Acana is a popular dog food brand. Pet owners choose Acana products for their wide variety of options and focus on providing optimal nutrition for animals. You can buy wet and dry foods, limited ingredient blends, grain-free options, and food for all stages of a dog’s life.
Acana focuses on high-protein dog foods made with fresh, quality ingredients. Vitamins and minerals are added to their products to create a balanced meal. There are several flavors to fit your pet’s preferences, allergies, or dietary needs.
While many pet owners absolutely love Acana dog food for their pets, they may be looking for similar alternatives. Acana is expensive and the products are rarely on sale. Additionally, some dog owners chose to switch their dogs from Acana’s grain-free foods after they were linked to cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart).
Methodology
For this list of the best alternatives to Acana dog food, I found brands that held similar ideals as Acana. Most commonly, the products are high in protein and focused on an ancestral canine diet. These brands also emphasize using fresh and quality ingredients for their products. Additionally, I found grain-free options, since Acana is known for its grain-free blends. Finally, I include some more budget-friendly options.
A note on cost: Like many things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to dog food. Some brands are more economical, but you can expect to pay a decent amount for top-quality dog food. Dogs are part of our families, and they deserve to be eating the best food possible.
Best 10 Alternatives to Acana Dog Food
Crave High Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Crave High Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food lives up to its name with 34% crude protein. This is one of the only brands on the market that matches Acana’s high protein content. Most of the Crave products are more than 30% cheaper than similar Acana products. This is a huge selling point for owners who want to feed their dog a high-protein diet, but cannot afford the price of Acana.
Crave aims to mimic the ancestral wolf diet to provide optimal nutrition for your dog. They include multiple protein sources, healthy vegetables, and no grains. High protein dog foods like Crave are great for dogs that are prone to obesity and need to maintain a healthy weight.
Pros
- Significantly lower price than comparable Acana products
- Includes animal fat (where most brands tend to use canola oil)
Cons
- Uses animal meals as protein sources
- Owners report a strong and unpleasant odor from the kibble
Zignature Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Zignature is a high-quality pet food company. They offer several product lines, including their Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. This line is similar to Acana Single Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food. Both products are high in protein, grain-free, and utilize a single animal protein source.
Zignature sources its ingredients from around the world to ensure that it is using the best quality products. They also make sure to exclude all major canine allergens, including chicken and corn. Even picky dogs enjoy this simple but tasty dog food.
Pros
- High in protein
- Most dogs love the flavor
- Limited ingredients help with allergies and skin issues
Cons
- Same price as comparable Acana products
- Dog owners reported changes in kibble quality since 2020
CANIDAE Pure Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Canidae’s Pure line of products uses limited ingredients and no grains to provide optimal nutrition to dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies. Owners love buying Canidae products because they are produced in the United States of America and Canidae is a family-owned business.
The Pure line of products provides all the nutrition your dog needs in 10 main ingredients or less. To make sure your dog is receiving all the necessary nutrients, some vitamins, minerals, and probiotics are added.
Pros
- Significantly more affordable than comparable Acana products
- USA-made in Texas
- Free of common fillers that can upset a dog’s stomach
Cons
- Some dogs stopped liking the product after recent formula changes
- Owners have reported inconsistencies in kibble appearance
Whole Earth Farms with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food
Whole Earth Farms with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food is a product for dog owners who want to give their dogs balanced dog food with nutritious grains included. The whole-grain rice, barley, and sorghum included in Whole Earth Farms with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food are better grains than highly-processed corn, soy, and wheat.
Pros
- Significantly cheaper than comparable Acana products
- No artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors
- Heart-shaped kibble is a fun and whimsical touch
Cons
- Nothing unique or exceptional about the ingredients
- Ingredients can cause an upset stomach in sensitive dogs
Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble
After the reports that grain-free dog foods appear to be connected to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, Acana (and many other brands) started offering healthy grains products in addition to their grain-free diets. Merrick introduced its Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble. This dry dog food is free of peas, lentils, and potatoes, three of the ingredients that could be problematic in grain-free diets.
With the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin, this product is a great option for dogs with joint issues. There are also added omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. Like Acana, Merrick focuses on including high-quality ingredients. The thing that sets their raw-coated kibble apart is that each piece of dry dog food is covered in freeze-dried meat. This adds nutrition and flavor that your dog will love.
Pros
- Top-quality ingredients
- 26% crude protein
- Sources most of their ingredients within the United States of America
Cons
- Approximately the same price at comparable Acana products
- Owners report inconsistency in flavor and smell
Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food
One product line that Acana is known for is their high protein blends, such as meadowland and grasslands recipes. These blends contain multiple animal proteins in one recipe. Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Foods have several recipes with many different kinds of animal proteins. The crude protein content is also similar to that of Acana dog foods.
By including whole fruits and vegetables, this dog food contains a natural source of fiber to help make food easier to digest. Produce also adds important antioxidants to your dog’s diet.
Pros
- More affordable than comparable Acana products
- High in protein
- Lots of flavor options
Cons
- Kibble may be too small for larger breeds
- Some dogs do not like the flavor after a recent reformulation
Dogswell Dry Dog Food
Dogswell products are formulated with different needs in mind (hip & joint, skin & coat, and digestive health). Many of the products contain no grains, but they are not marketed as grain-free. Dogswell products are made in the United States of America.
In addition to the main ingredients, Dogswell includes vitamins and minerals. This helps make the food a complete nutrition source, but they also target specific health conditions.
Pros
- More affordable than comparable Acana products
- Ingredients help with immune system support
Cons
- Dogswell prices recently increased to almost double the previous prices
- Only have four formulations/flavors
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a great option that is high in protein (34% crude protein) and free of grains, similar to an ancestral canine diet. They have poultry-free options if your dog suffers from a common chicken allergy. In addition to meat, Wellness CORE also includes nutritious fruits and veggies in their blends to add necessary fiber and nutrients. There are no preservatives, soy, meat by-products, fillers, corn, grains, or artificial colors and flavors.
Pros
- Cheaper than comparable Acana products
- Contains omega fatty acids
- Includes prebiotics and probiotics
Cons
- Still expensive
- Some dogs do not enjoy the flavor
Taste of the Wild PREY Limited Ingredient Recipe Dry Dog Food
In addition to their wholesome grains and grain-free products, Acana also offers limited ingredient diets. These are perfect for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs. Taste of the Wild has its PREY Limited Ingredient Recipe Dry Dog Food. This line of products contains minimal, real food ingredients. It also includes healthy vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet.
Taste of the Wild claims greater digestibility due to the limited ingredient list. These products are also grain-free and GMO-free, so you can feel confident about the quality of your pet’s food. Owners of dogs with severe or multiple allergies love these products to keep their dogs itch-free and comfortable.
Pros
- Contains even fewer ingredients than comparable Acana products
- Significantly cheaper than comparable Acana products
- A great option for severe or multiple allergies
- High fiber helps with digestive issues
Cons
- Does not include nutrient-rich organ meats
- Some dogs refuse to eat it
Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Instinct has a line of products with limited ingredients. These foods are grain-free and are coated with freeze-dried raw food for palatability and nutrition. By including as few ingredients as possible, Instinct produces a balanced kibble that can be eaten by dogs with extremely sensitive stomachs. Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is made in the United States of America and sources top-quality ingredients from around the world.
Some dog owners do not want to take the plunge to feed a fully raw diet. This product includes freeze-dried raw meat, so you can feel confident giving your dog healthy food (but you won’t have to deal with raw meat).
Pros
- Extremely limited ingredients for sensitive stomachs or food allergies
- Free of major allergenic ingredients and artificial colors
Cons
- Similar prices to comparable Acana products
- Crude protein is much lower than Acana’s limited ingredient dog foods
