Company HQ
- Valencia, California
Parent company
Sourcing and Manufacturing
- United States
Type of food
PROS
- High protein content
- To our knowledge, Essence has never had a product recall
- Foods are nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards
- All protein comes from animal sourced ingredients
- All recipes are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
CONS
- Price is above market average
Essence Dog Food Review
Introduction
Essence Pet Foods aims to provide meat-focused nutrition made with thoughtful ingredient selections. But how does their quality and nutrition measure up? This Essence dog food review will dig into their formulas, sourcing, recalls, and customer experiences.
Overview of Essence Pet Foods
Company history and info
Launched in 2009, Essence Pet Foods is based in St. Marys, Ohio. They focus on high meat inclusions, digestibility, and avoiding filler ingredients.
Manufacturing and sourcing
Essence sources ingredients from trusted partners. All recipes are produced in their Ohio-based manufacturing facilities.
Product lineup
Essence offers two main product lines: Essence Grain-Free and Essence Original (grain-inclusive) recipes. Sizes range from small breed to large breed.
Ingredient Analysis
Here’s a look at the type of ingredients found in Essence formulas:
Meat and protein sources
Chicken, beef, lamb, fish, turkey and eggs provide quality animal-based proteins. No by-products are used.
Carb sources
Grain-free lines use tapioca, peas, and potatoes. Grain-inclusive recipes use barley, brown rice, and oatmeal.
Vitamins and supplements
Essence foods are fortified with probiotics, vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.
Controversial ingredients
Some recipes contain tomato pomace, canola oil, and carrageenan. Overall, ingredients are high-quality.
Essence Dog Food Product Lines
Here’s an overview of their two main product lines:
Essence Grain-Free
Types of recipes
Grain-free recipes come in formulas for puppies, adults, seniors, small or large breeds. Most feature a single novel protein source.
Highlighted ingredients
Quality animal proteins and digestible grain-free carbs promote easy digestion. Natural supplements support total body health.
Essence Original
Recipe offerings
The Original line has all life stages formulas using carbohydrate sources like brown rice, barley, and oatmeal.
Key attributes
These grain-inclusive recipes provide balanced nutrition with quality proteins and digestible whole grains.
Recall History
Essence has no history of recalls or contamination issues:
Past recalls?
Essence Pet Foods has not been affected by any recalls or FDA alerts since their founding in 2009.
Customer Reviews
Essence dog food earns positive reviews from most pet owners:
Positive feedback
Owners report improved energy, digestion, skin and coats. Picky dogs seem to love the taste. Customers appreciate the noticeable results.
Complaints and issues
Some dogs get gassy or have looser stools. A few picky eaters reject the food. Occasional complaints of spoiled product.
Common concerns
Gas and digestion issues are most common, likely from the high protein and legume content. Quality control concerns appear minimal.
Our Verdict on Essence
Taking all available data into account, here is our final verdict on Essence dog food:
Pros and cons
Pros: Ethically sourced ingredients from trusted suppliers, quality protein sources, minimal processing, most dogs do very well
Cons: Some dogs experience gas or stool issues, expensive for a lesser known brand
Best for which dogs?
Essence provides excellent nutrition for healthy dogs at all life stages. It’s a great option for owners wanting a quality, protein-packed food.
Conclusion
Essence thoughtfully selects premium ingredients and minimizes processing to create natural, meat-focused formulas. They avoid many additives and fillers that don’t provide nutritional value. While not the most affordable brand, their focus on quality nutrition shows in their recipes.
Brand Overview
Essence is a new brand of dog food from the same company behind Zignature, owned by California-based Pets Global, Inc. The brand offers high-protein food from sustainable sources for both dogs and cats, creating recipes based on the philosophy that modern pets descend from wild carnivores and are biologically designed to consume meat. All the food is made in the USA in factories located in Montana and South Dakota.
How Much Does Essence Dog Food Cost
We’ve compared Essence dog food price to the other dog food brands in our database.
Essence Dry Dog Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per lb | $4.92 | $3.68 | +34% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $0.29 | $0.34 | -15% |
| Price per day | $0.17 | $0.20 | -15% |
Essence Dry Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.
Essence Wet Dog Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per oz | $0.36 | $0.41 | -12% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $0.98 | $1.52 | -36% |
| Price per day | $0.59 | $0.91 | -35% |
Essence Wet Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.
Essence Nutrient Profile Comparison
We’ve compared Essence dog food recipes nutrient profile to the other dog food brands in our database.
Dry Dog Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 41.00% | 30.01% | +37% |
| DM Fat | 20.04% | 15.86% | +26% |
| DM Fiber | 5.90% | 5.48% | +8% |
| DM Carb | 33.07% | 47.73% | -31% |
Wet Dog Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 49.33% | 42.98% | +15% |
| DM Fat | 33.41% | 22.28% | +50% |
| DM Fiber | 6.36% | 7.39% | -14% |
| DM Carb | 10.91% | 26.26% | -58% |
All of Essence dog food recipes meets AAFCO’s minimum requirements.
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Essence Dog Food Review since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
Since 2011 Essence has never been recalled.
FAQs
Who makes Essence dog food?
Essence Pet Foods, a company based in St. Marys, Ohio that manufactures all their own formulas.
Is Essence grain-free?
Essence offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas.
Where is Essence made?
Sourced globally but manufactured in the United States.
Does Essence use by-products?
No. Only high-quality cuts of meat like chicken, beef, turkey etc.
Is Essence a good dog food?
Yes, Essence is a very good quality dog food brand with healthy, natural ingredients and ethical manufacturing.
