Is there taurine in ACANA dog food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated January 15, 2025

Contributions sourced from

Highest Protein, PacificaDry Dog Food

Composition

Raw whole herring (14%), raw whole mackerel (11%), raw flounder (9%), herring meal (7%), mackerel meal (7%), blue whiting meal (7%), whole green peas, whole red lentils, whole chickpeas, whole green lentils, fish oil (6%), raw whole hake (4.5%), raw whole rockfish (4.5%), whole pinto beans, whole yellow peas, pea starch, sunflower oil, lentil fibre, dried kelp, freeze-dried cod and liver, fresh whole pumpkin, fresh whole butternut squash, fresh whole carrots, fresh whole apples, fresh whole pears, fresh whole zucchini, dried chicory root, fresh kale, fresh spinach, fresh turnip greens, fresh beet greens, whole cranberries, whole blueberries, whole saskatoon berries, turmeric, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rosehips.

ADDITIVES (per kg): Technological additives: Tocopherol extract from vegetable oils: 308 mg, citric acid: 40 mg. Sensory additives: Rosemary extract: 105 mg. Nutritional additives: Zinc proteinate: 150 mg, Copper proteinate: 11 mg, Vitamin B1: 75 mg, Vitamin B2: 15 mg, Vitamin B3: 150 mg, Vitamin B5: 45 mg, Vitamin B6: 26.25 mg, Vitamin B9: 5.25 mg, Vitamin B12: 0.15 mg, Vitamin E: 500 IU. Zootechnical additives: Enterococcus faecium DSM 10663/ NCIMB 10415 1x10^9 CFU.

ACANA Pacifica is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by FEDIAF for All Life Stages, including growth of all large size dogs. Store in a cool, dry place. Not fit for human consumption. | Metabolizable Energy is 3850 kcal/kg (462 kcal per 250ml/120g cup), with 36% from protein, 24% from carbohydrates, and 40% from fat.

Red Meat RecipeDry Dog Food

Composition

Beef, pork, beef meal, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, pork meal, beef fat, whole green lentils, wholechickpeas, 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, juniperberries, citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacteriumanimalis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product.

METABOLIZABLE ENERGY: 3405 kcal/kg (388 kcal per 8 oz cup), with 30% from protein, 28% from carbohydrates, and 42% from fat.

ACANARED MEAT RECIPE DOG FOOD is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Proles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).

Does Acana Food Have Taurine

Of the 27% protein in the ACANA Singles foods, more than 85% comes directly from the meat and organ inclusions, which are rich in taurine.

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The fact of the matter is that many good quality pet foods today are indeed grain free and IF there was an increase in reporting of DCM which it seems there was then it is logical that the names of popular pet foods like ACANA would come up more often. Its certainly one of the most popular choices in our brick and mortar store.

Here is a link to the FDA press release on June 27th regarding the DCM issue

There is an account of cardio myopathy in this case Hills Science Diet (which includes grains) on the FDA website

I would also suggest that the dog owners that spend money on a premium food are likely the same group of dog owners that spend money at the vets for their pet. It is not a broad spectrum study that looks at the dog population as a whole. Hopefully that will come in time. As pet owners we will have to wait.

However, it isnt our opinion that a small proportion of legumes in pet foods will lead to this condition at a premature age. Rather more that dogs are living longer lives, and that they are able to live longer lives because of better foods like Acana, and supplements like Recovery Glucosamine, to extend the life of their joint health.

FAQ

Does Acana add taurine?

Acana, manufactured by Champion Petfoods, is one of the brands that added taurine.

What food has the highest level of taurine?

1. Fish. Fish are one of the best taurine sources for dogs because they tend to be higher in taurine than other meats and they are lean meats that are packed with nutrients and omega fatty acids. Salmon, tuna, sardines, rainbow trout, sea bream, and other cold-water are the best fish picks for taurine sources.

Does Orijen contain taurine?

Taurine level in foods

The highest amounts of taurine can be found in shellfish, especially scallops, mussels, and clams. High amounts of taurine can also be found in the dark meat of turkey and chicken, and turkey bologna.

Freshwater Fish BlendDry Dog Food

Ingredients

Rainbow trout, catfish, catfish meal, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, whole green peas, catfish oil, whole greenlentils, whole chickpeas, whole yellow peas, whole freshwater drum, pollock meal, mackerel meal, fish oil, lentil fiber,natural fish flavor, pea starch, salt, vitamin E supplement, dried kelp, whole pumpkin, collard greens, whole apples,whole pears, mixed tocopherols (preservative), zinc proteinate, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, folic acid, freeze-driedcod, copper proteinate, dried chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rose hips, juniper berries, citric acid(preservative), rosemary extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalisfermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product.

CALORIE CONTENT (calculated): Metabolizable Energy is 3475 kcal/kg (396 kcal per standard 8 fl. oz cup). with 29% from protein, 29% from carbohydrates, and 42% from fat.

ACANA FRESHWATER FISH BLEND 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).

Acana Dog Food Review (Dry)

The Acana product line includes the 5 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Acana Free-Run Poultry Formula was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is turkey, another quality, raw item inclusive of water.

The third ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

Its important to note that the next 6 out of 10 ingredients included in this recipe are each a type of legume:

Green peas
Red lentils
Pinto beans
Chickpeas
Green lentils
Yellow peas

Although theyre a mixture of quality plant ingredients, theres an important issue to consider here. And thats the recipe design practice known as ingredient splitting.

If we were to combine all these individual items together and report them as one, that newer combination would likely occupy a significantly higher position on the list.

In addition, legumes contain about 25% protein, a factor that must also be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The seventh ingredient in this food is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The ninth ingredient is catfish meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.¹

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Champion Petfoods product.

With 4 notable exceptions

First, we find lentil fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from lentils. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

Next, fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

In addition, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Acana Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 40%.

As a group, Acana features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.

Which means this Acana product line contains

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the multiple legumes, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.

Champion Petfoods Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Champion Petfoods through April 2024.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Acana Dry Dog Food

Acana is a grain-free dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

However, its unfortunate the company chose to include so much plant-based protein in its recipe. Otherwise, we would have been compelled to award this product a higher rating.

More ProteinFor Your Growing

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, Healthy Grains recipes, and Singles recipes for dogs with sensitivities. ACANA premium cat food recipes offer a variety of recipes and flavours 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.