Health Extension Information
Health Extension is a pet food brand that is headquartered in long island New York.
They used to go by the name Vets Choice, and they have been in operation since the 1960s. However, in 2015 they rebranded and are now known as Health Extension.
The brand is best known for producing straightforward yet nutritious recipes in both the grain-free and grain-inclusive markets.
Health Extension products are made in the United States in two facilities. These are located in New York and New Jersey. Health Extension does not source any of their ingredients from China.
You can purchase Health Extension recipes at some physical pet food stores across the United States; however, they are not widely sold if you can’t find a physical source, several of the large pet food websites like Chewy and Amazon stock Health Extension.
Health Extension Product Range
Dog Food
Health Extension has a broad range of dog food products. Their range of dry dog food includes grain-free formulas and grain-inclusive formulas.
In addition, there are formulas designed for small and large breed dogs as well as dogs who are attempting weight loss. Health Extension does not appear to produce puppy food at this time.
Health Extension’s canned dog food range is varied and includes geographically themed formulas as well as very simple and limited ingredient formulas.
Cat Food
Health Extensions cat food range is smaller than their dog food range. It includes a very small range of dry cat food recipes and a larger range of canned cat food products.
Their canned cat food range includes a very large variety of meat and fish ingredients.
Health Extension Nutrition
Dog Food
Overall the nutrition provided by Health Extension dog food formulas is above average, and in many cases, it is significantly above average.
This includes a sufficient proportion of protein and fat for dogs of all activity levels. This protein and fat will allow dogs to adequately maintain, repair, and grow their muscles and tissues.
While the proportion of carbohydrates varies from formula to formula, it is consistently below average.
Below is an example of the nutrition offered by a Health Extension dry dog food recipe.
Cat Food
There is less variety in the nutrition provided by Health Extension’s cat food recipes given the smaller product range available.
However, typically they provide above-average nutrition that includes reasonable proportions of protein and fat.
It is critical that cats consume a diet high in animal or fish-based protein and fat. This is as they are obligate carnivores. Cats will not excel on a diet high in plant-based ingredients.
Health Extension Ingredients
High-Quality Ingredients
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Whitefish
- Buffalo
- Venison
- Duck
- Salmon
- Lamb
All of the above-mentioned meat and fish ingredients are considered high-quality. They can be an easily digestible source of protein and fat to fuel dogs’ growth and activity.
Some of these are commonly found in dog food such as Chicken, Turkey, and Salmon. This is as they are relatively inexpensive.
However, others such as Venison and Buffalo are far less common and often given to dogs with severe allergies or sensitivities. You can learn more about these ingredients in our articles:
Other Noteworthy Ingredients
Peas, Lentils, and Chickpeas are all staples of Health Extension’s grain-free recipes. Legumes such as these are used consistently throughout the industry as affordable sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and plant-based protein.
However, in the last few years, there have been links between the high use of legumes in dog food recipes and an increase in Canine Heart Disease. This very concerning link is still under investigation, but you can read more about it here.
Health Extension’s grain-inclusive recipes make use of grain ingredients like Brown Rice and Oatmeal. These ingredients are reliable sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and select vitamins and minerals.
However, grain ingredients are controversial additions to pet food recipes, with many pet owners refusing to feed their pets grain-inclusive food. But on the other side, there are many pet owners are strongly believe in grains and exclusively feed their pets grain-inclusive recipes.
Brown Rice and Oatmeal are considered by some to be “superior” grain ingredients are preferred to others such as Corn or Wheat.
Menhaden Fish Meal is a common ingredient food as it is affordable and nutritious. It is considered a superior ingredient to increase the protein proportion in comparison to vegetables and vegetable by-products.
Find out more about Menhaden Fish meal in our article Menhaden Fish Meal In Dog Food.
Health Extension makes use of Chicken Fat in some of their recipes. Chicken Fat is used to improve the flavor and palatability of a recipe, among other reasons.
Find out more in our article, Chicken Fat In Dog Food.
Some Health Extension recipes make use of Pumpkin as a minor ingredient. Pumpkin is best known for its digestive properties thanks to its high fiber content, but it can also provide a mix of carbohydrates and beneficial vitamins and minerals.
You can learn more about Pumpkin and some of the best Pumpkin recipes in our article Best Dog Food With Pumpkin.
Brewers Yeast is often included in dog food as a dietary supplement. It includes some beneficial vitamins and minerals, and some believe it can provide other non-nutritional benefits.
Read about the full benefits of Brewers Yeast in our article Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.
Flaxseed is an excellent plant-based source of the Omega Fatty Acids and is consumed by many humans as a dietary supplement.
Issues in dog food have increased in recent years. Learn more about the benefits of Flaxseed in our article Flaxseed In Dog Food.
Dried Beet Pulp’s use in dog food is thanks to its high fiber content. This could be compared to Tomato Pomace.
However, some believe that Beet Pulp does not belong in dog food. Read everything you need to know about Beet Pulp in our article Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.
Chicory Root is a dietary supplement that can provide a number of beneficial vitamins and ingredients.
Discover the full benefits of Chicory Root and which brands utilize it in our article Dried Chicory Root In Dog Food.
Low-Quality Ingredients
- N/A
While there are some ingredients used by Health Extension that would be considered controversial or questionable, there are no ingredients present in their formulas that are definitively low-quality or considered to be fillers.
Health Extension Animal Testing
We have no information on whether Health Extension participates in laboratory testing of animals in order to test their products.
We believe that animal testing such as this is a cruel and outdated practice and one which we hope will see a significant decline or, better still, elimination.
Health Extension Recalls
Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), we have no information that leads us to believe that any of Health Extensions products have ever been recalled.
While Health Extension is a relatively young brand, this is still a positive trait and shows they take their manufacturing and safety standards seriously.
Best of Health Extension
Buffalo & Whitefish Recipe Review
The first four listed ingredients of the Buffalo & Whitefish Recipe are meat or fish ingredients, which is extremely impressive and not a trait that many of their competitors could state. This ensures that the majority of the formula is meat and not plant-matter.
As you might have guessed, Whitefish is also present alongside the Buffalo. While Whitefish sounds a little vague, it is, in fact, a high-quality fish ingredient and likely contains fish like Cod, Haddock, or Hake.
The vegetables in the formula are Chickpeas, Lentils, Peas, Tapioca, Sweet Potatoes, and Pumpkin. This is a considerable selection and covers almost all of the common carbohydrate-providing ingredients used in dog food.
However, this larger range may make this formula inappropriate for those dogs that suffer from plant-based allergies.
Salmon Recipe Review
While some may consider it to be basic or boring, we disagree and believe that Health Extension’s Salmon Formula is exceptional in its simplicity.
The primary driver behind this is that Health Extensions Salmon Formula only contains four ingredients, three of which are inconsequential. The first of these and the one which constitutes the vast majority of the formula is the Salmon.
Salmon is known to be one of the best fish sources of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which can provide noticeable benefits and improvements in a dog’s cognitive function and the condition of their skin and coat.
The other three ingredients are water, fish broth, and Guar Gum. The water and Fish Broth are present to provide moisture and will provide little nutrition. Lastly, Guar Gum is present as an emulsifier.
This lack of questionable or poorly understood ingredients will ensure that dog owners know what they are feeding their canine friends.
Health Extension’s Salmon Formula isn’t the only recipe that follows this model, and they also have alternatives with meat ingredients such as Beef, Duck, Chicken, and Lamb.
Grain-Free Turkey & Salmon Recipe Review
The above is Health Extensions only grain-free dry cat food recipe. Despite this lack of variety, the recipe is worthy of consideration.
It has an impressive proportion of protein, which is above-average when compared to other cat food recipes.
This protein proportion is thanks to a large portion of Turkey, Salmon, and Chicken. All three of these ingredients are high-quality sources.
The recipe uses a mix of legume ingredients, starch ingredients, and pumpkin to provide carbohydrates and fiber.
Examples of ingredients include Chickpeas, Lentils, Sweet Potatoes, and Pumpkin.
Grain Free Chicken & Duck Recipe Review
Health Extension’s wet cat food recipes are all very similar, which makes it hard to choose between them. We’ve gone with a recipe that includes Duck as this is a less common addition and one which many cats will not be familiar with.
The portion size of Chicken and Duck combined is ample to provide cats with sufficient protein and fat for their diet.
There is minimal plant-matter present, which is in the form of Pea Protein and Tapioca Starch. These ingredients are used to help bind the ingredients together and provide a consistent texture.
Health Extension Featured Articles
Best Dog Food With Bison – Bison or Buffalo is becoming increasingly common in dog food. A number of brands are using it as a conventional meat source or as part of a limited-ingredient diet. Health Extension is one of these and has an excellent Buffalo recipe.
Best Canned Dog Food – Canned dog food is often neglected but can be a realistic alternative to dry dog food. This article breaks down the key facts of canned dog food and suggests a number of affordable yet high-quality formulas.
Health Extensions Salmon Recipe takes a well-deserved place here thanks to its simplicity and excellent nutrition.
Health Extension Full Product Range
Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Little Bites Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Original Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe
Little Bites Lite Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Lite Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Grain Free Venison Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Turkey Recipe
Grain Free Buffalo & Whitefish Recipe Little Bites
Grain Free Buffalo & Whitefish Recipe
Large Bites Chicken & Brown Rice
Grain Free Duck Recipe
Grain Free Salmon Recipe
Canned Dog Food
Grain Free Tuscan Style
Montana Grill Buffalo & Whitefish Recipe
Mediterranean Roast Lamb Recipe
Grain Free Northern Catch Recipe
Grain Free Italian Feast
French Bistro Rabbit Recipe
Carolina Skillet Pork Recipe
Grain Free New York Style
Grain Free 95% Beef
Grain Free Duck Entree
Grain Free 95% Chicken
Grain Free Lamb Entree
Vegetarian Entree
Grain Free Turkey Entree
Grain Beef Savory Beef Stew
Grain Free Tasty Turkey Stew
Grain Free Chunky Chicken Stew
Grain Free 95% Salmon
Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Grain Free Turkey & Salmon Recipe
Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Canned Cat Food
Grain Free Chicken In A Gravy Recipe
Grain Free Chicken Pate Recipe
Grain Free Beef & Salmon Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Pumpkin Recipe
Grain Free Tilapia & Tuna Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Tuna Recipe
Grain Free Tuna & Prawns Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Duck Recipe
Grain Free Real Beef Entree
Grain Free Real Turkey Entree
Grain Free Real Chicken Entree
Turkey & Chicken Entree