Essence is one of the newest brands from Pets Global, Inc., a pet health company responsible for Zignature, Inception, and Fussie Cat.

Essence believes a diet based on high-quality animal protein is key to your canine's health. Its recipes stay true to this philosophy — all Essence dog foods are made with a minimum of 85% animal protein to fuel your four-legged friend's active lifestyle.

We give Essence dog food a 4.5 out of 5 rating, as its recipes list several cuts of real meat among the top five ingredients. They're also free from most filler ingredients. Essence dog food misses out on a top rating due to its pricing, limited flavor varieties, and use of lentils in some formulas.

Read on for the full Essence dog food review from Wag!, where we look closely at its product ranges, pros, cons, and recalls to help you decide if this brand is right for your barking buddy.

Essence has two main dog food ranges: Original and Limited Ingredient. You'll find 12 Essence dog food varieties available overall.

All Essence dog foods are "complete and balanced," meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages. Some varieties are unsuitable for the growth of large-breed puppies (70 lbs or more as adults).

Essence Original dry dog food is the brand's standard grain-free kibble for pups. Each recipe is top-of-the-line, with three real cuts of meat topping the ingredients list, followed by two meat meals for a protein boost.

Following these five meats are red lentils, chickpeas, and green lentils. Lentils and chickpeas are good sources of fiber and plant-based protein. Lentils are also a source of iron, B vitamins, and phosphorus. However, some view lentils and chickpeas as filler ingredients due to their modest nutritional value.

All varieties include pumpkin as a minor ingredient, an excellent fiber source that helps prevent upset stomachs. Plus, it's rich in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin E, and potassium.

Essence Original dry dog foods have excellent protein-to-fat ratios. Essence Original Air & Gamefowl dry dog food contains high protein (42.2% as dry matter) and above-average fat (20% as dry matter) compared to typical dog kibble.

With real cuts of meat as the top three ingredients and high protein levels, Essence Original dry dog foods are an excellent choice for your dog — highly recommended.

Despite not being a part of the Limited Ingredient range, Essence Original wet dog foods only consist of around a dozen primary ingredients. All three flavors are grain-free, and three cuts of real meat are among the top four ingredients. The Ranch & Meadow flavor lists natural flavor as the fifth ingredient.

Each formula includes several types of meat, which means they may not be the best choice if Fido has suspected food allergies or sensitivities. For example, Ocean & Freshwater includes six different fish, including sardines, whitefish, and catfish.

Common secondary ingredients across the range include salt, lentils, and agar-agar. Agar-agar is a common natural gelling agent used in foods to improve consistency.

Each recipe is high in protein but a little high in fat, which is common in wet dog foods. For example, Essence Original Air & Gamefowl contains above-average protein (43.1% as dry matter) and above-average fat (31.8% as dry matter) compared to standard canned wet dog foods.

Despite their fat levels, Essence Original wet dog foods are outstanding quality, with several cuts of meat within the top five ingredients and no animal by-products. They're a great choice if you're looking to feed your furry friend a high-protein diet.

Essence Limited Ingredient dry dog foods contain only two meat and two fiber sources, each consisting of around eight primary ingredients aside from supplemental vitamins and minerals.

These foods are similar in quality to Essence Original — they list two cuts of real meat as the top ingredients, followed by two meat meals. All recipes include quinoa, a pseudo-grain that's low in calories and high in fiber, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. The other fiber source in these dog foods is pumpkin.

Essence Limited Ingredient kibbles also have similar protein-to-fat ratios to Essence Originals. Essence Limited Ingredient Landfowl dry food contains 39.7% protein as dry matter and 20.4% fat as dry matter.

This range is a good choice for dogs with food allergies. That said, we'd prefer if each recipe featured a single animal protein source, as it's easier on a dog's stomach.

Essence Limited Ingredient wet dog food follows the same formula as its kibble equivalent — each recipe contains two animal protein sources and two fiber sources. They have around seven primary ingredients, with three cuts of meat and broth among the top four ingredients.

Common top seven ingredients include natural flavors, agar-agar, and tricalcium phosphate. Tricalcium phosphate is a vitamin and mineral supplement for calcium and phosphorus.

Essence Limited Ingredient wet dog foods have similar protein-to-fat ratios as the Essence Original range. Essence Limited Ingredient Landfowl contain above-average protein (43.1% as dry matter) and above-average fat (34% as dry matter) compared to standard canned dog food.

Overall, Essence Limited Ingredient wet dog foods are a superb choice for pups with sensitive stomachs, though we'd prefer to see a single protein source in limited-ingredient dog foods.

Essence loads its dog foods with animal protein — all recipes contain a minimum of 85% meat. Its canned wet foods consist of a whopping 96% meat.

Most meats used in these recipes are real cuts of unprocessed meats, which are easier on your pooch's digestive system. Real cuts of meat are also the perfect source of all the amino acids your dog needs to stay happy and healthy.  

Due to the amount of meat in each dog food, Essence products are high in protein. All Essence formulas, including its kibbles, consist of around 40% protein as dry matter, which is ideal for dog food.

These high-protein levels will give your pooch all the energy they need and help them maintain a healthy amount of muscle. High-protein diets are also great for puppies, who need lots of protein and fat to fuel their growth and development. 

Essence dog foods are free from common fillers like potatoes, corn, wheat, and soy. These ingredients are common in dog foods and are generally used to bulk up products without adding much nutritional value.

Some Essence dog foods include quinoa, which isn't technically a grain but is often considered a whole grain due to its similar usage and nutritional value. Regardless, quinoa is one of the most nutritionally balanced grains you'll find in dog foods and a good addition to your pup's diet. 

Most Essence dog foods are suitable for all life stages, including large-breed puppies, meaning you won't have to switch your hound to a different dog food as they age.

All Essence dog food recipes, including limited ingredient offerings, contain multiple meat sources. While this is great for boosting protein levels, it's not ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs and meat allergies.

Make no bones about it — Essence dog foods are pricey compared to standard dog foods. At the time of writing, a 25 lb bag of Essence Limited Ingredient Ranch Dry Dog Food costs $110.49 on Chewy, which works out at $4.46 per lb.

While Essence dog food is a bit costly, you get what you pay for — quality dog food high in animal protein and made without filler ingredients.

In reality, there are only three Essence dog food flavors: poultry, lamb and pork, and fish. While this isn't an issue for most pet parents, it could be an issue if you have a particularly picky pup.

"I use this as treats and as a back up for my raw fed dogs. Both my dogs love it, even my picky eater. High meat, low carb, and lower copper content (a lot of kibble is way too high in copper). I had seen in a couple places that Essence has smaller kibble size and it is true. I personally love it because I have small dogs and they make great treats. They are 10 mm/1 cm wide."

"My dogs are on a special diet with meat. They have [a lot] of allergies and trying to find a healthy choice of food was difficult. A good friend at Hollywood Feed recommended I try the Essence ranch and the dogs love it and they do not have any issues with allergies."

Pets Global Inc. launched the Essence pet food brand on February 5th, 2019. Essence brand ethos is simple: make high-protein pet foods with a minimum of 85% animal protein and no flaxseed, potato, peas, alfalfa, or sunflower oil.

Pets Global Inc. is a California-based company that owns three other pet food brands: Zignature, Inception, and Fussie Cat. Essence manufactures all its dog foods in the US at facilities in Minnesota and South Dakota.

There have been no Essence dog food recalls as of March 2025.