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Essence vs Wellness

Essence vs. Wellness

In this comparison article for Essence vs Wellness, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Essence and Wellness, 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 Wellness 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 Wellness Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: Wellness 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. Wellness Dog Food

Dry Dog FoodEssenceWellness
Crude Protein40.9%34.6%
Crude Fat19.3%15.8%
Crude Fiber5.7%5.6%
Wet/Canned Dog FoodEssenceWellness
Crude Protein46.2%41.8%
Crude Fat32.6%24.1%
Crude Fiber6.0%4.9%

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.

Wellness dry recipes contain 6.20% less protein than Essence dry recipes. This difference in protein content is a notable difference between Essence and Wellness. In addition, Essence wet dog foods also provide more protein than Wellness 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

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


Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Essence and Wellness also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Essence Cat Food vs. Wellness Cat Food

Dry Cat FoodEssenceWellness
Crude Protein44.1%42.0%
Crude Fat18.5%16.0%
Crude Fiber4.8%4.7%
Wet/Canned Cat FoodEssenceWellness
Crude Protein46.2%45.0%
Crude Fat31.8%24.7%
Crude Fiber4.8%5.6%

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.

If you look at the average percentages of crude protein, you'll notice that Essence typically guarantees 2.12% more protein. This is a fairly small difference between Essence and Wellness, but still worth mentioning. For wet cat foods, Essence and Wellness 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

According to our data, Essence guarantees 2.51% more fat than Wellness. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference. In addition, Essence wet cat foods also provide more fat than Wellness wet foods.


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

Essence Pet Food Ingredients vs. Wellness Pet Food Ingredients

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

Garlic
Canola Oil
Pea Protein
Brewers Rice
Caramel Color
Garlic Powder
Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

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 Wellness.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Product Safety: Recall History of Essence & Wellness?

According to our records, Essence has never been recalled.

Wellness has been recalled 5 times.

  • March 18, 2017: elevated beef throid hormone
  • Feb. 10, 2017: foreign material
  • Oct. 30, 2012: High Moisture
  • May 4, 2012: Salmonella
  • Feb. 28, 2011: Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog FoodEssenceWellness
Per Pound$4.11$3.61
Per Calorie$0.0024$0.0022
Dry Cat FoodEssenceWellness
Per Pound$4.64$3.90
Per Calorie$0.0027$0.0023
Wet Dog FoodEssenceWellness
Per Pound$4.99$6.74
Per Calorie$0.0090$0.0140
Wet Cat FoodEssenceWellness
Per Pound$5.98$9.09
Per Calorie$0.0103$0.0223

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 Wellness, 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 Wellness 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 Wellness. 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 Wellness Pet Foods

You can purchase Wellness pet food products from these retailers:


213 Recipes In-Stock Today

166 Recipes In-Stock Today

172 Recipes In-Stock Today

21 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

ProductEssenceWellness
Dry Dog Food6 Recipes59 Recipes
Wet Dog Food6 Recipes53 Recipes
Dog TreatsNone25 Treats
Dry Cat Food3 Recipes19 Recipes
Wet Cat Food3 Recipes74 Recipes
Cat TreatsNone5 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 Wellness Recipes

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Core Grain Free Original Formula - Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe
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Core Grain Free Beef, Venison & Lamb Formula
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Cat Food
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Core Grain Free Original Formula - Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe
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Pate Turkey Dinner
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