Is Acana WSAVA-Approved?
WSAVA does not approve, certify, or endorse any dog food brand — no such list exists. What "WSAVA-approved" actually refers to is whether a manufacturer satisfies the five questions the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee tells owners to ask. Acana meets 1 of the 5, so it sits between the fully compliant brands and those that meet none. It substantiates its diets through formulation to AAFCO profiles rather than feeding trials, and typically costs $55–$90 per month for a 50 lb adult dog.
Acana against the 5 WSAVA questions
| WSAVA question | Acana |
|---|---|
| Employs a full-time qualified veterinary nutritionist | No |
| Diets formulated by a credentialed expert | Partial |
| Substantiates diets with AAFCO feeding trials | No |
| Owns and operates its manufacturing plants | Yes |
| Runs a documented quality-control program | Partial |
| Criteria fully met | 1 of 5 |
| Typical monthly cost (50 lb dog) | $55 – $90 |
Strengths
- Less expensive than Orijen with similar formulation philosophy
- Owned manufacturing
- Recipes built around regional ingredient sourcing
Watch-outs
- Same brand named in FDA DCM investigation as Orijen
- Formulation-only substantiation
- No full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist
Who Acana suits
Best for: Owners who want Orijen's philosophy at a lower price and accept the trade-offs.
Avoid if: You want full WSAVA compliance or your dog has cardiac risk factors.
Acana head-to-head
Personalized recommendation
WSAVA compliance is one input. Your dog is the other.
IntelliBowl's free 60-second quiz ranks 13+ brands (including Acana) against your dog's age, breed, weight, activity, allergies, and budget. Free, no signup.
Methodology: Scores reflect Acana's publicly documented manufacturer-quality practices as of May 2026, assessed against the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee's 5-question rubric. WSAVA itself does not certify, approve, or rank any brand. Monthly cost reflects typical US 2026 retail for a 50 lb adult dog at premium spec, before autoship discounts. See our recommendation methodology.