vs
Primal vs Health Extension

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 FoodPrimalHealth Extension
Crude Protein48.0%27.6%
Crude Fat26.7%16.5%
Crude Fiber4.6%5.1%
Wet/Canned Dog FoodPrimalHealth Extension
Crude Protein49.5%40.2%
Crude Fat28.4%28.0%
Crude Fiber5.3%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 FoodPrimalHealth Extension
Crude Protein50.1%38.6%
Crude Fat24.0%18.3%
Crude Fiber4.8%6.7%
Wet/Canned Cat FoodPrimalHealth Extension
Crude Protein54.6%54.6%
Crude Fat25.4%20.3%
Crude Fiber4.1%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.

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 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 FoodPrimalHealth Extension
Per Pound$45.57$2.99
Per Calorie$0.0227$0.0018
Dry Cat FoodPrimalHealth 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.


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:


15 Recipes In-Stock Today

20 Recipes In-Stock Today

15 Recipes In-Stock Today

14 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

ProductPrimalHealth Extension
Dry Dog FoodNone15 Recipes
Wet Dog FoodNone15 Recipes
Dog Treats6 Treats19 Treats
Dry Cat FoodNone2 Recipes
Wet Cat FoodNone13 Recipes
Cat TreatsNone2 Treats

Top Rated Primal Recipes

Dog Food
Primal
Freeze-Dried Formulas Freeze-Dried Canine Venison Formula
Check Price
Dog Food
Primal
Raw Frozen Formulas Canine Venison Formula
Check Price
Cat Food
Primal
Freeze-Dried Formulas Freeze-Dried Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula
Check Price
Cat Food
Primal
Raw Frozen Formulas Feline Beef & Salmon Formula
Check Price

Top Rated Health Extension Recipes

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