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Crave vs Essence

Crave vs. Essence

In this comparison article for Crave vs Essence, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Crave and Essence, 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 Essence vs Crave comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Crave Review Page or Essence Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: Essence vs. Crave

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.

Crave Dog Food vs. Essence Dog Food

Dry Dog FoodCraveEssence
Crude Protein37.8%40.9%
Crude Fat18.9%19.3%
Crude Fiber4.0%5.7%
Wet/Canned Dog FoodCraveEssence
Crude Protein53.7%46.2%
Crude Fat26.4%32.6%
Crude Fiber4.5%6.0%

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.

According to our average data, Crave typically provides less protein than Essence. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands. In addition, Crave wet dog foods also provide more protein than Essence wet foods.


Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Dietary fats serves a multitude of roles in the proper development and function of our canine companions. Here are some of the benefits (not exhaustive):

  • Help produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among other critical functions.
  • Aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
  • Improve skin and coat health
  • Improve the palatially of your dog's food

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fat. For wet dog foods, Essence provides more fat (about 6.16% more).


As you can see, Crave and Essence guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Essence and Crave also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Crave Cat Food vs. Essence Cat Food

Dry Cat FoodCraveEssence
Crude Protein44.7%44.1%
Crude Fat19.6%18.5%
Crude Fiber4.7%4.8%
Wet/Canned Cat FoodCraveEssence
Crude Protein53.0%46.2%
Crude Fat26.4%31.8%
Crude Fiber4.9%4.8%

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.

Essence and Crave both provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. For wet cat foods, Crave provides more protein (about 6.79% more).


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):

  • Aid in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
  • Improve the health of skin/coat
  • Slow the growth of yeast infections
  • Slow the development and spread of certain type of cancers.
  • Maintain healthy blood pressure

There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat content of the two brands. For wet cat foods, Essence provides more fat (about 5.38% more).


Crave Pet Food Ingredients vs. Essence Pet Food Ingredients

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Crave.

Pea Protein
Pork Plasma
Caramel Color
Tomato Pomace

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 Crave.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Product Safety: Recall History of Crave & Essence?

According to our records, neither brand has issued any product recalls. Therefore, consumers have no reason to question the safety of Crave or Essence pet food products.

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog FoodCraveEssence
Per Pound$2.37$4.11
Per Calorie$0.0014$0.0024
Dry Cat FoodCraveEssence
Per Pound$3.58$4.64
Per Calorie$0.0021$0.0027

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 Crave or Essence, 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 Crave or Essence will depend on your shopping habits.

Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Crave and Essence. 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 Crave Pet Foods

You can purchase Crave pet foods from the following stores:


7 Recipes In-Stock Today

7 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy Essence Pet Foods

You can purchase Essence pet food products from these retailers:


12 Recipes In-Stock Today

13 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

ProductCraveEssence
Dry Dog Food4 Recipes6 Recipes
Wet Dog Food8 Recipes6 Recipes
Dog TreatsNoneNone
Dry Cat Food5 Recipes3 Recipes
Wet Cat Food10 Recipes3 Recipes
Cat TreatsNoneNone

Top Rated Crave Recipes

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Top Rated Essence Recipes

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Original Ranch & Meadow Recipe For Dogs
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Original Air & Gamefowl Recipe For Dogs (Canned)
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Original Air & Gamefowl Recipe For Cats
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Original Ranch & Meadow Recipe For Cats (Canned)
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