Is ACANA dog food processed

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Q. WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR INGREDIENTS?

We believe that making the worlds best pet foods requires using the worlds finest ingredients. With this in mind, we focus on working with suppliers that we know and trust. Trust is earned by demonstrating an ongoing commitment to quality, food safety, sustainability, and communication. We only choose suppliers who are dedicated to these values and providing the best ingredients available.

Our screening process for a new supplier ranges from 90-180 days; Champions requirements and attention to detail are more thorough than what is required of most suppliers involved in providing ingredients to the human food industry.

Our commitment to quality does not end when we accept a supplier. We visit and audit our ingredient partners to ensure ongoing compliance with our own strict standards, and the ingredients themselves are subject to a comprehensive risk assessment. Once a supplier is brought on board, we maintain that relationship by having frequent meetings, on-site visits, and conversations. That way we can feel confident that we are giving your pets, and ours, only the best.

Q. ARE THE INGREDIENTS USED IN YOUR FOODS GMO-FREE?

We do not use GMO ingredients.

Q. WHY DO YOU USE PEAS, BEANS, AND LENTILS IN YOUR FOODS?

Our fruit and vegetable inclusions provide natural sources of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, while also providing the binding action needed to form a kibble. Our legume inclusions are a healthy source of fiber and soluble carbohydrates.

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR ANIMAL INGREDIENTS?

ACANA foods are formulated for dogs and cats, with meat ingredients sourced from federally licensed facilities that must have implemented a HACCP-based food safety system. Champion also specifies that our meat and poultry ingredients must only come from animals that are not condemned, diseased, or that have died otherwise than by slaughter.

Q. FRESH, RAW OR DRIED WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

FRESH: For our fresh meats refrigeration is the only method of preservation.RAW: We freeze our fresh meats at peak season to lock in their natural goodness no preservatives.DRIED: Dried fish and meat ingredients are made of flesh, bones and cartilage, and provide a concentrated source of protein, with their bone content providing a very rich source of minerals. Dried fish and meat ingredients are made by removing water from the meat, bone, and cartilage ingredients through a cooking process.

Q. WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF ACANAS GLUCOSAMINE? IS IT SUPPLEMENTED?

ACANA contains 50-75 percent meat, poultry and fish ingredients in WholePrey ratios meaning we include fresh meat, organs, and cartilage, just as Mother Nature would. Our fresh meats and cartilage in particular are high sources of natural glucosamine. Thats why glucosamine is listed on the guaranteed analysis but not on the ingredient list.

BALANCED RECIPESFOR ABALANCED BUDGET

When it comes to ACANA pet food, every ingredient that goes into our thoughtfully crafted recipes is important, and were dedicated to making quality dog and cat foods with the world's best ingredients. Our foods are crafted with quality fresh or raw animal ingredients balanced with whole fruit and vegetables. Our fresh ingredients use refrigeration as the sole method of preservation, and our raw ingredients are frozen at their peak freshness. ACANA premium dog foods and treats are protein-rich, nutritious and delicious, and use ingredients from a curated group of farmers, ranchers and fishers weve known and trusted for decades. Our recipes are ideal for dogs of all ages including puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs and are available in no grains ingredients added recipes, Wholesome Grains recipes, and Singles recipes for dogs with sensitivities. ACANA premium cat food recipes offer a variety of recipes and flavors rich with animal protein and nutrients, so your cat is getting everything they need to look and feel their best. With diets for kittens, adult cats and senior cats, theres the right food for every cat. The name "Acana" was inspired by the farmlands of Alberta, Canada. Through the years, it has become synonymous with quality. Today we craft our food in our world-class kitchens in Edmonton, Alberta and Auburn, Kentucky.

Freeze-Dried Patties, Free-Run Duck RecipeFreeze-Dried Food

Ingredients

Duck with ground bone, turkey with ground bone, chicken liver, whole herring, pumpkin, natural fish flavor, chickenheart, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), calcium carbonate, turkey bone broth, organic butternut squash, organiccarrots, organic pears, dried chicory root, turmeric, dried kelp, mixed tocopherols (preservative), vitamins (vitaminE supplement, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid,vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate, copper proteinate), citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract.

METABOLIZABLE ENERGY: 3950 kcal/kg (99 kcal per patty), with 39% from protein, 12% from carbohydrates, and 49% from fat.

ACANA Freeze-Dried Patties Free-Run Duck Recipe Is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, except growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

ACANA FAQs FOR PET LOVERS

Q. How do transition my pet to ACANA foods?

Dogs and cats are often fed the same food for a long period of time, which means a sudden food change makes it difficult for their digestive systems to adapt. Thats why its important to introduce new food gradually. Goingslowly will give your dog or cat time to adjust to their new food and will also reduce the chances of digestive upset. Start by mixing 25 percent new food with 75 percent old food. Slowly increase the new food proportionatelyover the next 5-7 days until you are feeding 100 percent new food.

Q. Which ACANA diet should i choose?

The first time you transition your dog or cat to ACANA, we recommend selecting a recipe with an animal ingredient that matches the food you are currently feeding. This will help allow for the easiest transition and helpminimize the risk of gastrointestinal upset. For example, if your pet is currently on a poultry-based diet, you may want to try the ACANA Free-Run Poultry or ACANA MeadowlandsIt is also important to consider the life stage of your pet. With foods for puppies, kittens, adults, seniors and All Life Stages youre sure to find the right fit. An AAFCO statement indicating which nutrient profilethe food is formulated to meet can be found on every bag of food and also on our website under the Ingredients & Analysis tab of each respective diet.Check our diet selector.For more specific dietary needs, please contact our Customer Care department.

Q. What is a rotational diet? Can Ido this with ACANA?

After initially transitioning to ACANA, what many Pet Lovers do is a method of feeding known as Rotational Feeding. Rotating between ACANA formulas prevents your dog or cat from getting tired of eating the same thing dayin and day out, while offering them a great variety of proteins and fats. A good place to start is rotating by the bag when you have finished one formula, your next bag will be a different recipe. The first time youintroduce a new food for rotation, mix the food 50/50 just to make sure your pet transitions well to the new ACANA food. However, if your dog or cat is more diet-sensitive, do a full transition when introducing a newACANA food after that you can change at will. Rotational Feeding.pdf

Q. HOW DO I CHOOSE BETWEEN ACANA PRODUCTS?

There are so many options! You can mix and match any way you like, so experiment and see what works best for you and your dog. Our ACANA dry kibble, freeze-dried foods or canned foods can be fed as a complete meal on theirown or used in combination for a delicious option. Some options to try:

• 100% Dry Kibble: Our ACANA Dry Kibble options offer a complete and balanced meal that can be fed just on its own.
• 100% Canned: Does your dog love soft food? Maybe you find that canned is easier for your dog to eat. Whatever the reason, ACANA canned food is a great choice to provide optimal nutritionand flavor.
• 100% Freeze-Dried Food: Freeze-dried animal ingredients provide your dog with a rich, concentrated source of protein and nutrients, just like a raw diet but in a convenient, dry form.This can be rehydrated with warm water to be fed as a complete meal.
• Canned and Dry Combo: You can feed an ACANA dry recipe in the morning, and switch to one of our canned options when the dinner bell rings. This is a great way to keep your dog interestedand excited about mealtime.
• Canned or Freeze-Dried Food As a Topper: Do you have a dog that is sometimes a little bit picky and you need to entice them, or do you want to add a delicious mix in to change up mealtime?Feeding ACANA dry recipes with a topping of our canned recipes or Freeze-Dried Foods may be a great fit for you that your dog will thank you for with tail wags galore.

Q. Why does Champion reformulate or enhance its ACANA diets at times?

Champion Petfoods has a history of innovation when it comes to our ingredients and our foods, and changes are made with the intention of improving them. As part of this work, we will from time to time make minor changesand enhancements to our foods.

Adjustments over the past year have been focused on enhancing our packaging to better tell our premium nutrition story.

While our ACANA packaging looks a bit different, formulation variations in the last year have been minimal and we have made them for a variety of important reasons including:

• Greater focus on ingredient sustainability
• As challenges occur across our global supply chain, we have made some adjustments to ensure a consistent supply of premium ingredients
• As regulations evolve, we need to adapt to ensure our foods remain in compliance
• Other updates are made to ensure our products have consistent naming conventions

At Champion Petfoods, maker of ACANA, we are always evaluating and evolving our products to ensure we are meeting the highest quality standards. The exciting new changes to some of our ACANA pet foods further improve productavailability as well as the labelling on our packaging by simplifying the ingredient panel and better highlighting key nutrients. Since 2021, we have been preparing these changes and we now are pleased we can offerpet lovers an even better pet food to help their pets thrive for a lifetime.

Q. Do you have any feeding tips?

Feed according to your dog or cats size, breed, stage of life and activity level. Consider that puppies and kittens require up to twice the energy of full-grown pets, and that overweight and senior pets often need smallermeals just like people!We recommend that for most pets, you feed twice daily. Simply divide the amount suggested on the feeding guide into two meals, spaced eight to 12 hours apart. For example, if the feeding guide calls for 1 cup per day,we recommend feeding a cup in the morning and a cup at night. You may need to adjust portions as you learn your pets ideal daily maintenance amount. These amounts may change over time as your pets age and activitylevels change. Always keep in mind that a lean dog or cat is a healthy pet.Many dogs and cats have large appetites and will eat everything you feed them. As ACANA foods are highly palatable, you need to be careful not to overfeed, as this can cause issues such as loose stool or unwanted weightgain.

Q. How many treats should i feed?

We all love to give our pets treats. However, treats should be given in moderation and should represent 10% or less of your pets daily food intake. The rest should come from a nutritionally complete feeding program. Whenusing treats frequently, such as during training exercises, try to use small pieces. Feeding Treats.pdf

ACANA FAQs FOR PET LOVERS

Q. How do I transition my pet to ACANA foods?

Dogs and cats are often fed the same food for a long period of time, which means a sudden food change makes it difficult for their digestive systems to adapt. Thats why its important to introduce new food gradually. Going slowly will give your dog or cat time to adjust to their new food and will also reduce the chances of digestive upset. Start by mixing 25 percent new food with 75 percent old food. Slowly increase the new food proportionately over the next 5-7 days until you are feeding 100 percent new food.

Q. Which ACANA diet should i choose?

The first time you transition your dog or cat to ACANA, we recommend selecting a recipe with an animal ingredient that matches the food you are currently feeding. This will help allow for the easiest transition and help minimize the risk of gastrointestinal upset. For example, if your dog is currently on a poultry-based diet, you may want to try the ACANA Prairie Poultry or Wild Prairie.It is also important to consider the life stage of your pet. With foods for puppies, kittens, adults, seniors and All Life Stages youre sure to find the right fit. A FEDIAF statement indicating which nutrient profile the food is formulated to meet can be found on our website under the Ingredients & Analysis tab of each respective diet.For more specific dietary needs, please contact our Customer Care department.

Q. What is a rotational diet? Can Ido this with ACANA?

After initially transitioning to ACANA, what many Pet Lovers do is a method of feeding known as Rotational Feeding. Rotating between ACANA formulas prevents your dog or cat from getting tired of eating the same thing day in and day out, while offering them a great variety of proteins and fats. A good place to start is rotating by the bag when you have finished one formula, your next bag will be a different recipe. The first time you introduce a new food for rotation, mix the food 50/50 just to make sure your pet transitions well to the new ACANA food. However, if your dog or cat is more diet-sensitive, do a full transition when introducing a new ACANA food after that you can change at will.Rotational Feeding.pdf

Q. Do you have any feeding tips?

Feed according to your dog or cats size, breed, stage of life and activity level. Consider that puppies and kittens require up to twice the energy of full-grown pets, and that overweight and senior pets often need smaller meals just like people!We recommend that for most pets, you feed twice daily. Simply divide the amount suggested on the feeding guide into two meals, spaced eight to 12 hours apart. For example, if the feeding guide calls for 1 cup per day, we recommend feeding a cup in the morning and a cup at night. You may need to adjust portions as you learn your pets ideal daily maintenance amount. These amounts may change over time as your pets age and activity levels change. Always keep in mind that a lean dog or cat is a healthy pet.Many dogs and cats have large appetites and will eat everything you feed them. As ACANA foods are highly palatable, you need to be careful not to overfeed, as this can cause issues such as loose stool or unwanted weight gain.

Q. How many treats should i feed?

We all love to give our pets treats. However, treats should be given in moderation and should represent 10% or less of your pets daily food intake. The rest should come from a nutritionally complete feeding program. When using treats frequently, such as during training exercises, try to use small pieces.Feeding Treats.pdf