Earthborn vs Acana Dog Food: 1 Clear Winner

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

What makes your dog healthy is similar to what makes you healthy: a balanced diet of protein, carbs, fats, and vitamins.

So if you’re looking for good food for your dog, you’ll want to make sure it’s got everything they need in it—but how do you know which ones have what they need?

In this post, we will compare two of the popular brands out there: Earthborn vs Acana dog food.

We’ll talk about what makes each brand unique and how they differ from one another, so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your pup.

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earthborn vs acana dog food comparison

Overview: Earthborn and Acana Dog Food

⚠️ Consider the following when choosing dog food:

  • Life stage
  • Size of dog
  • Grain-inclusive or grain-free

What’s most important in choosing the right type of food for your dog is understanding its breed (activity levels) and any existing allergies.

If you need more help, consult your vet or find a veterinary nutritionist at the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (AVCM).

Earthborn is made with a high-quality blend of proteins, healthy fats (like coconut oil), and complex carbohydrates.

Its recipes include those that are free of corn, wheat, soy, and by-products, which makes it ideal for dogs who have sensitivities to those ingredients.

Do take note here that Earthborn only produces dry dog food.

Acana is another company that uses high-quality ingredients in its recipes.

It uses real meat as its primary source of protein and fish meal as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Both brands also use plenty of fruits and vegetables in their recipes to provide vitamins and minerals that are essential for your dog’s health.

It should be noted though that the range from Earthborn is much lesser than Acana, and you will not find any specific product created for senior dogs as well as any wet dog food.

In the following sections, we take a closer look at these factors:

  • Brand reputation
  • Ingredients
  • Key nutrients
  • Range of formulas
  • Product safety and recall
  • Price

1. Brand Reputation

Earthborn

Earthborn is a brand owned by Midwestern Pet Food that has been around for nearly 100 years.

They make holistic dog food formulas that are made from human-grade ingredients, which means they’re good for both your dog and the environment!

In fact, it has reached its goal of recycling 1 million bags by Earth Day 2022 as well as planting 1 million trees by Arbor Day 2022.

That’s what we call commitment!

Although they are a small family-owned outfit, they have built up a very good reputation thanks to their high-quality products and attention to detail, but in recent years, it has been hit by product problems which we will discuss later.

Acana

Acana was created in Alberta, Canada, and got its name from the agricultural region there.

Over time, the name has grown to be linked with quality.

Today, world-class kitchens in Auburn, Kentucky, and Edmonton, Alberta, are where Acana produces its goods.

Their products are currently distributed in more than 60 countries, making them one of the top dog food companies on the market.

Acana uses high-quality, biologically relevant ingredients to make its kibbles, and it supplies a variety of dry kibble options that are packed with nutrients and flavors that are unrivaled for a contented, healthy dog.

The revolutionary Acana grain-free dog food combines organic ingredients and protein from wild and free-range animals, reducing food waste, animal cruelty, and environmental harm at the same time.

Doggy says, from the UK? Read more about Canine Prime dog supplements

2. Ingredients

⚠️ A few points to note about the product label

Product name – tells you the percentage of the main ingredient

  • “Chicken” – at least 70% of the product.
  • “Chicken entree”, “Chicken platter”, “Chicken dinner” – at least 10% of the product.
  • “With chicken” – at least 3% of the product
  • “Chicken flavor” – less than 3% of the product

Ingredients – The first few items listed are the most important and make up the majority of the product (determined by weight).

Meat-meal – Can have much more protein than actual meat. To further understand, refer to this guide by AAFCO.

Earthborn

The ingredients in Earthborn dog food are carefully selected to provide optimal nutrition for your pet.

Each ingredient is chosen for its ability to provide your dog with the highest quality of nutrients and has been rigorously tested to ensure that it is safe for use in earthborn dog food.

The first thing you’ll notice when you look at Earthborn dog food is the simplicity of the ingredients used.

This makes shopping for dog owners a breeze and not get confused over a myriad of information.

Earthborn uses whitefish meal and turkey as the main ingredient in their foods, which means it contains a higher percentage of protein than any other type of meat.

In addition to high-quality meats like turkey and salmon, Earthborn also includes fruits and vegetables that contain essential vitamins and minerals like Glucosamine, Vitamin A as well as Omega 3 fatty acids which can help reduce inflammation and improve your dog’s skin condition.

dog essentials banner in content

Acana

With a ratio of 60% premium animal components, 40% fruit and vegetables, and no grains, Acana Dog Food is a medically suitable diet.

You won’t find any of the rendered meats, garbage, or by-products of the human food industry that are so common in commercial dog diets today in Acana since they only use ingredients of the highest quality for humans.

The meats used are never frozen and don’t contain any preservatives.

In contrast to other commercial pet feeds, the fresh regional meats used in Acana Dog Food are processed the same day they are received.

This is a significant factor in the remarkable palatability and feeding performance of Acana.

Your dog will receive the biologically available, quickly digested, and absorbed protein sources included in Acana Dog Food that are necessary for a dog to have healthy muscles, enough energy, recover from injuries, and develop a strong immune system.

Doggy says, you might like this too: Heritage Ranch Dog Food Review [In-depth Guide]

3. Key Nutrients

AAFCO mandates a guaranteed analysis of the nutrients to be present on every pet food label.

The analysis must validate minimum crude protein and crude fat percentages as well as maximum crude fiber and moisture percentages.

Understanding your dog’s daily nutritional demands will help you choose the proper food.

Earthborn vs Acana Dog Food Guaranteed Analysis

Dry dog foodEarthbornAcana
Crude Protein23% min33% min
Crude Fat12% min10% min
Crude Fiber4% max8% max
Moisture10% max12% max
Based on adult dry dog food
Wet dog foodEarthbornAcana
Crude ProteinNA8% min
Crude FatNA3.5% min
Crude FiberNA1.5% max
MoistureNA82% max
Based on adult wet dog food

Crude Protein

Because it gives dogs the amino acids and other nutrients they require for growth, development, tissue repair, and maintenance, protein is crucial to dogs.

Building strong bones and connective tissue is another benefit of protein.

From the tables above, it can be seen that Acana’s dry dog food formula beats the ones from Earthborn because it has substantially more protein per pack.

Crude Fat

Dogs need fat because it aids in the development and maintenance of healthy cell membranes.

Without these membranes, cells would just sort of flop around since they are what keep cells from losing their structure.

Additionally, fat facilitates the assimilation of vitamins and minerals by dogs.

When you compare the 2 brands, their dry food provides a similar amount of fats, so it’s a tie here.

Crude Fiber

Fiber is crucial for a dog because it keeps their digestive tract in good shape. Lack of fiber in a dog’s diet can cause constipation as well as other issues.

It also contributes to the health of their digestive system and gives them a sense of fullness, which can help them feel less hungry and avoid overeating.

In this comparison, you can see that Acana effectively provides double the amount of Earthborn!

4. Range of Formulas

When it comes to the range of formulas, Acana has a clear advantage here due to its vast range of products available.

They carry dog food products that pretty much cater to all dog parents who have dogs in all life cycles.

On the other hand, Earthborn has a much smaller range that is suitable for puppies and adult dogs only.

Also, Earthborn does not have wet dog food available.

Here’s a look at their most popular products:

Earthborn

Acana

5. Product Safety and Recall

Earthborn

Unfortunately for this nearly century-old company, it was it by a recall in March 2021, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

While dog food recall does happen to even the best companies, it is what they do after that gives consumers the confidence to trust them again.

In Earthborn’s case, they actually continued to sell the products for months after the recall, incurring a warning letter from the FDA.

So I would have to say I hardly have much confidence in them these days.

Acana

There has never been any Acana dog food recall.

6. Price

Cost is a big concern for many dog owners, but it is also important to balance price and benefits in order for our pooches to get the most nutrition and grow up well.

In this case, Acana does cost a bit more per pound, but I would definitely choose them each time over Earthborn thanks to its superior products and good track record.

Brand/Price Per PoundEarthbornAcana
Dry dog food$2.53/pound$2.80/pound

In Conclusion: Earthborn vs Acana Dog Food Comparison

We’ve done the research and we’ve picked a winner: Acana is the better dog food for your pup in this comparison.

I love its superior quality and impressive track record, and it comes in a variety of options for every size and stage of life.

Be sure to check out what they offer and you might just find the best food for your dog now!

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Zack Keithy
Zack Keithy

Hey, I'm Zack, the Chief Editor here. I was formerly a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) for a good 6 years before moving on to greener pastures. Right now, I am still heavily involved in dog parenting duties, and it is my desire to share all our knowledge with fellow dog owners out there! Connect with me on LinkedIn, or read more about Canine Care Central!

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