Primal vs. Health Extension
In this comparison article for Primal vs Health Extension, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Primal 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 Primal comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Primal Review Page or Health Extension Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Health Extension vs. Primal
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.
Primal Dog Food vs. Health Extension Dog Food
Dry Dog Food | Primal | Health Extension |
Crude Protein | 48.0% | 27.6% |
Crude Fat | 26.7% | 16.5% |
Crude Fiber | 4.6% | 5.1% |
Wet/Canned Dog Food | Primal | Health Extension |
Crude Protein | 49.5% | 40.2% |
Crude Fat | 28.4% | 28.0% |
Crude Fiber | 5.3% | 6.7% |
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.
Primal dry dog foods clearly provides more protein than Health Extension. In fact, the difference between the protein content is roughly 20.35%, which is a significant amount. Similarly, Primal wet dog foods provide significantly more protein than Health Extension 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
On average, Primal dry dog food recipes contain 10.19% more fat than Health Extension recipes. Clearly, there is a significant difference between the fat content of Health Extension and Primal. For wet dog foods, Primal and Health Extension provide roughly the same amount of fat.
Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Health Extension and Primal also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Primal Cat Food vs. Health Extension Cat Food
Dry Cat Food | Primal | Health Extension |
Crude Protein | 50.1% | 38.6% |
Crude Fat | 24.0% | 18.3% |
Crude Fiber | 4.8% | 6.7% |
Wet/Canned Cat Food | Primal | Health Extension |
Crude Protein | 54.6% | 54.6% |
Crude Fat | 25.4% | 20.3% |
Crude Fiber | 4.1% | 6.3% |
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.
When you look at the average percentages of crude protein for dry cat food, it's clear that Primal provides significantly more protein. On average, Primal guarantees about 11.54% more protein than Health Extension. For wet cat foods, Health Extension and Primal provide roughly the same amount of protein.
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
Health Extension dry recipes contain 5.70% less fat than Primal dry recipes. This difference in fat content is a notable difference between Primal and Health Extension. In addition, Primal wet cat foods also provide more fat than Health Extension wet foods.
As you can see, Primal and Health Extension guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. For wet cat foods, Health Extension typically provides a little more fiber (about 2.14% more).
Primal Pet Food Ingredients vs. Health Extension Pet Food Ingredients
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Health Extension.
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.
Product Safety: Recall History of Primal & Health Extension?
Primal has been recalled 2 times.
- March 13, 2015: low thiamine level
- Dec. 22, 2017: incorrect bone grind size
According to our records, Health Extension has never been recalled.
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Dry Dog Food | Primal | Health Extension |
Per Pound | $45.57 | $2.99 |
Per Calorie | $0.0227 | $0.0018 |
Dry Cat Food | Primal | Health Extension |
Per Pound | $45.93 | $2.74 |
Per Calorie | $0.0230 | $0.0016 |
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 Primal 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 Primal 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 Primal and Health Extension. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
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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 Primal Pet Foods
You can purchase Primal pet foods from the following stores:
Where To Buy Health Extension Pet Foods
You can purchase Health Extension pet food products from these retailers:
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product | Primal | Health Extension |
Dry Dog Food | None | 15 Recipes |
Wet Dog Food | None | 15 Recipes |
Dog Treats | 6 Treats | 19 Treats |
Dry Cat Food | None | 2 Recipes |
Wet Cat Food | None | 13 Recipes |
Cat Treats | None | 2 Treats |