Meadowland Highest Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
ACANA Meadowland Highest Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a dry food featuring deboned chicken, turkey, and chicken liver as its main protein sources.
This formula boasts a strong protein profile, with deboned chicken leading the ingredient list, offering high biological value. It also includes quality fat sources like named fat and marine oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA. The product has also undergone AAFCO feeding trials.
The formula contains several pulse-family ingredients, such as red lentils, pinto beans, and chickpeas, appearing in the top 15. This legume stacking is a pattern the FDA has investigated, though it's partially mitigated by the organ meat present.
Good fit for dogs who thrive on high-protein, grain-free diets. Less ideal if your dog has a vet-flagged sensitivity to legumes.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and English Setters navigating weight management. Working in its favor: crude fiber (6%) helps satiety. At 392 kcal/cup this formula runs on the moderate side, with crude fiber at 6% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Solid grade. 72/100 (B) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+22.5 points): Strong protein profile with deboned chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-2 points). Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10. A-tier is 3.0 points away. Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty is the most direct route.
Strong protein profile with deboned chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest carb quality in ACANA's lineup (8/16)
- Top 10% for DMB protein in dry kibbles (37.5%)
- Bottom 10% for fat quality in ACANA's lineup (12/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
ACANA Free-Run Poultry Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Scores 11 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
ACANA Classics Chicken & Barley Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
$2.89/lb vs your seed's $3.84/lb (25% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animaldeboned chicken
Real meat with the bones removed before grinding. The cleanest version of chicken on an ingredient label.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalchicken liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4turkey giblets
Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 5protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6catfish meal
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7legumered lentils
Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8legumepinto beans
Position 8. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 9pollock meal
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 11legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 11. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 12legumechickpeas
Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 12. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 13lentil fiber
Position 13. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 14pea starch
Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.
Position 14. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 15catfish
Position 15: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 16eggs
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.
- 17rainbow trout
- 18fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
- 19othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 20legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →
- 21legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
- 22protein animalchicken heart
Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.
- 23collard greens
- 24mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 25supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
Showing first 25 of 56. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
17 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.