Sea to Stream Saltwater Fish Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
ACANA Sea to Stream Saltwater Fish Wholesome Grains is a dry dog food with salmon and herring as its primary protein sources.
This food has a strong protein profile, with salmon leading the ingredient list, which means high biological value for your dog. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, and good fat sources like named fats and marine oils for EPA and DHA.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for adult dogs of any size. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) . Strong fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Salmon anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15.
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? 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.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 87/100, this formula sits near the top of our catalog. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 27 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Secondary contribution comes from carbohydrate quality (+16 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Top 1% for crude fiber in ACANA's lineup (17.0% DMB)
- Bottom 3% for caloric density in ACANA's lineup (371 kcal/cup)
- Top 1% for overall Sniff Score in ACANA's lineup (87/100)
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.
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 animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2herring
Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3trout
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4protein animalherring meal
Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5protein animalsalmon meal
Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6protein animalwhitefish meal
Whitefish cooked into a dry concentrate. Strong protein source, common in premium formulas.
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7oat groats
Whole oats with only the inedible hull removed. The most intact form of oats available.
Position 7: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 8grainsorghum
Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
Position 9: minor grain inclusion.
- 10grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 10: minor grain inclusion.
- 11fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 12fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 12. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 13acadian redfish
- 14freshwater drum
- 15natural fish flavor
- 16ground miscanthus grass
Same as miscanthus grass. A plant fiber source, mostly there for stool quality.
- 17supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 18supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 19vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 20preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
- 21supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 22mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 23mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 24vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 25vegetablevegetable
Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.
Showing first 25 of 50. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.