world tolerance remains context-dependent.

Gut diet review [ext]Ingredient rules

Matched ingredients: whole pumpkin, dried chicory root

IQ +2Digestibility +5Safety +1

Transparency warning signal

caution

The ingredient panel includes vague generic animal terminology that weakens transparency.

Partially supportedRefs 3
moderate

Partially supported because vague ingredient naming can reasonably weaken transparency confidence, while the downstream impact remains internal.

Matched ingredients: fish oil

IQ -6Digestibility 0Safety -4

Functional nutrients

Omega-3

0%

Omega-6

0%

Taurine

0%

Calcium

0%

Phosphorus

0%

Magnesium

0%

Probiotic support is present via Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus casei.

Suitability and fit

Sensitive stomach

0

Weight management

0

Puppy fit

0

Senior fit

0

Allergy support

0

Ingredients connected to this formula

Methodology note

ACANA Red Meat Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).

The page combines raw guaranteed-analysis style values with derived estimates such as dry matter protein, carbohydrate estimate, ingredient transparency, glycemic load, digestibility interpretation, and need-fit scoring.

Appeals to shoppers looking for premium dry formulas with strong ingredient-forward marketing.

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