The Highest Protein line is built around animal ingredients, with three grain-free kibbles that differ mainly in their meats. Wild Atlantic is all fish, led by whole mackerel, whole herring and redfish. Appalachian Ranch leads with beef, pork and lamb and also lists bison and fish. Meadowland leads with deboned chicken and deboned turkey and adds fish and egg. Fish appears in all three.
The figures barely move from recipe to recipe. Each lists 33% protein, 17% fat, 6% fiber and 12% moisture as fed, with estimated starch at 26%. Calories run from 388 kcal per cup in Appalachian Ranch to 392 in Wild Atlantic and Meadowland. Against the 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, which average 26.9% protein, 37.4% estimated starch and 395 kcal per cup, this line is higher in protein, lower in starch and close on calories.
The trade-offs are a narrow choice and a shared formula. All three include peas or lentils, so the line has no legume-free option, while none contains grain or potato. Every recipe is labeled for all life stages and all breed sizes, with none made for a specific size or purpose, so the main decision is which proteins suit the dog.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Atlantic Recipe Grain-Free | 33% | 17% | 26% | 392 | Whole mackerel, whole herring, redfish |
| Appalachian Ranch Recipe Grain-Free | 33% | 17% | 26% | 388 | Beef, pork, lamb |
| Meadowland Recipe Grain-Free | 33% | 17% | 26% | 392 | Deboned chicken, deboned turkey, chicken liver |
| Line average | 33% | 17% | 26% | 391 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
33% protein · 17% fat · 26% starch · 392 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Wild Atlantic is the line's only all-fish recipe, opening with whole mackerel, whole herring, redfish, silver hake and mackerel meal. At 392 kcal per cup, it suits owners who want a fish-only kibble with no land meats or poultry on the label.
Full review of Wild Atlantic Recipe Grain-Free33% protein · 17% fat · 26% starch · 388 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Appalachian Ranch is the only recipe in the line with beef, pork, lamb and bison, led by beef, pork, lamb, lamb meal and beef meal. At 388 kcal per cup it is the least calorie dense of the three, a fit for owners who prefer red meats.
Full review of Appalachian Ranch Recipe Grain-Free33% protein · 17% fat · 26% starch · 392 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Meadowland is the line's poultry recipe and the only one with chicken, turkey and egg, opening with deboned chicken, deboned turkey, chicken liver and turkey giblets. It also includes fish and suits owners who want a bird-based kibble at 392 kcal per cup.
Full review of Meadowland Recipe Grain-FreeYes. All three recipes, Wild Atlantic, Appalachian Ranch and Meadowland, are grain free and contain no potato, but each one includes peas or lentils.
None of them. Wild Atlantic, Appalachian Ranch and Meadowland all list 33% protein and 17% fat as fed. They differ in their meats and slightly in calories, from 388 kcal per cup in Appalachian Ranch to 392 in the other two.
Yes. Wild Atlantic lists only fish, and Appalachian Ranch uses beef, pork, lamb, bison and fish. Meadowland is the only recipe in the line with chicken.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (37.5% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 26% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
100% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Acana has never had one. See the recall log
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
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