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Essence vs Health Extension

Essence vs. Health Extension

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

Guaranteed Analysis: Health Extension vs. Essence

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.

Essence Dog Food vs. Health Extension Dog Food

Dry Dog FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Crude Protein40.9%27.6%
Crude Fat19.3%16.5%
Crude Fiber5.7%5.1%
Wet/Canned Dog FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Crude Protein46.2%40.2%
Crude Fat32.6%28.0%
Crude Fiber6.0%6.7%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.

The comparison table above shows that Essence dry dog foods provide significantly more protein than Health Extension. More specifically, Essence guarantees at least 13.22% more protein. For wet dog foods, Essence provides more protein (about 5.98% more).


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.

There is a small difference between the fat content of Essence and Health Extension. We can see that Essence guarantees about 2.80% more fat than Health Extension. In addition, Essence wet dog foods also provide more fat than Health Extension wet foods.


There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands. With regards to wet dog food, Health Extension and Essence also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Essence Cat Food vs. Health Extension Cat Food

Dry Cat FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Crude Protein44.1%38.6%
Crude Fat18.5%18.3%
Crude Fiber4.8%6.7%
Wet/Canned Cat FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Crude Protein46.2%54.6%
Crude Fat31.8%20.3%
Crude Fiber4.8%6.3%

Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food

Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Eleven of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining eleven are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these eleven essential amino acids.

There is a relatively large difference between the protein content of Essence and Health Extension. On average, Health Extension dry cat food recipes contain 5.46% less protein than Essence recipes. In addition, Health Extension wet cat foods also provide more protein than Essence wet foods.


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.

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fat. For wet cat foods, Essence provides significantly more fat (about 11.56% more).


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

Essence Pet Food Ingredients vs. Health Extension Pet Food Ingredients

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Health Extension.

Liver
Garlic
Beet Pulp
Canola Oil
Pea Protein
Tomato Pomace
Buffered Garlic

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 Health Extension.

Added Color
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Product Safety: Recall History of Essence & Health Extension?

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

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Per Pound$4.11$2.99
Per Calorie$0.0024$0.0018
Dry Cat FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Per Pound$4.64$2.74
Per Calorie$0.0027$0.0016
Wet Dog FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Per Pound$4.99$3.61
Per Calorie$0.0090$0.0084
Wet Cat FoodEssenceHealth Extension
Per Pound$5.98$6.66
Per Calorie$0.0103$0.0138

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 Essence or Health Extension, 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 Essence or Health Extension will depend on your shopping habits.

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

You can purchase Essence pet foods from the following stores:


12 Recipes In-Stock Today

13 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy Health Extension Pet Foods

You can purchase Health Extension pet food products from these retailers:


44 Recipes In-Stock Today

38 Recipes In-Stock Today

3 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

ProductEssenceHealth Extension
Dry Dog Food6 Recipes15 Recipes
Wet Dog Food6 Recipes15 Recipes
Dog TreatsNone19 Treats
Dry Cat Food3 Recipes2 Recipes
Wet Cat Food3 Recipes13 Recipes
Cat TreatsNone2 Treats

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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Top Rated Health Extension Recipes

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Little Bites Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Dogs
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Grain Free Canned Dog Food Tasty Turkey Stew
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Cat Food
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Grain Free Dry Cat Food Turkey & Salmon Recipe With Whole Vegetables & Berries
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Cat Food
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Grain Free Canned Cat Food Beef & Salmon Recipe In Broth
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