In this comparison article for Acana vs Nutro, we'll
highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly
compare Acana and Nutro, we'll use up-to-date nutritional
and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet.
Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history,
and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Nutro vs Acana comparison, we've utilized
average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews,
visit our Acana Review Page or
Nutro Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Nutro vs. Acana
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide
a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis
must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude
protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude
fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a
dry matter basis.
Acana Dog Food vs. Nutro Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Acana
Nutro
Crude Protein
35.4%
27.0%
Crude Fat
18.9%
15.1%
Crude Fiber
6.4%
4.6%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
When you look at the average percentages of crude protein for dry dog food, it's clear that Acana provides significantly more protein. On average, Acana guarantees about 8.47% more protein than Nutro.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.
According to our data, Acana guarantees 3.78% more fat than Nutro. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference.
Nutro and Acana both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Acana Cat Food vs. Nutro Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Acana
Nutro
Crude Protein
39.7%
36.1%
Crude Fat
19.1%
16.9%
Crude Fiber
4.3%
5.4%
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
There is a small difference between the protein content of Acana and Nutro. We can see that Acana guarantees about 3.59% more protein than Nutro.
Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food
There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):
Fats help with the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Prevent or reduce the likelihood of certain heart problems.
Aid in the development of the retina and visual cortex.
According to our average data, Nutro typically provides less fat than Acana. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands.
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands.
Acana Pet Food Ingredients vs. Nutro Pet Food Ingredients
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Acana.
Heart
Heart
Heart is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous animal ingredients are typically very low quality and may contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
Kidney
Kidney
Kidney is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous animal ingredients are typically very low quality and may contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Nutro.
Iron Oxide
Iron Oxide
Iron oxide is an FDA approved natural food coloring agent. It's commonly found in rusting metal and provides a reddish-brown color.
We believe food colorants are unnecessary ingredients in pet food. Other than potential harm, food colorants do not provide any nutritional value. These type of ingredients are used only to make the food look appealing to humans.
Pea Protein
Pea Protein
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Pork Plasma
Pork Plasma
Pork plasma is the colorless fluid part of a pig's blood. It may sound disgusting, but it's actually very nutritious for pets. Regardless of the nutritional aspects, consumers are shocked by this ingredient, which is why pork plasma is considered a controversial ingredient.
Whole Wheat
Whole Wheat
Whole wheat is one type of whole grain and contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice
Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Wheat Gluten
Wheat Gluten
Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat. Although wheat gluten is mostly protein, wheat gluten is considered controversial because it significantly boosts the protein content of the product. This is undesirable because plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Caramel Color
Caramel Color
Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Tomato Pomace
Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable Oil
Specific vegetable oils are typically positive ingredients; however, this ingredient does not specify which vegetable(s) were used to produce the oil.
Without this information, it is impossible for us to make any specific statements. With any fat source, it is important to know the omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio, a property which cannot be determined with this ingredient. Thus, we have marked vegetable oil as a controversial ingredient.
Feeding Oatmeal
Feeding Oatmeal
According to AAFCO, feeding oatmeal "is obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats". It contains "broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats." In other words, feeding oatmeal is an inexpensive by-products of rolled oat processing.
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the production of various corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, etc). It's very high in protein (nearly 60% protein) and therefore can significant boost the protein content of the product. Because plant based proteins such as corn gluten meal are inferior to meat based proteins (lack many essential amino acids), they are not suitable substitutes.
Dried Corn Syrup
Dried Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is made from corn starch and it's typically used as a thickener, sweetener, and humectant (keeps the product moist). It's considered controversial because it can raise a pet's blood sugar to unhealthy levels. Of course this concern may be nullified if the syrup is used in very small quantities.
Ground Whole Wheat
Ground Whole Wheat
Ground whole wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.
Meat And Bone Meal
Meat And Bone Meal
Meat and bone meal is produced by cooking meat and bone using a process called rendering. The rendering process dramatically reduces the natural moisture of meat and thereby results in a highly condensed protein source.
This ingredient is marked controversial because the source animal for the meat is not specified. These type of anonymous ingredient are typically very low quality and certainly inexpensive additions. The most unpleasing property of this ingredient is that the meat source can contain any mammal, even dogs & cats.
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.
Pea Protein Isolate
Pea Protein Isolate
Pea protein isolate is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein isolate is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health
affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Nutro.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Product Safety: Recall History of Acana & Nutro?
According to our records, Acana has never been recalled.
May 21, 2009: incorrect levels of zinc and potassium
March 16, 2007: Melamine
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Dry Dog Food
Acana
Nutro
Per Pound
$3.47
$2.22
Per Calorie
$0.0023
$0.0014
Dry Cat Food
Acana
Nutro
Per Pound
$4.55
$3.00
Per Calorie
$0.0026
$0.0018
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each
brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates
the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Acana or Nutro,
input your pet's weight into our cost
analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands.
However, the actual price that you'll pay for Acana or Nutro will depend on your shopping habits.
Cost Analyzer Widget
Cost of Feeding Acana
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Cost of Feeding Nutro
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Acana
and Nutro. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article.
We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Acana Pet Foods
You can purchase Acana pet foods from the following stores:
28 Recipes In-Stock Today
32 Recipes In-Stock Today
13 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Nutro Pet Foods
You can purchase Nutro pet food products from these retailers:
82 Recipes In-Stock Today
60 Recipes In-Stock Today
73 Recipes In-Stock Today
10 Recipes In-Stock Today
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Acana
Nutro
Dry Dog Food
42 Recipes
66 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
45 Recipes
Dog Treats
6 Treats
12 Treats
Dry Cat Food
10 Recipes
17 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
53 Recipes
Cat Treats
Compare Pet Food Prices Across Multiple Pet Stores