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In The Kibble
My dogs
BRAND

Health Extension

Family-ownedSince 1963Hauppauge, New York

RECIPES REVIEWED
47
AVG PROTEIN, DM, KIBBLE
30.1%
AVG STARCH, KIBBLE
37%
FDA RECALLS
None since 2012
LINES
Little Bites 6 Ancestry 5
THE LINES

Health Extension Lines, Reviewed

2 lines

Health Extension sells two kibble lines, and each mixes grain free and grain inclusive recipes. Ancestry has five recipes, each led by a named meat meal: chicken, duck, salmon or lamb. Two use brown rice and oats, and three are grain free. Little Bites has six recipes named for smaller pieces. Three are chicken, brown rice and oatmeal recipes and three are grain free. Turkey appears in every one, and the line adds puppy, lite, venison and buffalo options.

Ancestry averages 28% protein as fed, above the 26.9% catalog average for kibble, and its recipes range from 21% to 35%. Little Bites averages 24.8% protein and 39.4% estimated starch, compared with 38.1% starch for Ancestry. Owners looking for higher protein or fish recipes can start with Ancestry. Owners who want smaller pieces, a puppy recipe or a recipe without chicken can start with Little Bites.

Little Bites

6 kibble
Protein
24.8%
Fat
15.3%
Starch
39.4%
Kcal / cup
394

Average kibble, as fed

Little Bites is Health Extension's six recipe kibble line named for smaller pieces, split evenly between chicken, brown rice and oatmeal recipes and grain free recipes. Turkey appears in every recipe, and the range adds puppy, lite, venison and buffalo options.

A good fit for: Owners after grain free kibble with protein up to 27%; Owners wanting a lower calorie kibble at 288 kcal per cup

Read the Little Bites review

Ancestry

5 kibble
Protein
28%
Fat
14.6%
Starch
38.1%
Kcal / cup
382

Average kibble, as fed

Ancestry is Health Extension's five recipe kibble line, each recipe led by a named meat meal: chicken, duck, salmon or lamb. It pairs two brown rice and oat recipes with three grain free ones, and protein runs from 21% to 35%.

A good fit for: Owners looking for a 35% protein grain free kibble; Owners who prefer grain inclusive kibble with brown rice and oats

Read the Ancestry review
WHICH LINE FITS

Choosing Between The Health Extension Lines

  • A grain free kibble with 35% protein: Ancestry
  • Grain inclusive kibble made with brown rice and oats: Ancestry
  • Rotating among chicken, duck, lamb and fish recipes: Ancestry
  • Smaller kibble pieces, including a puppy recipe: Little Bites
  • A lite kibble at 288 kcal per cup: Little Bites
  • Venison or buffalo recipes for owners avoiding chicken: Little Bites

All recipes

47 foods matched · newest first
DEEP DIVE

Inside The Health Extension Range

Across 47 recipes we review

Protein is close to the average kibble we review (30.1% on a dry matter basis).

96% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).

60% of recipes are grain-free.

NUTRITION

How The Range Measures Up

this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review

Protein, dry matter 30% 23% to 48%
15%site avg 30%50%
Fat, dry matter 17% 8% to 23%
5%site avg 18%30%
Starch, as fed 37% 14% to 50%
10%site avg 37%60%
Kcal per cup 392 288 to 452
250site avg 395600

Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out

INGREDIENTS

What Goes In The Bowl

Chicken 47% 56%
Fish 43% 34%
Turkey 43% 20%
Egg 34% 31%
Beef 19% 20%
Lamb 17% 14%
Pork 15% 11%

Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.

Ingredients Some Owners Avoid

By-products 0% 13%
Artificial colors 0% 1%
Chemical preservatives 2% 9%
Corn 0% 15%
Wheat 0% 13%
Soy 0% 10%

These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.

LIFE STAGE
  • All Life Stages15
  • Adult4
  • Puppy1
BREED SIZE
  • All Breeds46
SPECIAL DIETS
  • Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)28
Health Extension Gently Air Dried Superfoods Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food MOST PROTEIN Health Extension Gently Air Dried Superfoods Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food 47.5% dry matter Health Extension Gently Air Dried Superfoods Beef Recipe Dry Dog Food LEAST STARCH Health Extension Gently Air Dried Superfoods Beef Recipe Dry Dog Food 14% as fed Health Extension Little Bites Lite Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food FEWEST CALORIES Health Extension Little Bites Lite Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food 288 kcal per cup
THE COMPANY

About Health Extension

Ownership
Family-owned
Founded
1963
Headquarters
Hauppauge, New York

Who Makes It

Health Extension is a pet food brand from Health Extension Pet Care, a New York company that describes itself as 100% family-owned and now run by third-generation owner Brad Gruber. It sells dry, canned, gently cooked and air-dried dog food, and the company says it focuses on partnerships with independent pet retailers. 1, 2

Where It Is Made

The company says most of its products are made in the United States, while its GEO cans are made in Canada and its Gently Cooked pouches are produced in Thailand. It does not publicly say whether its dry food is made in its own plant or by a contract manufacturer. Its 55,000 square foot Hauppauge, New York facility has been described as its headquarters and distribution center. 3, 4

History

The company traces its start to 1963 and operated under the Vets Choice name until March 2015, when it became Health Extension Pet Care. In 2019 it moved from a 17,000 square foot site in Deer Park, New York to a larger facility in Hauppauge. In late 2019 it acquired Ancestry Pet Food, a brand founded in 2001, along with Ancestry's Sammy Snacks treat line. 2, 4, 5

Worth Knowing

The company says it uses a three-stage quality system with 140 inspection points and routine third-party testing of ingredients and finished products. It also says it does not source any ingredients from China. 3

  1. healthextension.com/pages/our-team
  2. healthextension.com/blogs/blog/health-extension-story-3-generations-holistic-fresh-dog-food
  3. healthextension.com/pages/faq
  4. petage.com/health-extension-triples-its-footprint-with-new-hq
  5. petage.com/health-extension-acquires-ancestry-pet-food

Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

RECALL HISTORY // HEALTH EXTENSION

No Recalls In Our Record Since 2012

Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Health Extension has never had one. See the recall log

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