As a kitten owner, you are probably wondering when the best time to transition to an adult food is. It’s important not to switch too early or too late, so when exactly is the happy medium?

Understanding a Kitten’s Nutritional Needs

Kitten and adult foods differ; kittens grow rapidly and therefore require more calories to support that growth. Protein is crucial in their diet, as amino acids are the building blocks for muscle and tissue. For example, taurine is one of the most important amino acids and is vital for your kitten’s brain, heart, and vision. Essential fatty acids are very important for energy – which your playful kitten is most certainly going to need! Kittens also require more calcium than adult cats, as their skeletal system is growing and developing. Of course, a wide range of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B, thiamin, and niacin are also necessary for your kitten’s development.

When Can a Kitten Start Eating Adult Food?

Most cats are fully grown by around 12 months of age. The growth phase has ended around this time and they will no longer require extra calories and energy. This is the best time to start transitioning to an adult ACANA recipe.

Some larger breeds, such as Maine Coons, may not reach maturity until around 18 months of age. If you aren’t sure if your cat has reached its adult weight, consult your trusted vet for advice.

Signs Your Kitten Is Ready for Adult Food

As your kitten matures, its growth will slow down. You will notice your kitten’s weight begins to plateau and they may seem less hungry than before. As they mature, they require less energy and therefore may not need as much food to satisfy them. These are signs that the transition to adult food is near.

How to Transition from Kitten to Adult Food

To avoid digestive upset and to allow your cat to adjust to their new adult food, a gradual transition over around 7 days is important. Start with 75% of their ACANA kitten formula mixed with 25% of the new adult formula. Over the course of the week, slowly increase the percentage of new food and decrease the old food. By the end of the week, as long as you are not observing anything abnormal (loose stool, vomiting, excessive itching, etc.), you should be feeding full portions of the adult recipe.

Risks of Switching Too Early or Too Late

Changing too early, while your kitten is still growing, can deprive your kitten of the necessary protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals required for growth. These nutrients are essential for the growth and development of your kitten’s organs and body systems, such as the brain, heart, eyes, liver, and kidneys.

On the other hand, staying on a kitten recipe after the growth phase has ended can lead to unwanted weight gain. As kitten foods have a higher fat and caloric content, once your cat has finished growing, these excess calories will be stored as fat. Overweight kitties are more at risk for serious health concerns such as heart disease and diabetes. Keeping your cat’s weight within a healthy range is very important – especially so early in your cat’s life.

Choosing the Best Adult Food for Your Cat

It is important that your cat’s adult food contains a high percentage of quality animal ingredients, including fresh meat. For the smoothest transition, it is usually best to choose an adult food that most closely resembles the kitten recipe you were feeding.

For example, the ACANA Homestead Harvest recipe would be the best choice for cats that were previously enjoying the ACANA First Feast formula. For kittens that were fed the ACANA Kitten recipe, we would recommend feeding ACANA Wild Prairie as an adult.

Throughout your cat’s life, you may want to try out various ACANA recipes. This is called Rotational Feeding and is a great way to offer your cat a variety of proteins and fats. Check out our FAQ’s page for more information on how to rotate between our recipes.

Caring for an indoor cat is a rewarding experience, but it does come with unique challenges. Without the natural stimulation and space that outdoor cats have, indoor cats rely on their human companions for everything—from entertainment to exercise, and, of course, food. Ensuring your indoor cat remains healthy, happy, and well-adjusted requires a little extra effort and consideration. Below are some essential tips and advice to help you care for your indoor cat.

Why Indoor Cat Care is Different

Indoor cats face a different set of challenges compared to outdoor cats. While they are protected from outdoor dangers such as traffic, predators, and disease, they lack the natural stimulation provided by exploring the outdoors. This means they may experience boredom, anxiety, and potentially even obesity if their environment doesn’t meet all of their physical and mental needs.

Indoor cats tend to be less active and have fewer opportunities to engage in natural hunting and climbing activities. To combat these challenges, it’s important to create an enriching environment for your cat inside your home. This includes setting up spaces for climbing, play, and exploration.

How to Take Care of an Indoor Cat’s Diet & Nutrition

Diet is an essential part of keeping an indoor cat healthy. As they are less active than outdoor cats, they may require fewer calories to maintain a healthy weight. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which is a common issue for indoor cats. It’s vital to select a high-quality, balanced diet designed for indoor cats to help manage their weight and nutritional needs.

ACANA Cat food offers premium, protein-rich options for indoor cats. ACANA Indoor Entrée Cat Food is formulated to meet the specific needs of less active indoor cats. Crafted with 65%* quality animal ingredients including fresh chicken, raw turkey and raw whole herring, this nutrient-dense recipe helps support key health benefits for your indoor cat, including weight management, hairball control, and digestive health.

For a grain-free option, consider ACANA™ Highest Protein¹ Indoor Cat. Made with fresh chicken, raw salmon, and trout, this recipe features 75%* animal ingredients to satisfy your cat’s protein needs. It supports healthy weight, hairball control, and a shiny coat with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

You may also want to consider a cat water fountain to encourage more hydration, as cats tend to drink less from a bowl. A hydrated cat is less prone to urinary tract issues.

Keeping Your Indoor Cat Active & Entertained

Keeping an indoor cat mentally and physically stimulated is crucial. Without outdoor exploration, indoor cats can quickly become bored or even depressed. Creating a dynamic environment with climbing spaces, scratching posts, and a variety of toys can help satisfy your cat’s natural instincts.

Invest in interactive toys that allow your cat to “hunt” and “play.” Feather wands, and puzzle feeders are all great ways to keep your cat active and engaged. You can also rotate toys to keep things interesting and introduce new activities regularly. Consider placing a cat perch near a window so your cat can watch birds or squirrels outside.

Regular playtime not only prevents boredom but also helps keep your cat physically fit and helps prevent obesity.

Litter Box Setup & Hygiene Tips

A clean litter box is a must for indoor cats. Cats are fastidious about their hygiene, and a dirty litter box can cause them to avoid it, leading to accidents around the house. Ensure to scoop the litter box daily and change the litter regularly. Be sure to place the litter box in a quiet, accessible location away from your cat’s food and water bowls. If you have multiple indoor cats, ensure they each have their own litter tray placed in areas away from each other.

The type of litter can also affect your cat’s experience. Some cats prefer clumping clay litter such as Intersand OdourLock, while others may favour different textures like corn or wood-based litters. You may need to experiment with different types to find what works best for your cat.

Indoor Cat Grooming & Health Care

While indoor cats generally require less grooming than outdoor cats (as they are exposed to less dirt and debris), they still need brushing regularly. Brushing your cat a few times a week helps reduce shedding and hairballs. For long-haired cats, more frequent grooming is necessary to prevent tangles and matting.

Proper nail maintenance is also essential for their health. Indoor cats, unlike outdoor ones, may not naturally wear down their claws, leading to overgrowth. Overgrown nails can curl into the paws, causing pain, infections, and the risk of injury from getting caught in carpets or furniture. Regularly check their claws to see if they’re becoming too long or are starting to curl. If your cat’s claws are scratching furniture or causing discomfort, it’s a sign that a trim is needed. Some cats may require more frequent trims, while others may need less, so it’s best to monitor them regularly and seek expert help if needed.

Indoor cats can be prone to weight gain, so make sure you adjust their diet and encourage exercise to keep them fit. Regular veterinary check-ups are also important to monitor their health, keep vaccinations up to date, and screen for common indoor cat ailments like dental disease or urinary tract issues.

By keeping an eye on their diet, exercise, and well-being, you’ll help them thrive and enjoy a long, happy life indoors.

*Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.
¹Compared to ACANA™ Indoor Entrée Cat recipe.

Get to know one of our ACANA ambassadors as they share their favourite moments and the food they choose for all their adventures.

Name of Owner: Chloe

Name of Pet: Button

Age of Pet: 1 year & 6 months

Social Media: button.boops

Location: West Midlands, England

Favourite memory so far with your pet?

Our trip to Newquay in Cornwall, when we walked along the cliff edge looking down the beach. Watching the waves was so calming, with the sun and gentle wind! Button kept a look out for the birds of course.

What are your pet’s favourite games?

He loves to play “find it” when we scatter his food in long grass or hide a toy/dummy. A very useful game for spaniel owners!

What would be your pet’s perfect day?

ACANA breakfast at 7-8am, then going back to bed for a lie in and cuddles until 12pm. The area we live in has lovely nature reserves, usually with loads of trees, little streams, fields to play fetch in and designated paths. There are also many hills to go up, we particularly love Malvern Hills! Going for a sunset walk during the winter was our favourite on short winter days. However, me and Button would prefer for it to be summer all year round! To finish the walk, we would find a pub to have a drink and some food, including treats for Button. Dinner is usually at 5.30pm which we will make sure we are home for. For the rest of the day, being at home with all his family keeps him happy. Having cuddles in our beds is a must before he goes to his own!

Button loves his ACANA Highest Protein Wild Prairie food to keep him energised for all his adventures. The first three ingredients are fresh or raw chicken and turkey, making this recipe nutrient-dense and a delicious meal suitable for all life stages.*

*ACANA Wild Prairie Dog is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by FEDIAF for All Life Stages, except for growth of Great Dane puppies prior to 14 weeks.

As an owner, ensuring your puppy receives the right nutrition is important for their growth and development. Puppies have different dietary needs compared to adult dogs, which is why feeding them a puppy specific diet will support their overall health. If your puppy occasionally helps themselves to your older dog’s food, this should be discouraged. Switching suddenly from one food to another is likely to cause digestive upset in the short-term. In the long-term, feeding an adult dog food could lead to nutritional deficiencies. Read on to learn more.

Key Differences Between Puppy Food and Adult Dog Food

There are key nutritional differences between puppy and adult food. Puppy food is formulated with ingredients that help nurture your puppy’s growth and development.

Puppy specific recipes are generally higher in calories as puppies have more energy at this life stage, usually running around and investigating their new home! In addition to higher calories, puppy diets are also formulated with the correct balance of protein, omega-rich fats and mineral content that help support muscle, bone and brain development, which are all essential nutrients.

Maintenance dog food is formulated for adult dogs once they have reached maturity and have stopped their bone growth stage. Adult food will not have the right balance of calories and nutrients for puppies. Likewise, feeding an adult dog puppy food is not appropriate and could lead to unwanted weight gain due to higher fat and calorie content.

When choosing a food for your puppy, check the manufacturers label for the FEDIAF Nutrient Profiles to ensure it is suited to your dog’s life-stage and size. For example, our ACANA Puppy Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the FEDIAF Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth except for growth of Great Dane puppies prior to 14 weeks.

Why Puppies Need Specialised Nutrition

A puppy’s growth phase is one of the most important stages of their life, as well as learning social skills and being exposed to new and exciting things in the world, ensuring the right nutrition from day one can help them grow into healthy adults.

Balancing the right amounts of protein, calories, and nutrients in their food is critical, which is why puppy food is formulated for their specialised needs.

Large and giant puppies, require a diet that supports their slow and steady development. Protein helps to support muscle mass, a calorie limited formula can support healthy weight combined with specific ratios of calcium and phosphorus to help reduce stress on developing bones and joints.

How to Choose the Best Food for Your Puppy

A growing puppy has different dietary needs to an adult dog, so picking a food that is formulated for puppies is a good starting point.

There are different factors to consider when choosing the right food for your puppy including ingredient quality and nutrients that are necessary for growth.

It is important to look for a food with quality ingredients like fresh or raw meat, poultry or fish balanced with whole vegetables and fruit. Make sure it is a complete food to ensure your puppy is getting all essential nutrients from their food. Consider the kibble size, smaller mouths may prefer a small bite.

ACANA Puppy recipes are made with 70%¹ quality animal ingredients like fresh Chicken and raw Hake, balanced with 30%¹ fruits and vegetables², like fresh whole pumpkin, greens, apples and pears. These recipes provide the nutrition and animal protein your puppy needs to thrive from when they are first introduced to kibble until they reach adulthood.

^{1Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.}

^{2We also add essential vitamins and minerals, natural preservatives and probiotics}

^{Our included fresh ingredients use refrigeration as the sole method of preservation and our included raw ingredients are frozen at their peak freshness.}

When Can Puppies Transition to Adult Dog Food?

Each puppy will develop at different rates. Small breeds tend to grow rapidly, reaching maturity around 10-12 months old. Large and giant pups take much longer to mature and can be on a puppy food typically until 16 – 24 months old.

The ACANA Puppy range includes three recipes specifically formulated for puppies from small to large breeds. Always make sure to read the feeding guide to ensure your puppy is being fed the right amount for their weight and age.

Once puppies finish growing, they will be ready to move onto their adult maintenance food. Transitioning to adult food should be a slow process, allowing 7-10 days to complete the switch. Start by mixing 25% of the new food with 75% of the old food. Then, gradually increase the new food until it makes up 100% of their meals. Always monitor your dog’s stools and slow the transition if needed.

Generally, when moving from puppy – adult food sticking to the same animal proteins will make for a smoother transition. However, every puppy is unique. If you need help choosing a recipe for your puppies’ specific requirements, please feel free to contact us.

As a dog owner, ensuring your dog’s health and wellbeing is always a priority. Dogs, just like humans, can experience digestive issues and choosing correct dog food for sensitive stomachs could make all the difference to your cherished furry friend.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the common ingredients to avoid in dog foods, and how to select the right food for your dog. We’ll then cover how to transition your dog to a new diet and how rotational feeding may also be beneficial.

Common Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food

The most common ingredients to avoid in dog food are related to animal proteins such as chicken or beef. Some non-animal ingredients like grains or soy can be a common cause of diet sensitives for dogs too. Dogs simply digest animal proteins better than grains, as carbohydrates are non-essential nutrients for dogs.

It’s important to know that dogs can develop food sensitives or allergies at any age. Whether you suspect a food sensitivity or allergy, sourcing a recipe to avoid these ingredients can be tricky. This is where a limited ingredient diet without grain and a single, novel animal protein may work well as an elimination diet.

Recommending ACANA Singles

Our ACANA Singles range is crafted with three limited ingredient recipes, making them great alternatives for dogs that are picky eaters or have dietary sensitives. This range stands by the philosophy that limited ingredients shouldn’t mean less meat! These recipes are made without grain or potato ingredients and include:

• ACANA Yorkshire Pork is loaded with 50% pork ingredients. It’s an easily digestible source of animal protein and complemented with fresh butternut squash for digestive health.
• ACANA Grass-Fed Lamb is packed with protein-rich, raw lamb and fibre rich fruits and vegetables to support healthy digestion.
• ACANA Free-Run Duck is loaded with 50% quality duck ingredients in WholePrey ratios of meat, organs, and cartilage. It’s complemented with delicious Bartlett pears, and pumpkin for digestive health.

How to Transition Your Dog to a New Diet Safely

Dogs are often fed the same food for a long period of time, which means a sudden food change can make it difficult for their digestive systems to adapt.

When looking to switch to a dog food for a sensitive stomach, it’s important to introduce your new dog food gradually. Going slow will give your furry friend time to adjust to their new food and will help to reduce the chances of digestive upset.

Start by mixing 25% new food with old food. Slowly increase the new food proportionately over the next 10-14 days until you are feeding 100% new food.

For dogs that are more sensitive to change, you may want to start out with an even smaller amount of the new food. For example, 10% of the total daily food intake of new food and 90% old food.

Consider Feeding a Rotational Diet

Aside from keeping meal times interesting, providing a diet varied in animal proteins is considered a more natural way of feeding. This can be achieved by feeding a rotational diet.

The ACANA Singles line contains three Limited Ingredient recipes – Grass-Fed Lamb, Free-Run Duck, and Yorkshire Pork. This allows you to introduce one new animal protein to your dog’s diet at a time. Please remember, every dog is unique and how they take to a new diet will be unique to them.

If you do want to try rotational feeding, do not transition too abruptly. Start by replacing 50% of the old food with the new recipe and gradually increase the amount over time.

Need More Advice on Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs?

If you are looking to transition to ACANA but want more advice to help find the perfect recipe for your dog, please reach out to them on either 01737 767679 or CustomerCare@BernPetFoods.co.uk.

Ever scratched your head and laughed at the position your cat has fallen asleep in? Better yet, have you taken pictures of them in their best (most awkward?!) angles?

If the answer is yes, you could be in with a chance of winning a beautiful Helsinki Hide & Sleep Cat Tree plus 6 months’ worth of FREE ACANA food for your cat to enjoy. Click here to be taken to the post to enter.

More about ACANA Cat Food

ACANA goes above and beyond in crafting our cat food, including sourcing high quality animal proteins like fresh or raw poultry, meats and wild-caught fish. Our recipes are also balanced with fresh vegetables, fruits and botanicals to help your pet live a full and healthy life.

Find out more about our ranges:

ACANA Cat	ACANA Highest Protein Cat	ACANA Premium Pâté

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over, except employees or agencies of Bern Pet Foods, its affiliated companies or their family members, persons who are working for competitors of Bern Pet Foods, or anyone else connected with the prize draw may not enter this competition.
2. Entrants must have a UK postal address for delivery.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
5. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter can be found via:
   1. https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKQiBMIcsU/
6. The competition can only be entered on Instagram.
7. Only one entry per entrant will be accepted.
8. The competition will open on 02.12.24 at 12pm and the closing date for all entries will be on 16.12.24 at 12pm. After this date no further entries to the competition will be permitted and entries shared after this date/time will not be counted.
9. Bern Pet Foods accepts no responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason.
10. To enter the competition, entrants must do the following:
    1. Follow @acana_uk_ireland + @buzzandposy on Instagram
    2. Like the promotional post shared on Buzz and Posy’s Instagram page @buzzandposy (“the Talent”);
    3. Tag another cat parent and challenge them to share their sleeping cat pics
    4. Optional extra – Share the funniest photo of your cat sleeping in your story and tag @acana_uk_ireland
11. Entrants must complete all of the above in order to qualify for one entry.
12. The winner will receive a 6 months’ supply of ACANA cat food (for one cat), exact amount to be determined by ACANA pet nutritionist, and a cat tree tower. There will be no runners-up and no runner-up prizes. Product substitutions for other animal species are not available. Prize is non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available. Where a Prize becomes unavailable for any reason, the promoter reserves the right to substitute that prize for a prize of equal or higher value.
13. One (1) winner will be chosen at random from all entries received and verified by the promoter and or its agents.
14. The overall winner will be notified by Direct Message on Instagram within 7 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 7 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
15. The winner agrees to the use of their name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner, or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current [UK] data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
16. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
17. The information provided will be used in conjunction with the following Privacy Policy found here.
18. To the extent permitted by applicable law, The Promoter shall not be liable under or in connection with these terms and conditions, the competition or any Prize for any indirect, special or consequential cost, expense, loss or damage suffered by a participant even if such cost, expense, loss or damage was reasonably foreseeable or might reasonably have been contemplated by the participant and the promoter and whether arising from breach of contract, tort, negligence, breach of statutory duty or otherwise.
19. To the extent permitted by applicable law, The Promoter’s liability under or in connection with the competition or these terms and conditions shall be limited to the cost price of the Prize in question.

Woody jumps onto my desk and head butts me with increasing urgency as his way of asking for dinner. Keeping him, and his British Blue brother Buzz, healthy and strong is as important to me as nourishing the rest of the family.

For the humans in our pack, I try to look for quality meat and fish, whole grain pastas and rice and include a wide range of vegetables in our diet. The kids don’t always love it, but I know it means they are getting what their bodies need in vitamins, minerals and nutrients to function at their best. So, I was keen to understand what I should be looking for to nourish Buzz and Woody. What does a good cat food look like? Let’s explore.

Where to start

I am bombarded with advertising promising to make Woody and Buzz purr more and be ‘happy and healthy’ cats. There is an overwhelming choice in supermarkets, it’s difficult to know where to start.

But as my cats have grown up, I’ve realised the ingredients in many cat foods advertised on TV and online don’t match the marketing promise.

Cats are obligate carnivores, in the wild they will hunt for mice and birds and eat them whole. The most prized parts are the nutrient dense organs which are rich in iron and vitamin A. So, what we cat loving owners should be seeking is cat foods rich in meat and organs.

And that’s the irony. The UK’s bestselling cat foods, even foods labelled as complete can contain as little as 4% meat. Very little!

What’s a good cat food?

What cats actually need is food high in quality fresh and or raw meat and organ ingredients. Gently processed fresh or raw meat retains the integrity of the protein and more of its nutrients. They are available in pet shops and increasingly through online subscriptions. It’s worth paying a little extra as the additional nourishment they get from the added animal protein keeps them going for longer and means they don’t need as much to nourish them.

Woody & Buzz are both active, young adult cats that weigh around four and a half kilograms. I make sure I feed them the correct quantity of kibble and wet food for their weight. If you are unsure how much to feed ACANA provides a useful feeding guide for each recipe.  I provide access to dry food throughout the day, supplemented with a wet meal in the morning and evening. I don’t recommend leaving wet food out for longer than an hour as it can attract flies. Both the dry and wet food are complete and provide all the nutrition they need. The dry means they have more control over when they eat throughout the day.  Adding in the wet food in the morning and evening, gives them variety and choice in when they eat. The moisture it contains is useful because they’re not brilliant at drinking water regularly.

When they were kittens, I gave them smaller meals throughout the day and when they turn 10 years old and become senior cats, I will observe their body condition, weigh them and adjust their calorie intake as their exercise levels decrease.

Some cats are choosy and will go off foods that were once favoured. It is good to introduce different animal proteins to keep them interested and feeding well. It’s recommended that this is done gradually to avoid causing upset stomachs. Ranges like ACANA Cat come in a selection of recipes to satisfy the most adventurous cats. For those with a sensitivity to grain, look for a specific food made without grain ingredients, such as ACANA Highest Protein Cat, crafted with 75% quality animal ingredients.

How they like to eat

Cats prefer to dine alone, try to provide a quiet space where your cat can enjoy their food away from others, dogs or noisy family members. They also benefit from multiple sources of fresh water to remind them to stay hydrated. This is important because it will help protect them from urinary disease.

You could also try enrichment feeding. UK Pet Food recommends this as a way of tapping into a cat’s wild side:

“Food dispensing toys are great for relieving boredom. Working for a food reward (or any positive reward) and achieving encourages satisfaction and a positive mind state.”

There are lots of options for enrichment feeding, Woody and Buzz love to play with kibble dispensing balls. Bashing it with their paws to make it roll and produce a piece of kibble is a rewarding game. This is particularly useful on wet or cold days when they are inside most of the time.

A Nation of Cat Lovers

Bringing home a kitten is exciting. Cats bring love and companionship but also responsibility to ensure your new housemate thrives. Nutrition is at the heart of this. UK Pet Food estimates there are 12.5million cats living in the UK and the trend is towards young people owning cats for the first time.

Any new cat owner needs to research and find foods for their feline friends with quality ingredients. Ones that are biologically appropriate and provide the nutrition they really need.

Could your favourite classic moment win you a years’ worth of ACANA and a luxury hotel stay for you and your pup to enjoy? To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, head to our Instagram page.

What’s the prize?

One lucky winner will win 1 years’ worth of ACANA Classics food for 1 dog alongside a treat to enjoy with you too. You will be able to enjoy an overnight stay at a Hand Picked Hotel of your choice in a classic dog-friendly room, including accommodations for your dog. You’ll also be able to enjoy a 3-course dinner for two with a house bottle of wine and breakfast the following morning.

What is ACANA Classics?

ACANA Classics recipes are thoughtfully crafted from start to finish with delicious, quality ingredients. With a balanced 50/50 split between rich poultry ingredients and nutritious fruit, grains and vegetables, ACANA Classics Prairie Poultry recipe provides your dog with a filling and nutritious meal crafted from simple, wholesome ingredients. It also includes nutrient-rich ingredients that support three key health benefits, including immune function, healthy digestion, and healthy skin and coat. Browse the range here.

Key features:

• 1^st ingredient is fresh chicken, raw salmon or raw beef depending on your recipe choice
• Crafted with 50% quality animal ingredients* balanced with 50% wholesome grains, vegetables, fruit, botanicals and nutrients**.
• Includes antioxidants from fruit & vegetables as well as vitamin C to help support immune function.
• Prebiotics & fibre to help support healthy digestion.
• Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to help support healthy skin & coat.
• Crafted in Canada with the world’s finest ingredients.

^{*Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.
**We also add essential vitamins and minerals, natural preservatives, probiotics and antioxidants.}

Which hotel has ACANA partnered with?

Julia and Guy Hands have hand picked 21 characterful and distinctive luxury country houses and coastal retreats across the UK for you to enjoy. 

Promotion and Competition Terms and Conditions

Keep on reading!

Murphy was a four year old boxer – bright and bouncy in all ways apart from an intermittent reaction to an unknown cause. Each time it would appear start with an upset stomach, followed by a low mood and other symptoms of inflammation. He was also constantly itchy all over but particularly around his chin, had loose stools and was a picky eater but this was described by many we spoke to as ‘just typical for his breed’.

After much investigating and testing for various possibilities with Murphy’s local vet he was eventually referred to the Royal Veterinary College for a specialist consultation. This resulted in a three day stay and further tests which ruled out many things, but no cause was found for the symptoms. He was released from their care as a ‘healthy’ dog with the only suggestion offered to neuter Murphy and see how he went, perhaps it was related to adrenaline surges. To an outside observer he did appear to be a bouncy, athletic dog. He had a glossy coat; high muscle tone and his energy levels would go up a gear with ‘visitors’ but as owners we felt sure something wasn’t quite right.

Murphy joined our family as an 8 week old puppy, fed as many are on the same food the breeder recommended. The main ingredients in the food were rice and chicken. Over the years we experimented with few different diets and received advice from manufacturers and his vet such as ‘stick to low fat’, ‘try a working dog food as he is a high energy breed’ and ‘if all else fails feed him home cooked chicken and white rice’. Eventually we came across allaboutdogfood.co.uk – an independent review site for dog foods. From this site we selected ORIJEN Original, a top-rated dry dog food. Although there was some improvement in Murphy’s symptoms on this food, they were never really eliminated.

IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE

It was around this time that we had a chat with the nutrition team at Bern Pet Foods, the importers and distributors of ORIJEN and ACANA in the UK & Ireland. They suggested that as his symptoms had improved with a change in diet, perhaps a full elimination diet would be helpful to further rule out ingredients that may be irritating him. They recommended the ACANA Singles range which is crafted exactly for this purpose. The recipes include only single source protein which means all the ‘meaty’ ingredients only come from one animal – with no chicken fat, fish oils or other animal ingredients. Murphy started off on the ACANA Grass-fed Lamb, cutting out all other food and treats, and after only a few days we noticed a difference. He began to be less itchy, his stools became more solid and he was asking for his dinner!

Murphy worked his way through the Singles recipes, Yorkshire Pork was a hit but he started to itch again on the Free-Run Duck. With our two ‘safe’ foods in the bank we went on to further investigate which proteins may be causing the issue by introducing small amounts as toppers one by one. Eggs or sardines were a favourite and well tolerated but we came to the conclusion that it was chicken or poultry which were causing the symptoms.

ROTATIONAL FEEDING

Keen to offer a rotational feeding approach to provide Murphy with variety to keep his meals interesting and also avoid intolerance to another meat protein, we were able to try other ACANA recipes. Murphy was able to happily eat recipes such as ACANA Red Meats, with lamb, pork and beef and Ranchlands recipe which also included fresh lakewater fish and raw bison, even branching out to the odd bag of ORIJEN Regional Red or Six Fish which were deemed very tasty!

Murphy did have the occasional relapse but this could always been pinpointed to a specific trigger. For example if we attended a family BBQ someone may have innocently fed him a piece of hot dog which they didn’t realise contained chicken, or we tried a new treat which did not obviously contain chicken – there are so many! We became avid label readers and friends, family and especially our vet become familiar with our chant of ‘please don’t feed him chicken!!’

WHAT WE LEARNT

From our experience as owners of a dog with a food sensitivity we learnt:

• Not all sensitivities present in the same way. An elimination diet is an easy, low risk way to test if you think your pet might have an intolerance. Ideally you would start with a unique protein for your pet. In our case, Murphy was normally fed on a chicken based food so we went with lamb for the elimination stage.
• Read the label – if you can’t tell what the specific ingredient is from the composition on the label, for example ‘meat and animal derivatives’ ‘poultry proteins’ or ‘cereals’, then it is best avoided. Find a recipe that clearly labels exactly what is in the food.
• Don’t give up! Dogs are part of our family and often as owners we are best placed to tell when something isn’t quite right

Written by Sara Boyes, Senior Marketing Manager (and Dog Lover).

If you want to have a chat with the nutrition team about your pet’s unique dietary requirements, give us a call on 01737 767679 or email CustomerCare@BernPetFoods.co.uk

Meet Jenny, who heads up our Nutrition Team at Bern Pet Foods. With a background in animal behaviour and rescue, she’s turned her love for animals into a fulfilling career. Through emails, social media consultations, and one-on-one chats, Jenny helps anxious pet parents navigate the complexities of animal nutrition.

Intrigued? Let’s step into a day in her life.

Jenny starts her day at work to the tail-wagging enthusiasm of Bern office dogs. Their excitement sets the tone for what’s to come: a series of enquiries from pet owners, each as varied as the breeds she’ll discuss.

Over her morning coffee, she dives into the queries. “It’s like detective work sometimes,” she admits. “Solving the case means improving the health and well-being of a pet, and that’s really rewarding.”

Amidst her calls, an unusual yet fascinating question surfaces: “Can cat food be substituted for dog food?” Jenny is quick to answer, “It’s not a common question, but it’s an important one. It underscores the real need for guidance in pet nutrition. Spoiler alert—the answer is no, for reasons that could fill a book.”

When it comes to what fuels Jenny’s passion for pet nutrition, it’s more than just being a ‘pet parent.’ Yes, she has three dogs with their own distinct nutritional needs. But it’s her years of working with rescue dogs and cats that truly opened her eyes to the power of proper nutrition. “It is so rewarding to see the change that proper nutrition can make for a pet. I love to offer advice and see this change take place” she says.

As her day starts to wind down, Jenny takes a moment to follow-up calls to pet owners who’ve taken her advice. “It’s not just about giving advice but about seeing it through,” she reflects, as she hears how much better a dog she worked with is doing after a diet adjustment. “These follow-ups are not checkboxes. They are reminders of the difference I make, however small, in the lives of pets and their humans.”

So, why should you care about Jenny’s work?

Because it’s not just about feeding our pets but nourishing them. Jenny’s expertise could be the missing puzzle piece in your pet’s health and happiness. Got a question about your pet’s nutrition? Don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s make the lives of our pets as fulfilling as they make ours.

To contact our nutrition team with your queries, give us a call on 01737 767679, email CustomerCare@BernPetFoods.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram.