[Michael S]

I’ll ad my two cents worth. I rescued my dog 3 years ago. He was 9 1/2 months old. Acana is the only dry food I have ever fed him (every other evening I’ll add some canned food to his meal). I rotate him between several of Acana’s recipes. At our yearly exams my vet (each of the doctors I see at the office) always raves about the excellent condition my dog is in. He maintains a perfect weight (he was vastly underweight when I adopted him). He has had no health issues. Acana is his staple food.

When The Clean Label Project reared it’s dubious head, red flags were immediately raised by experts and regular people with common sense. People need to be very cautious when buying into the con job they’re selling…and people need to be very cautious believing Truth About Petfood. That blog has turned fear mongering into a cottage industry, and I was not in least surprised when they allowed Clean Label Project to solicit consumer information from their site.

If you aren’t familiar with The Clean Label Project here are a couple of links that might give you food for thought.

https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2017/06/20/why-wont-clean-label-project-listen-to-concerned-pet-owners/

http://www.chadhayesmd.com/the-clean-label-project-is-playing-dirty/

[Sherie S]

I just became a member and only came to the this section because I have a question. I’m very disturbed to see there is a food with a major issue on the editors pick list!! Please rectify this immediatly

Important: Click here to view admin reply below.

• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.

[Jason L]

Hi guys,
Being one of the fellow concerned pet owners whom have been feeding our dear furry kids with Acana lamb and Apple, I chanced upon this forum and decided to sign up so I could post and share my point of views after doing some research on my own and consultation with a Friend whom works in a third party testing lab that involves testing dog food.

Firstly, if the metal toxicity is reported falsely, it is still way below the maximum tolerance level (MTL) so stop beating yourself up. For example, the lawsuit claims arsenic level as around 4mg/kg in contrast to Champion’s advertised 0.89mg/kg, 4mg/kg is still way below the MTL of 12.5mg/kg. Hence, even it’s falsely reported, the metal toxicity is still not going to wreck havoc for your pet’s health from Acana food.

Secondly, it is possible for both sides to have been reporting “truly” in their personal point of view. The discrepancy might be due to the use of different equipments for the testing that might have resulted in different results.

Thirdly, for some of you m whom reported vomitting and diarrhoea, possibly it is not Acana at work so you might want to look out for other potential causes in order to identify the exact issue to find the root cause. Personally, my Pomeranian has been on Acana for many years and he’s doing great. His visit to the vet for illness before ten years old was kept to once a year max or for some years, zero. He is not even a Pedigree.

I am sharing because I could understand the self-beating after feeding our pets for years with Acana with the best infection for them only to feel guilty and defeated. Also, what else am I going to feed. Should I throw away that full pack of Acana? Chill and relax, if you go into details and do some calculation, the metal toxicity is not of concern. You guys are doing great. 🙂

• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Jason L.

[Connie S]

I’ve fed my dog Acana since a pup..she’s now 7. In January she was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure. She doesn’t have the typical symptoms of kidney failure but her blood results and many other tests indicates this diagnosis. I am so upset to think that in making the choice to feed her a high quality food that it could have potentially resulted in this.

I’ve taken her off kibble and now feed a modified raw diet that fits with her needs. So far it seems to be working and her interest in food high.

[Maegan C]

My 10.5 year old GSD/hound mix ate Acana for years. In November she became anemic, required a transfusion, which triggered underlying congestive heart failure. We have the CHF under control, but are still dealing with episodes of regenerative anemia. I’m truly hoping this is not caused by heavy metal toxicity and I will be devastated to find out that feeding her “premium” food caused the illness. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

[Angela P]

I paid the year’s subscription TRUSTING this website. I have been feeding ACANA Regionals for last several years because of its 5 STAR Rating under Editor’s Choice. WHY HAD IT NOT BEEN REMOVED? WHY WAS THERE NO ALERT SENT ABOUT HOW THIS DOG FOOD IS DANGEROUS? My beagle died of sudden kidney failure two years ago after I spent nearly $9,000 trying to save him. We could not determine what caused it. NOW I KNOW IT WAS THE ACANA DOG FOOD. I am joining the class action lawsuit. I am also CANCELLING my membership here because I was totally mislead by the recommendations of this website. It cost my dog his life.

Important: Click here to view admin reply below.

• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.
• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.

[Lewis F]

Janet A wrote:

I was curious about the table listed in the lawsuit naming the different Orijen and Acana Foods and the amount of contaminants found. The contaminants are listed in ug/kg and I converted them to parts per million or PPM which is what the MCL or maximum contaminant level is usually given in. I then found what the amount of the contaminant allowed in human food from the International/National Standards for heavy metals in food and compared it to the newly converted amounts in the dog food. Except for two that were barely over the Mercury level allowed, the amounts were found to be safe. For BPA I did not find a concrete set of data for MCL.

[Christine B]

I just became a member of this site and was shocked to see the Acana brand on top of your list. A class action suit has recently been filed against this company because of high levels of various toxins in their dog food, i.e. arsenic, lead, etc. Lead can cause liver problems. This is exactly what my dog experienced. I immediately stopped feeding her Acana and she now gets only what I prepare for her in my OWN kitchen. Please check out these facts and remove Acana from your list based on your findings.

Important: Click here to view admin reply below.

• This topic was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.
• This topic was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.

[Janet A]

I was curious about the table listed in the lawsuit naming the different Orijen and Acana Foods and the amount of contaminants found. The contaminants are listed in ug/kg and I converted them to parts per million or PPM which is what the MCL or maximum contaminant level is usually given in. I then found what the amount of the contaminant allowed in human food from the International/National Standards for heavy metals in food and compared it to the newly converted amounts in the dog food. Except for two that were barely over the Mercury level allowed, the amounts were found to be safe. For BPA I did not find a concrete set of data for the amount allowed in food. The MCL for levels in drinking water is much more stringent than what it is for food.

• This reply was modified 7 years ago by Janet A.

[Veronica S]

I am perplexed, confused and sad right now. ” I feed Acana” and I also breed” I have run the mill of dog food recalls for many years and finally was happy with not only the results of how well my dogs do on Acana but knowing it was one of the best foods out there for them. I have always cooked for my dogs as well and add it to their kibble. Except for our puppies. I am pretty strict with that as not to send them home being used to cooked meats like my adult dogs. But this law suit ??? Right now I have stopped using the Acana and am now adding veg, and pasta , and rice to my own dogs food ” Am not sure where to go with the puppies. How do I not give my dogs the Acana but continue to give it to the puppies??? Does not make sense.

[Marla G]

Didn’t intend to originally, but I put my dog back on PP 30/20 Sport. Once he gets straightened out again after his poor experience on “Go” and Acana, I’ll look for something to mix with the 30/20. I can’t say my dogs have been better off on the boutique foods, and in some cases haven’t thrived on some at all. Again, dissolutioned. I know too many people in the show world that feed 30/20. I see their dogs and they look amazing. And I even tried raw, first back in the 1980’s, and then in 2005. Unhappy both times. Thinking back about the dogs I grew up with, a Poodle and Border Collie. Wonderful companions that lived 16 and 17 years. My mom fed them Science Diet. I’ve always wondered, why did they thrive on that diet?

[Marla G]

It’s unnerving. Do any other food companies on the list test for these metals and publish them? Am I to understand that they occur organically? What if all dog foods have significant levels, but Acana and Orijen are the lowest? That’s the information I’d like to have. Will we ever know what’s healthy for our dogs? Then I see my breeder’s dogs and many others in the breed that have been fed PP 30/20 Sport. Eew, right? These dogs coats are enormous, they are healthy and outstanding examples of the breed. Another close friend of mine is feeding the same in another breed. Her bitch took BOS at Westminster in Feb., and BOB at Crufts. All her dogs are on it. The ingredients are ones we’ve all been taught are completely undesirable. I have 2 littermates from her, both males. One I got at 13wks. I took him off the 30/20 soon after and placed him on a boutiquey high end dog food. His litterbrother later became available at 23mos. I decided to get him. The breeder had only fed him the 30/20. To see my boy and her boy, oh my word. Her dog was dripping in coat, my boy on the high end food, wasn’t. And ALL her dogs look like that. They are top winning in their breed. We both have equal experience in grooming, and live 50min. from each other. At this point I’m dissolutioned.

[tk h]

slam ya moh

you guys have it all you needed to do some research

http://www.egypuppy.com/Dept_Items.aspx?SecID=122&CatID=18

they have INSTINCT god food and pro pac which both are great

https://www.facebook.com/OrijenAcanaEgypt/

you do have it

good luck

[Marla G]

I’m comfortable with what Champion Pet Foods told me yesterday via phone, and also the owner of my feed store. He has toured the Kentucky facility for Acana and was beyond impressed. It is truly considered state of the art. He said there are so many checks and balances in place to insure food safety, he couldn’t believe it, but was very happy at the lengths they go to. He talked about putting booties on his shoes when he entered each section of the plant, and did so over a dozen times along with hand washing too. He said he personally feeds Champion Pet Foods along with his gf, family and friends.

[Lewis F]

This is a reply from Champion Dog Food facebook page:
Champion Petfoods is with Maureen Randall Breakfield.
18 hrs ·
Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

The allegations contained within a Class Action Complaint that was brought against us on March 1st are meritless and based on misinterpretation of the data.

Let us assure you that our products are safe and that we systematically test our products at two third-party laboratories using the Official Methods of Analysis by Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC). While we plan to comprehensively refute the wide range of false allegations in a court of law at the appropriate date, in the interim we want you to be confident in the safety and quality of our products.

For more information, we urge you to read: ORIJEN and ACANA Foods in Comparison to Pet Food Safety Standards, here: http://bit.ly/2HMvJiy

As you know, our commitment to using fresh and raw meat and fish ingredients means that pets and Pet Lovers can count on Champion to provide safe, Biologically Appropriate™ nutrition. Much like the natural human food we consume, Champion Petfoods contains small traces of a range of naturally occurring elements. These so-called ‘heavy metals’ are found throughout the Earth’s environment, and the miniscule amounts of these substances found in Champion Petfoods are a safe and common component of both human and animal diets. Our Biologically Appropriate™ foods feature much higher levels of quality fresh and raw meat ingredients than conventional pet foods, including fish and seafood ingredients.

Please know that we are confident that we will prevail as the facts and evidence are presented to the court, and that these baseless claims will not deter us from our mission of delivering award-winning Biologically Appropriate™ foods. The legal complaint has no bearing whatsoever on the activities or operation of our business, and you will continue to enjoy the same high degree of professionalism and quality you have come to expect from Champion.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our company and our quality food products.

Champion Petfoods

Image may contain: text

[a c]

I understand. However, take a look of the ingredients of any kibbles. Do anyone really understand what those 30-40 ingredients are? Don’t think you see that much ingredients in any human food. (I think. But I don’t eat much processed food)

I still have the question of why dogs can’t eat different food on the daily basis like human? Why does it have to be introduced over a period of time? Is it because the ingredients?

Regulators are probably more concern about human food than pet food. Do they send inspectors to dog food manufacturers as much as they sent to human food manufacturers?

While I may not believed there is anything wrong Orejin and Acana, I may still try to avoid it since they are so many choices out there.

[Jennifer B]

Does anyone have info about a recent lawsuit vs Orijen/Acana regarding lead and arsenic levels?

Lawsuit filed against Champion Pet Food – Acana and Orijen

Important: Click here to view relevant admin note below.

• This topic was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.

[Marla G]

Following up, I’ve been talking with and emailing with the owner of the feed store where I purchase my food. He provided me with all the information I needed to feel comfortable with the Acana Duck and Pear I’m feeding. When you read the lawsuit that someone posted here on the forum, read carefully the measurements and claims particularly noting kilograms and milligrams. It speaks for itself.

[Dany M]

Hi,

My puppy, Chico, is a healthy 11 months old dachshund. He was on Blue Buffalo food and I switched him to Acana for puppies & juniors.

I’m not sure which Acana adult food I should give him now. I disregarded the adult small breed product because it does not come in a large size bag. This factor is important for me due to my budget. I’m torn between the singles and regionals products.

I’d like to know which one you recommend between the 2 products (regional or singles). I think singles is more suitable for dogs with sensitive digestive system.

Thank you in advance,

Danny

[Marla G]

So what am I to believe? I look at my beautiful dogs and don’t want to think I’d be poisoning them with any food. First comment from my husband was, “do you think a competitor is trying to harm Champion Pet Foods?” I realize anyone can file a lawsuit but at what degree do we take his seriously? I’m not concerned about pet food companies, my dogs are what matters. I hope Mike can shed some light to help those of us navigate through this. Do I abandon the Acana diet they are on? Help!

[anonymous]

/forums/topic/orijen-acana-lawsuit/#post-112231

[Marla G]

I feed Acana. I just posted about this as my breeder sent this to me last night. I hope that Mike can help guide those of us feeding this. Is this lawsuit true or a hoax? It looked legit to me. And it’s very expensive to have food tested in the way these 3 people suing Champion Pet Foods did. I’m beyond disappointed if it’s true.

[Marla G]

Acana and Orijen: My breeder sent a copy last night of a lawsuit filed against Champion Pet Foods. It is one of the worst things I’ve ever read. Have any of you heard of it? It came from a website that was called The Truth About Pet Foods and it was dated 3/19/18. It states arsenic and mercury levels are startling high along with lead. There were several others mentioned too. I’m devastated to think a company I trusted has something so awful going on. I feel completely blindsided. If a food like Acana and Orijen have this happening, what’s left? And I don’t want to homecook for my dogs. Any information regarding this would be appreciated. I am completely dissolutioned now. Thanks.

[Reese B]

Lawsuit filed against Champion Pet Food – Acana and Orijen

Anyone feed this food? Thoughts?

Important: Click here to view relevant admin note below.

• This topic was modified 7 years ago by Mike Sagman.

[Suzanne S]

Hi,
I have a large breed 16-week old puppy (Beauceron) who came from the breeder on a low-quality food. I migrated him over to Acana Pork & Sweet Potato, grain-free. He had loose stool for several weeks, despite a slow transition, so I did some research and decided to try Orijen. He’s been on Orijen Puppy for almost two weeks and is still having very loose stool, and he’s recently become quite itchy. I’d like to find a high quality dry food that has some grain and does not contain chicken.

I get that grain-free is nice, but it would be good to have choices, too. There are recent studies that indicate too many legumes and other “fillers” that are taking the place of grains are not necessarily beneficial either. Can’t seem to find a good balance of non-poultry protein, healthy grain, and 4.5 or 5 star quality.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much for your input!

[Eileen W]

I am posting an update on both dogs.
1. Molly
I sought a second opinion from another vet. Molly has been on a prescription diet for about 3 months. Her poops are well formed now and the last two times her anal glands were checked they did not need to be expressed. My next steps are to keep her on for another month and then move her to a novel protein and limited ingredient diet food. I plan to try Zignature Kangaroo. I am hopeful the trend will continue on a food more balanced. The prescription diet did confirm she is able to express on her own and the more solid poops likely helped with that process. I have read about the deficiencies in the prescription diets…it is not a long term plan so please refrain from beating me up about it. I started her on a prebiotic when I changed her food.

2. Sierra
I switched her from Pure Vita to Fromm Four Star Nutritionals (with grain). She is pooping about 1/3 of what she was on PV and they are also firm. She is no longer scratching or chewing on her feet. Her energy level is great and she seems better than on either Acana or PV. She is off her allergy meds completely now. She still needs her anal glands expressed and as I mentioned she has structural issues which have her anal glands in non standard positioning. I started her on a prebiotic when I changed her food. I am happy with her progress.

My summation: after months of reading and many conversations with vet and other dog owners, I have come to believe there is no single food (brand, flavor, etc.) or medication or “recipe” that addresses this. I have to be willing to try something new if current plan is not working and it may take months to find the right balance. This is my opinion only and I am not a vet. Good Luck.

[gdijess]

I have a 9 month old rottie who I am looking to add some other brands to his food rotation. He does have a few diet restrictions and I unfortunately am limited as to what I can get.
He is Allergic to Chicken and Lamb and definitely does better on limited ingredient diets. I prefer to stick to grain free foods but I am open to other options. He gets really gassy on fish foods (He’s currently on Zignature catfish right now) He does have quite a few sensitivities that we are trying to work out but I’m still not sure as to what they are.
He does best with Pork, Bison, Venison, Duck, Rabbit, and Beef as far as proteins go. He does okay on potatoes but I prefer sweet potatoes or peas in his food instead of potatoes. The food has to have appropriate calcium and phosphorous levels for a growing large breed puppy, He is already 100lbs and still has some growing left to do. (I don’t mind doing this part, I just want some other brand recommendations. I’ve combed this site up and down and haven’t found a one that I have access to yet. )
He does the best on Zignature Pork, but he has also been on nutrisource large bread puppy chicken and rice, Zignature Lamb, Natures Domain puppy, PureVita Duck and Oatmeal, and Taste of the Wild South West Canyon.

I wanted to add Acana Duck and Pear as well as Earthborn Holistic Venture Rabbit but unfortunately I can’t get it where I am at. (I work at a pet store and I order the dog food for the store so I can get quite a few different brands.)

I know I am probably pretty picky, but I’m just looking for other options because he does get bored eating the same kibble and I don’t want to risk him developing any other allergy or sensitivities.

[Mareike]

Great, I hope you’ll have fun with the mat. Just supervise him the first few times, he’s likely going to be focused on finding the food.
Acana Heritage Poultry seems like a good choice. I’d be interested to hear how you think Earl is doing on it compared to the Pro Plan and Fromm that you tried.

[Kenneth A]

Mareike:

Thank you for the Snuffle Mat recommendation. I ordered one and hope Earl will enjoy, not destroy, it! LOL!

Based on the recommendations I strongly leaning toward trying Acana Heritage Poultry.

Thanks again,

Ken

[Deb B]

Hi Kenneth…I actually called ACANA and asked that same question. They assured me that the foods they sell are the exact same formulation whether produced in the U.S or Canada…that was 3 years ago….if I were you, I’d call them directly…never hurts to speak with the source…you can also go to their site or sites and do a direct comparison of the ingredient list for every single formula they sell. I’m pretty simplistic when it comes to feeding our dogs…be consistent…I believe that’s best for their digestive systems….imo though comparing ACANA to PROPLAN…if you can afford it…go ACANA.It’s an excellent food…I am a very selective person…do lots of research before making decisions, especially when it comes to those I love 🙂

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

I run a retail store, and as far as the Kentucky Acana goes none of my customers have voiced a complaint, and the line has only grown dramatically in my store. I personally love their Heritage Free run poultry formula. My dogs do fantastic on it and it is our personal #1 seller in the store. I also really like the Canidae ALS. It is a multimeat food and a lot of rescues in our area use it as their food of choice since it is easy for most dogs to digest. Some dogs don’t do well on too rich of a food, but owners want to stay grain free. In that case I like Under the Sun or Whole Earth Farms.

[Mareike]

Hi Kenneth,

How much of a picky eater is Earl? I have a 5-6 year old, female Lab, American type, who like a stereotypical Lab eats more or less anything. So it’s very easy to feed her a rotational diet consisting of different brands of commercial dog food (mostly kibble and raw) and some home-cooked food. You seem concerned about making a wrong change and I think a rotational diet (/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/) would have the advantage of balancing things out.

With Natures Valley, do you mean Nature’s Variety? That is one of the brands I’ve been feeding my dog on and off and feel I can trust. Other brands I like to feed her are Honest Kitchen, Ziwi Peak, Spot Farms, Canidae, Primal, Stella & Chewy, Petkind, Wellness, Fromm, Solid Gold. Canidae ranks well for both nutrition and purity (http://www.cleanlabelproject.org/pet-food/). Have not tried Acana or Orijen yet, but probably will.

Another factor to consider for you in your choice might be Earl’s surgeries in combination with his weight. In case you/your vet think(s) he could/should lose some weight, then you might want to find a brand or multiple brands of a high-quality “weight loss” food.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 1 month ago by Mareike.

[Kenneth A]

Deb B.

Thank you for your response concerning your experiences with Pro Plan and ACANA. Do you happen to know if the ACANA you feed is produced in the Canadian or Kentucky Kitchen? ACANA is a brand I was also considering but many comments I have read on this site about the brand seem to feel the food from the Canadian Kitchen may be a superior product. As I stated in my original post it is very confusing trying to select a “better food” for Earl. I do not want to try and improve on his food and feed him something that is not good for him.

[Deb B]

Hi Kenneth, We have a 14 year old female lab, named Darcie. Our girl ate Pro Plan until about 3 years ago, when we switched to ACANA which she loves, and we think is a great food ( she is on the Senior Formula now) We always wanted to keep her lean ( she never weighed over about 65 lbs, until now because she can’t manage as much exercise) When Darcie was 2, we put her on the Pro Plan weight management formula, which I believe was instrumental in keeping her weight down…and we never fed her what the bag recommended. Because of the weight formula…we could give her a little more to keep her satisfied. Two main feeds morning and night, and a small scoop at lunchtime. When she was able, she got lots of exercise… I also think keeping her weight down saved her hips.
I should say she is an ” American ” lab…but Canadian in citizenship!! So has the longer legs, more slender face and build…The ACANA food is highly rated and I have to say I wish I had switched her sooner.
Anyway…our vet and breeder also felt Pro Plan was fine, and she did fine on it until 12!! I just felt like I should spoil her in her old age…can’t believe she’s almost 15…hoping she makes that birthday…Good Luck!!

[Ciro R]

My 9 year old German Shepherd has battled allergies and yeast infections for many years, recently She began to develop infections in her armpits in addition to her normal ear issue. She’s been on all kinds of allergy meds that simply reduce the intensity but never solve the problem. I feed her Acana and Orijen mostly but I remembered when she was a pup she mostly ate raw and didn’t have any issues at all. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good raw diet for a yeasty dog that isn’t super expensive and that I don’t have to make myself (freeze dried is ok)?

[melissa e]

Thank you, i was looking at Acana and wellness. He is on Science Diet I/D dry but mixed with Merrick canned only because my other frenchie had serious stomach issues and this was the only thing that worked and it was just easier to give them the same kibble but i added the wet to his. She is no longer with us so I want him off the science diet asap! than you so ,such for the help! it solidifies what I was thinking.

[haleycookie]

If you want the best kibble there is and don’t mind paying a lot Young Again, Orijen, natures variety instinct and merrick backcountry are some good options. Acana is good too if your dog can’t handle anything too rich and you don’t want to spend as much as Orijen. However keep in mind that since they began producing Acana and Orijen in the states the reviews have become hit or miss. Also if you aren’t interested in actual raw things you can try adding freeze dried mixers into whatever kibble you choose. And try to add canned food wherever you can. Adds moisture to the diet and not as processed as kibble is.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by haleycookie.

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

I like Acana but it can be rich for some dogs. Wellness is a good food, but I lean more towards their CORE line. Solid Gold is a good food as well. I’ve also used Fromm in my rotation with good results. Canidae is a good middle of the road option, cheaper than some but still high quality. If your dog can tolerate it and has no health issues, I’m an advocate for rotational feeding. But at the end of the day, what works for mine won’t always work for others.

[melissa e]

Hi i am switching my 2 year old french bulldog to a better dog food he has no issues. I am so confused , I know it should be grain free, however I’m torn between salmon or meat based poultry . Reason is a trainer said chicken and turkey is bad for him. I am between Acana, then there is Wellness i am really stumped and have gotten such mixed information. I am not doing raw I know that is probably best but I need a dry kibble. Please any advice would be so appreciated!

[charisse]

Just trying out Acana’s Single protein Duck and Pear. Kibble same size as Origen (and Acana is made by Orijen), but this one has less protein – and I am told less protein means less calories…So we’ll try it out.

We have been exercising her more too (Bella’s initial problem was to loose some weight). She has lost about 3/4 of a pound so now she is under 14 lbs which is good progress. I don’t know if it’s food or exercise or a combo. This 3/4 lb weight loss is over about 3 months.

Thank you Karen for your info!

[Max and Lucy]

How old is your dog? It is my understanding, that just like people, when dogs get older they need less fat and more fiber.My old(10 year) aussie had blood as well. Switched to royal canin because I was desperate. I don’t like the food or the ingredients ,however it did solidify problems.I’m going to try acana for senior and if need be ,add a teaspoon of pumpkin to up the fiber. I have a puppy on Acana(puppy formula) and she is doing well. It is such a concern when our furry friends are sick.Best of luck to all!!

[Donna B]

Dear Jim, I just ordered Carni4 & should get it today. I used A 6lb bag before{because of the price}& mixed it w/ACANA duck & pear SINGLES DRY. D akota did very well on the mix. This time I bit the bullet & ordered a 25# bag to mix.However I do know Dr. Becker & have used a couple of her products in the past, this food I found & decided to purchase at White Dog Bone Co as part of my auto ship. Dakota IS NOT a picky eater but suffers from a very sensitive stomach & digestive problems. Between Acana & Carni4, its the best mix I’ve found for his digestive health. He’s 13.

[Jamie S]

Have fed Merrick for two years. All my dogs began having bad GI upset on Merrick. After finding out about Purina buying Merrick, I quickly stopped feeding it. I have been making homemade food and my dogs are well. This isn’t feasible longterm, and I am in search of the best dry kibble for my low energy dogs. Any suggestions? Can’t decide between Wellness, Candidae or Acana. These seem to consistently make the list of five star rated foods.

[Linda C]

Our now 6 month old Bernese Mountain Dog is sensitive to chicken and I feel your pain. So many foods contain chicken in some form or another, even if it’s not shown as the first ingredient, so I feel your pain. Our breeder (and our vet confirmed and explained) started our pup off immediately on adult food rather than puppy food because puppy foods contain ingredients that promote faster growth (which is unwanted in a large breed dog). We didn’t find a large Breed food brand that didn’t contain chicken.

After many missteps, we’ve settled on Acana Lamb and Apple. It’s a limited ingredient food and our Billie is doing very well on it. There are (I think) four different protein sources to choose from. We don’t feed raw or canned so I can’t offer a suggestion there.

Good luck, I know it’s frustrating.

[Jessica J]

Ahhhhh…. so glad I stumbled across this thread. As a store manager of a grooming salon & pet boutique, I literally spend my day surrounded by high quality dog food and have successfully advised countless dog owners. I have spent hours respectfully arguing against the “my vet says Science Diet” is the best food argument. My 8 year old Australian Labradoodle has mostly eaten Acana or the Fromm 4-Star GF line. She’s a finicky one and tends to prefer the Fromm. Well… 3 weeks ago a friend of a friend found a baby Lab on the side of the road. Cold, slightly malnourished, and scared. After confirming that nobody was looking for this sweet little lost soul… I made her a permanent member of my family. In desperation the first night I got her, I brought home a bag of Orijen Puppy kibble and Primal Raw Goats Milk. My only thought being that this little girl needed some good nutrition asap. After a week of thriving but with loose explosive poops, I realized that the Orijen was probably a little too rich for her belly. So I did a little research and checked some numbers and trusted my intuition- and put her on the same Fromm kibble my Doodle eats. She is gaining a perfect 2lbs a day, solid stools, looks great, etc. I have occasionally supplemented with a little Primal Raw Goats Milk. Saw the new vet at my beloved practice today and was chastised and lectured that she should be on a Large Breed Puppy food so that she doesn’t end up a dysplastic disaster at a young age. Then I came home and found this thread as well as confirmed for myself that the numbers hit where I wanted them to. Thank you for the knowledgeable common sense advice and all your wisdom!!

[Fanette R]

Thanks Susan and Taylor for your help.

It’s so tricky having to take care of IBD and pacreatitis at the same time!
I was also wondering about the “min 12%” actually, but thought it won’t be too much higher.
I also was skeptical about the Fiber in “First Mate Pacific Ocean” ’cause it might not be good for Furby’s issue.

I’ve checked the food “Kirkland Salmen & Sweet Potato Formula” but I saw that it’s a 14% fat formula, isn’t that too much?

Yeah ordering those food might be tricky too.. I don’t think I’ll even be able to order Wellness, I’ve tried to check if I could order dry food for Furby through Amazon, from the US but it doesn’t seem to be possible.. France is very bad for dog food…
Lately we have had Acana, Orijen and Taste of the Wild coming into our pet stores, but that’s basically it.. And from what I read none of those brands would go with an IBD dog who suffers from pancreatitis…

I might be able to order Natural Balance online through providers. There is no providers in France but in Europe there is once so I could contact them.
I just hope Furby would do ok with sweet potato as it’s the first ingredient.

Anyway, I’ll keep looking, it’s just frustrating ’cause I can’t order much good dry food as there isn’t much of them around my area..

The only one I’ve found that I could order easily is the “GO! Sensitivity + Shine Salmon”
On the french website they say “12% fat” but on the english one they say “12.4” so I dunno.. This brand also have a LID section but there is lentils is all of those recipes.
Go! Sensitivity + Shine Salmon https://www.petcurean.com/product/go-sensitivity-shine-salmon-dog-food-recipe-eu/

And Merry Christmas to you all! 🙂

• This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by Fanette R.

[Elaine S]

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a good quality weight loss food for my 9 year old senior Golden. She has been on Acana lite & Fit (or proper name) for a few months now and is not losing. Any suggestions are very welcome. I have my two other Goldens, 8 mos. and 5 years on Acana Grasslands………not thinking that would work….? Thanks, Elaine

[Kimberly B]

Thank you Deb!

I totally agree with you! Wow 15 that is so wonderful. I feel we lost him too soon. Gunner was a hunting dog so super fit, it truly made no sense. I hate Cancer! Our vet mentioned Acana!

[Deb B]

Hi Kimberley! So sorry to hear about your sweet lab. We have a yellow lab on her way to turning 15…so we have been very very fortunate. One of the things I made sure of, was that she was never overweight, which I think has helped with longevity. She was on ProPlan a good part of her life, but we fed her the weight management formula from the time she was 2 ! She did fine on it, but in my opinion, it is not a great food. About 3 years ago, I decided she deserved a better formula, and after much research we chose Acana…love it, she does too. Yes, it is more expensive but I think worth it…I don’t know anything about labradoodles, but Acana has many different formulations. It might be worth a look…your new puppy will need a food with a higher fat content until at least a year old..but after that…not so much..I’d be interested to see what your vet thinks of Acana…good luck!!

[Samantha S]

We were feeding Acana Lamb and Okanagan Apple. Originally, it was an excellent quality food, but over time I saw a significant decline in condition and temperament. Specifically, my dogs were fence fighting constantly, my girls either stopped cycle or were unable to get pregnant, loss of muscle tone and dull dry coats. Finally, I looked at the food label: Acana added a load of phytoestrogens: whole green peas, red lentils, pinto beans, chickpeas, green lentils, whole yellow peas, lentil fiber, and more.

I switched food some one phytoestrogen-free, and we are back to our beautiful, sweet, large litter size kennel that we once were.