Essence Dog Food Summary

Best Seller
Essence Ocean and Freshwater Recipe Dog Dry Food
9.4/10Our Score
  • 100% grain free
  • 85% fish protein ingredients
  • It combines all the benefits of oily fish with the fresh, lean protein from white fish. First four ingredients are salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel. 

What is Essence Dog Food?

Essence Dog Food is a pet food brand specializing in dog and cat food. It was founded in 2010 and owned by Pet Global.

Essence Dog Food prioritizes protein in all of its formulas because it recognizes what animals eat in the wild. The ingredients used in each product are made to be closer to nature. Using meat and fish sources of protein, their pet foods deliver complete proteins cats and dogs crave.

Essence believes in using sustainable sources of ingredients, and each formula is made with foods from a single region to keep the recipes tasting as natural as possible.

Where is Essence Dog Food Made?

Essence Dog Food is made in two factories located in Brainerd, Minnesota, and Perham, Minnesota, USA.

How is Essence Dog Food Made?

Essence Dog Food sources its ingredients from across the world and from one region at a time. This helps keep the food tasting as natural as possible while being able to deliver all of the essential nutrients a dog needs.

Using high-quality novel animal proteins also adds different and unique flavors and textures to ensure dogs like their products while still receiving high-quality nutrition. Essence Dog Food formulates its products as if they were making food for wild animals to mimic what a dog’s wild counterparts would eat.

One common ingredient found in most premium pet food that is not found in Essence dog foods is probiotics. This is because the shelf life of Essence products is 18 months, much longer than a probiotic culture can survive.

Is Essence Food Good For Dogs?

Yes, Essence Dog Food is good.

Essence Dog Food makes its recipes using 85% or more protein ingredients per formula and only includes ingredients that are useful. Each one serves the purpose of providing a specific nutrient, so there are no fillers or artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

All of the Essence Pet Food products are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition to dogs of all life stages.

Essence Dog Food Formulas Reviewed

There are different Essence Dog Food formulas. To help decide which is best, we have reviewed some of the brand’s most popular recipes.

Essence Ocean and Freshwater Recipe Dog Dry Food

Summary: This formula uses real meat as the first ingredient, such as red meat and whitefish. It includes vegetables and fruits for a healthy immune system and digestion that is suitable for small and large breed adult dogs. This is a grain-free dry dog food that is manufactured in a handful of flavors to keep dogs from becoming bored with their food. It is available in 12.5 and 25-lb bags and wet and dry variations.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Ocean and Freshwater Recipe; Ranch and Meadow Recipe; Air and Gamefowl Recipe

Price: $3.80/lb

Pros
  • Real meat is the first ingredient
  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
  • Grain-free and gluten-free formula
  • Made of 85% protein
  • Free of common allergens
Cons
  • More expensive than similar products

Ingredient Analysis: Real meat such as whitefish, herring, and mackerel are the first ingredients. This provides an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Red lentils, green lentils, and chickpeas provide crude fiber and carbohydrates, while trout, salmon, and catfish meals boost crude protein and crude fat content. Vitamins and minerals are largely provided through the use of thiamine mononitrate, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, d-calcium pantothenate, calcium iodate, vitamin B12 supplement, manganese proteinate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A acetate, etc.

Review: It was near impossible to find negative reviews about this food. There were only a handful of ratings on Amazon and Chewy, but most of those reviews were strongly positive. Many review sites rated this product 5/5 or 10/10, while customers mostly complained about the price. We could not find any review or comment with a real complaint about the quality of the food.

Essence Ranch & Meadow Dry Dog Food

Summary: This red meat-based formula uses novel proteins as the foundation of the recipe. The kibble provides complete nutrition through the use of vegetables, fruits, and meat meals combined with select supplements. The limited set of ingredients is made to promote a clean, hypoallergenic diet that is rich in fiber and protein. It is made in several flavors of dry kibble and wet food to keep dogs entertained and is sold in 12.5 and 25-lbs bags.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Ranch & Meadow Recipe

Price: $3.80/lb

Pros
  • Real meat is the first ingredient
  • Contains no known common allergens
  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
  • Grain-free with wholesome foods & legumes
  • With 85% animal protein ingredients
Cons
  • Price point limits consumer accessibility

Ingredient Analysis: The first five ingredients are great animal protein sources like lamb, pork, goat, lamb meal, and pork meal. Red lentils and chickpeas supply dietary fiber, while pork fat with mixed tocopherols helps to boost crude fat. Choline chloride, taurine, and riboflavin supplement help to complete the nutrient profile of this product and make it an excellent source of complete nutrition.

Review: Reviews of this product were few and far between. What we did find, however, is that only one consumer review was below 3 stars. The single one-star review made a complaint about their dog’s fur changing color, but no other reviews were posted below 3 stars. Review sites almost unanimously gave this product a perfect score for quality.

What Dog Food Formulas does Essence Make?

Essence Dog Food makes various formulas. Here is a list of the brand’s recipes:

Has Essence Dog Food Been Recalled?

No, Essence Dog Food has not been recalled.

Is Essence Dog Food Worth It?

Yes, Essence Dog Food is worth it.

Essence Dog Food only uses clean ingredients that are sustainably harvested. The recipes provide complete nutrition through the use of premium quality ingredients and novel proteins.

Their wet and dog food varieties are made from the same ingredients, so whichever product you feed a dog, you know you will provide them with natural and clean formula.

However, Essence is a bit pricey. It is in the same price bracket as Acana and Blue Buffalo, so it may not be affordable for some dog owners. If you can afford it, Essence is a great dog food option.