Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Acana

Acana Puppy Small Breed Recipe

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Acana Puppy Small Breed leads with fresh chicken, chicken meal, lentils, peas, chicken organs, chicken fat, turkey meal, eggs, and fish.

It is worth considering for small active puppies that tolerate chicken and legumes, not for allergy troubleshooting.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of chicken beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 33%Fat 20%Other 47%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.

Fat positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityTypical

This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.5%
Phosphorus1.1%
Crude fiber5%
Omega-31%
Omega-62.7%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Chicken ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken
B4.5/6Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · Fresh Chicken (18%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Chicken (18%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #3 · 통적렌틸콩Lower
Whole Plant Protein
Ingredient #1Top

Fresh Chicken (18%)

Fresh Chicken (18%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Top

Chicken (18%)

Chicken (18%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Lower

통적렌틸콩

통적렌틸콩 is a whole plant-protein ingredient. It is not a processed protein concentrate, but when it appears near the top it can still weaken the animal-protein-led structure. It reads as an lower-tier plant protein booster.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Fresh Chicken (18%) — Primary positive ingredientsChicken (18%) — Primary positive ingredients통적렌틸콩 — Caution ingredients통완두콩 — Caution ingredients신선한 닭고기 내장(간, 심장)(7%) — Primary positive ingredientsChicken Fat (7%) — Neutral ingredientsTurkey (4%) — Primary positive ingredients계란(4%) — Primary positive ingredients생 가자미류(4%) — Primary positive ingredientsHerring (4%) — Primary positive ingredients피쉬 오일(3%) — Neutral ingredients통녹렌틸콩 — Caution ingredients통병아리콩 — Caution ingredients통노란완두콩 — Caution ingredients완두콩 섬유질 — Neutral ingredients완두콩녹말 — Caution ingredients생 칠면조 간(1%) — Primary positive ingredients소금 — Neutral ingredients말린 해조류 — Support positive ingredients신선한 통호박 — Neutral ingredientsWhole Butternut Squash — Neutral ingredients신선한 통당근 — Neutral ingredients신선한 통사과 — Neutral ingredients신선한 통배 — Neutral ingredients신선한 통주키니 — Neutral ingredients말린 치커리 뿌리 — Support positive ingredients신선한 케일 — Neutral ingredients신선한 시금치 — Neutral ingredients신선한 순무 그린 — Neutral ingredients신선한 비트 그린 — Neutral ingredients신선한 통크랜베리 — Support positive ingredients신선한 통블루베리 — Neutral ingredients신선한 통새스커툰 베리 — Neutral ingredientsTurmeric — Neutral ingredientsMilk Thistle — Support positive ingredientsBurdock Root — Neutral ingredientsLavender — Neutral ingredients마시멜로우 뿌리 — Neutral ingredientsRosehips — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Whole plant protein source in the top 3

Animal protein · Fresh Chicken (18%) (#1), Chicken (18%) (#2), Turkey (4%) (#7), Herring (4%) (#10)

The crude protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not the same as processed protein boosting, but it is not purely meat-led.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
ChicoryGut support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTurmeric/curcuminAntioxidant and joint support ingredientMilk thistleLiver support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Fresh Chicken (18%), Chicken (18%) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Whole Plant Protein, Whole Plant Protein contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber among the leading ingredients. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone.

Chicken Fat (7%) add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including chicken, turkey, egg, herring. Some protein sources are not fully identified, which limits choices that require excluding a specific protein.

What works well in this food

  • The first two ingredients are both species-named animal ingredients.
  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

Check before feeding

  • Phosphorus is 1.1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Fresh meat carries a moisture variable. When whole plant protein sources are also high in the list, part of the crude-protein number may come from those plant ingredients.
  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is typical. This combination is worth comparing when protein matters but a higher-calorie food is not the aim. High protein alone does not make it an active-dog-only food; judge weight changes against total daily calories. Fat is higher even though calories are not, so any fat restriction needs a separate assessment.

Consider it first when

  • Public-data-first comparison
  • Baseline shortlist building
  • Conservative first-pass screening

Choose another food first when

  • You want a stronger ingredient-quality story first
  • You need dog-specific fit instead of public-review screening

Plant-protein concentration remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart chicken alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Acana background

Founded in 1985 in Canada.

Disclosure confidence C2

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.