health extension dog food target

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Orijen vs. Health Extension

In this comparison article for Orijen vs Health Extension, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Orijen 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 Orijen comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Orijen Review Page or Health Extension Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: Health Extension vs. Orijen

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.

Orijen Dog Food vs. Health Extension Dog Food

Dry Dog Food	Orijen	Health Extension
Crude Protein	42.9%	27.6%
Crude Fat	22.6%	16.5%
Crude Fiber	5.5%	5.1%

Wet/Canned Dog Food	Orijen	Health Extension
Crude Protein	57.4%	40.2%
Crude Fat	24.7%	28.0%
Crude Fiber	7.8%	6.7%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.

On average, Orijen dry dog food recipes contain 15.26% more protein than Health Extension recipes. Clearly, there is a significant difference between the protein content of Health Extension and Orijen. Similarly, Orijen wet dog foods provide significantly more protein than Health Extension wet foods.

Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Like protein, fats are an essential part of a dog's body. Fats are needed for the proper development and function of the canine body.

The table shows that Health Extension provides far less fat than Orijen. The difference in fat content is roughly 6.10%. For wet dog foods, Health Extension typically provides a little more fat (about 3.38% more).

As you can see, Health Extension and Orijen guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Orijen and Health Extension also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Orijen Cat Food vs. Health Extension Cat Food

Dry Cat Food	Orijen	Health Extension
Crude Protein	44.8%	38.6%
Crude Fat	21.0%	18.3%
Crude Fiber	4.0%	6.7%

Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food

Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Eleven of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining eleven are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these eleven essential amino acids.

Our analysis shows that Orijen guarantees 6.15% more protein than Health Extension dry cat food recipes.

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):

Help transport nutrients across cell membranes
Fats produce metabolites, which help control inflammation
Maintain healthy blood pressure
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Fats improve the taste/texture of food.

If you look at the average percentages of crude fat, you'll notice that Orijen typically guarantees 2.62% more fat. This is a fairly small difference between Orijen and Health Extension, but still worth mentioning.

According to our data, Health Extension guarantees 2.70% more fiber than Orijen. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference.

Orijen Pet Food Ingredients vs. Health Extension Pet Food Ingredients

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Health Extension.

Liver

Liver is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous animal ingredients are typically very low quality and may contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!

Garlic

Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

Beet Pulp

Beet pulp is the by-product which remains once sugar has been extracted from sugar beets. The primary contribution of beet pulp is dietary fiber.

We'd also like to note that beet pulp is fairly controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that beet pulp can promote intestinal health and regulate blood sugar. However, opponents claim that beet pulp is an inexpensive filler.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.

Pea Protein

Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

Tomato Pomace

Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.

Buffered Garlic

Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid 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

The ingredient "added color" is ambiguous and may include various artificial dyes. Most artificial dyes have been linked to various chronic diseases.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."

Product Safety: Recall History of Orijen & Health Extension?

Orijen has been recalled once.

Nov. 22, 2008: irradiation treatment consequences

According to our records, Health Extension has never been recalled.

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog Food	Orijen	Health Extension
Per Pound	$12.58	$2.99
Per Calorie	$0.0060	$0.0018

Dry Cat Food	Orijen	Health Extension
Per Pound	$6.57	$2.74
Per Calorie	$0.0036	$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 Orijen 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 Orijen 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 Orijen 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 Orijen Pet Foods

You can purchase Orijen pet foods from the following stores:

38 Recipes In-Stock Today

23 Recipes In-Stock Today

27 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

Product	Orijen	Health Extension
Dry Dog Food	14 Recipes	15 Recipes
Wet Dog Food	3 Recipes	15 Recipes
Dog Treats	13 Treats	19 Treats
Dry Cat Food	7 Recipes	2 Recipes
Wet Cat Food	None	13 Recipes
Cat Treats	6 Treats	2 Treats

Top Rated Orijen Recipes

Dog Food

OrijenDry Dog Food Regional Red Recipe

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OrijenWet Dog Food Puppy & Fish Pate Recipe

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OrijenDry Cat Food Regional Red Recipe

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Top Rated Health Extension Recipes

Dog Food

Health ExtensionLittle Bites Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe For Dogs

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Health ExtensionGrain Free Canned Dog Food Tasty Turkey Stew

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Health ExtensionGrain Free Dry Cat Food Turkey & Salmon Recipe With Whole Vegetables & Berries

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Health ExtensionGrain Free Canned Cat Food Beef & Salmon Recipe In Broth

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Health Extensions Dog Food Review: Detailed Analysis

Health Extensions dog food is strictly family-owned and made with whole food ingredients only.

Formulated for all life stages, it does not have any wheat, corn, gluten, or soy to avoid triggering any food allergies your puppy may have.

I guess this is what makes it so popular for health-conscious pet parents. But I always leave the last verdict to you guys after Ive laid down all the facts.

Heres the review youve been waiting for, and these are some recipes well be looking at in detail today:

Products	Type	Special Feature	Our Rating	AAFCO Nutrient Profile(Life Stage)
Health ExtensionOriginal Dry Dog Food	Dry	Most popular recipe	4.5	All Life Stages
Health ExtensionGrain-Free Turkey Entree	Canned	Real Turkey	4.5	Adult Maintenance
Health ExtensionGrain-Free Salmon	Dry	Exotic Ingredients	4.5	All Life Stages

At a Glance: Health Extensions Dog Food

Before we get to the review, here are some key details about this brand.

Family-Owned Business
Ingredients sourced from all over the US and Canada
A reputed and established brand
Uses multiple sources of protein in each recipe

About The Brand Health Extensions Dog Food

4.5 Overall Editor Rating

This highly popular dog food has been around since the 60s when it was called Vets Choice. It saw a rebranding in 2015, and the name was changed to Health Extensions.

The family-owned company has wholesome grain and grain-free varieties in dry and wet food, prepared from naturally raised animals without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They are 100 percent GMO ingredient-free to help support healthy skin and coat, strong joints and bones, a balanced digestive system, and a healthy immune system. Many of their ingredients are sourced from the USA but also from Canada.

Who Makes Health Extensions Dog Food in 2023?

Health Extensions is a family-owned business started by Brad Gruber and his family. Health Extensions Pet Care is the full name of the company. For over 60 years, the family has been running this business by making food with healthy are nutrition-filled ingredients for the furry babies.

The company employs 30-40 employees and is headquartered in both New York and New Jersey.

Five-Factor Analysis of Health Extensions Dog Food

In order to get a clear picture of this brand and what it promotes, we need to take a deep dive into each of its aspects: recipes, nutritional value, price, ingredients, and recall history.

1. Recipes |

Health Extension dog food has come up with dozens of recipes for dry food, wet food, treats, and toppers and supplements. So they really are going for holistic healthcare. Here are three of the recipes Ive picked out.

Health Extension Original Dry Dog Food

This recipe provides a balanced diet packed with vitamins and probiotics to support your dogs overall health. They include ingredients like coconut oil, green tea, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric to boost the immune system and give your little dog some big benefits. This recipe for small breeds features vitamin B complexes to help maintain their energy at a healthy level.

Big dogs will love this large-breed recipe. It includes supplements like green lip mussels, glucosamine, and chondroitin to support your dogs bones and joints, necessitating a reduced-fat diet.

Their healthy weight management recipe is ideal for overweight, neutered, or senior dogs. Additionally, it features omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote skin and heart health.

Health Extension Grain-Free Turkey Entree

The dietary fiber is included in both this version and the dry food version. So, a dry food version is available if you or your dog prefer dry instead. This wet food version, in my opinion, is good enough to provide your dog with the essential moisture it needs.

And they also promise that this food will prevent dehydration as well. So, its going to help your pup maintain proper urinary tract health.

Health Extension Grain-Free Salmon

Supports Healthy Organ Function
Added Vitamins and Minerals
Great for dogs with sensitive stomachs
Transparency about ingredients

The best thing about this recipe is that the Salmon is guaranteed to be USDA inspected, so you know its high quality. Moreover, there are at least 20 superfoods in this recipe. All kinds of berries and spinach are included. I guess this is one of the fanciest recipes Health Extension has put out yet.

2. Ingredients |

Lets go right to the ingredient list because theres a bunch of good stuff in here:

Meat (Protein Source)

What they focused on here was providing high-quality protein. High-quality protein is essential for strong muscles, and then it is also essential for you to have a healthy heart.

The next is a chicken meal. I dont have a problem with that. Thats just basically the water taken out of the chicken, and that could be up to 300 percent more protein than just chicken in itself, which has a lot of water.

Lamb meal, were being told what the animal product is. It is a meal, but we know its lamb. Its not just like an animal meal or, you know, where they just say fish meal. Again, theyre detailing exactly what theyre providing me with.

Theres a fish meal in here, but it is a Menhaden fish meal, so again, we know the type of fish theyre putting in. So, they are really looking out for your dogs muscles and your dogs heart.

Grains

Theyve got flaxseed in here. Ive said it before; flaxseed is questionable because if its ground up and can be digested, its great. If its not ground up, the digestive capacity is greatly reduced, lets say it like that.

Ground brown rice, again not a bad thing. Thats going to provide some energy to your dog, and its a carbohydrate, but its a slow-burning carbohydrate. Then we have oatmeal, a fibrous grain that is full of vitamin B. This is particularly important for pregnant dogs.

Vegetables and Fruits

They like to add nutrients like potatoes and sweet potatoes that are rich in minerals and provide you with excellent dietary fiber. That is important. Then we have blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, which are all natural antioxidants that could really help a dog, especially if it were on a poor diet before.

Theres also spinach, turmeric, and chicory in most recipes. The funny thing, they dont really push the fact that there are superfoods included in their formulas. I wish they would. I believe it would be great to let people know that there are fruits in there as well.

Controversial Ingredients

There are some unusual things as well, like the dried beet pulp. Theres some debate about that, but again, it helps the animal eat it. It is a form of sugar, but Im not against this.

Dried brewers yeast, there is some controversy there, too, as to how much it will help dogs, but again, I dont have a problem with it.

Were getting further down in the list. Heres where I do have a problem.

They do have the ingredient egg product. Egg product doesnt mean whole eggs. It means that it literally could be the egg that falls onto the floor on the farms, and it doesnt mean that its bad. It just means you have to trust this brand that its not a crap egg product; that its an okay egg product.

Additives and Supplements

So, it does have vitamins and minerals in it, and I will share with you what some of those are.

Your vitamins are going to be vitamin E, and theres manganese. There is a source of vitamin C in there. Youre going to get your vitamin B12 supplement, which is very important. Youre going to get your biotin, and then also youre going to get your vitamin D.

So, its jam-packed with vitamins and minerals. And then there is magnesium sulfate included too.

For now, everythingand by everything, I mean all dog food is usually supplemented with vitamins and minerals. At least the good ones are, but this one isnt really any different. I liked what they were focusing on here.

I like that they really dont have any gluten, no corn, no soy, no we know PHA, no added sugars, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, which a lot of manufacturers put in, which I hate.

3. Nutritional Analysis |

This is an average estimate of Health Extensions dry dog food and the overall nutritional value their recipes can provide.

Nutrient	Content (per serving)
Protein	24%
Fat	18%
Fiber	4.4%
Moisture	NA
Carbohydrates	30%

24% protein is easy to get behind and is appropriate for most dogs. Its safe to say that most dogs will find this sufficient, and I say most only because athletic dogs would need a higher percentage of protein than regular dogs.

18% fat seems like a lot, but in the context of the ingredients that are used for fat content, this is actually great.

Again, 4.4 fiber needs to be seen in the light of ingredients that provide this. Sweet potatoes and vegetables are much better than filler ingredients.

The carbohydrate count is a bit high. This is because dogs actually dont use carbohydrates as their default source of energy. We can feel at peace knowing that these carbs arent coming from wheat or soy.

4. Price |

This does cost more. It is expensive for 5.5 ounces of food. You will need four dollars in US currency to secure your bag of Health Extension dog food Entree. Depending upon where you buy it, youre going to need four dollars to get one. If youre looking for something different for your doggy, this is a good place to begin. A four-pound packet will cost fourteen dollars, available in one, four, fifteen, thirty, and even forty-pound bags. You can buy this formula online or at any retailer near you.

5. Recall History |

I couldnt find any mention of this dog food ever being recalled, and its been in the business for decades. Thats impressive.

How Does Health Extensions Dog Food Compare to the Competition?

Health Extension is mostly about dog food and pet care but hear me out. All dog food brands market themself according to their special features. Its only fair to judge these brands based on what they have to say about themselves.

Health Extension markets itself as a holistic healthcare brand for pets. It lives up to its name fairly well. It does take into consideration the overall health of your dog and is much healthier than what we typically see in stores.

I do have some reservations about this brand, not in regards to what it does but what it doesnt do. It doesnt target specific health issues, which a lot of other brands of the same caliber do.

Dont get me wrong; its good dog food. However, Im yet to see something new or innovative, but thats just me.

Should You Buy Health Extensions Dog Food?

Yeah, I definitely recommend it. This comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. So, its really just about how much food youre purchasing, whether or not youre going to want to take advantage of that 100% satisfaction guarantee. I recommend that you ask your local retailer if you can stop in and pick up the food locally and ask if they will honor the satisfaction guarantee in the store. Definitely find out whether or not they would be willing to take the food back, if you would be able to return or exchange the food just in case, on the chance that the dog has a feeble reaction to the food. Its a good formulation. Im going to put it into my good category and would recommend this brand.

Our Rating

Nutritional Analysis

FAQs

Where are all of Health Extensions products made?

All products by Health Extension are made in the USA, but their site says that some wet foods come from Canada and Thailand.

Why cant I find Health Extension in a big store?

According to Health Extensions official website, they like supporting small family-owned businesses because thats where they started this company.

What is the shelf life of Health Extension dry dog food?

You can store Health Extension dry dog food products for 18 months after their date of manufacturing.

Before You Go

Health Extension dog food is definitely worth trying, and it has gotten the best reviews all over the internet, and the internet is usually brutal, so you know theyre not lying about it showing great results.

Even if you have some reservations about this dog food, I suggest you try this out once because theres almost zero chance of a tummy upset, and high-quality filler-free ingredients assure this.

Ankita is a passionate pet lover and head of content at Pet Food Brands. With her extensive knowledge and research, she provides pet owners with top-quality information on dog food and nutrition. Her dedication to improving the lives of dogs makes her a leading voice in the industry.