Essence comes in three protein pairings: turkey and chicken (Landfowl), whitefish with herring or sardines (Ocean), and lamb and pork (Ranch). Each pairing is sold as both a kibble and a can. None of the six recipes lists peas, lentils or potato. The kibbles list quinoa as their fifth ingredient, so they are not grain free. The cans are.
The kibbles run from 32.5% to 41% protein and 18.5% to 23% estimated starch, as fed. The catalog kibble average is 26.9% protein and 37.4% starch, so these kibbles sit well above it on protein and well below it on starch. They are also calorie dense, at 437 to 447 kcal per cup against a catalog average of 395. The cans list 10% to 10.5% protein, above the wet catalog average of 8.3%, with 78% moisture.
The trade-off is richness. Kibble fat runs from 20.5% to 25.5%, so less active dogs may need smaller portions. Within the line, the Ranch kibble has the least protein and the most fat and estimated starch. Only the Landfowl and Ocean kibbles list All Life Stages.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIR Landfowl Recipe | 41% | 20.5% | 19% | 437 | Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Meal |
| LIR Ocean Recipe | 38% | 24.5% | 18.5% | 447 | Whitefish, Herring, Whitefish Meal |
| LIR Ranch Recipe | 32.5% | 25.5% | 23% | 438 | Lamb, Pork, Lamb Meal |
| Line average | 37.2% | 23.5% | 20.2% | 441 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
41% protein · 20.5% fat · 19% starch · 437 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Turkey, chicken and their meals lead this kibble. It has the most protein in the line at 41% and the least fat of the kibbles at 20.5%. It lists All Life Stages and suits owners who want the highest-protein Essence kibble.
Full review of LIR Landfowl Recipe38% protein · 24.5% fat · 18.5% starch · 447 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Whitefish, herring and their meals lead the only fish kibble in the line, which also has the least estimated starch here at 18.5%. At 447 kcal per cup and labeled for All Life Stages, it suits active dogs that eat fish.
Full review of LIR Ocean Recipe32.5% protein · 25.5% fat · 23% starch · 438 kcal/cup
Lamb, pork and their meals lead this kibble, which has the least protein in the line (32.5%) and the most fat (25.5%) and estimated starch (23%). It suits dogs that do better on red meat than on poultry or fish, though our data shows no life stage.
Full review of LIR Ranch Recipe| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIR Ocean Recipe Food Can Grain-Free | 10.5% | 5% | 78% | 1,133 | Whitefish, Fish Broth, Sardines |
| LIR Landfowl Recipe Food Can Grain-Free | 10% | 8% | 78% | 1,218 | Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Broth |
| LIR Ranch Recipe Food Can Grain-Free | 10% | 8% | 78% | 1,202 | Pork, Lamb, Pork Broth |
| Line average | 10.2% | 7% | 78% | 1,184 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
10.5% protein · 5% fat · 417 kcal/can
This is the only Essence can built on fish, with whitefish, fish broth and sardines leading the list. At 5% fat and 417 kcal per can, it is the leanest of the three cans and suits owners who want a lighter fish-based meal or topper.
Full review of LIR Ocean Recipe Food Can Grain-Free10% protein · 8% fat · 1,218 kcal/kg
This can pairs turkey and chicken, with turkey broth, chicken livers and agar-agar next on the list. At 8% fat and 1218 kcal per kg, it is the most calorie dense of the cans and suits dogs that eat poultry.
Full review of LIR Landfowl Recipe Food Can Grain-Free10% protein · 8% fat · 463 kcal/can
The Ranch can is the only Essence wet recipe with pork and lamb, led by pork, lamb, pork broth and lamb liver. It lists 10% protein, 8% fat and 463 kcal per can, so it suits owners who want to avoid poultry and fish.
Full review of LIR Ranch Recipe Food Can Grain-FreeOnly the cans are. The LIR Landfowl, Ocean and Ranch kibbles all list quinoa, while the three LIR cans are grain free. None of the six recipes lists peas, lentils or potato.
Among the kibbles, the LIR Landfowl Recipe has the most at 41% protein, as fed. Among the cans, the LIR Ocean Recipe can has the most at 10.5%.
The LIR Landfowl Recipe has the least fat of the kibbles at 20.5%, and the LIR Ocean Recipe can has the least of the cans at 5%. The LIR Ranch Recipe kibble has the most fat in the line at 25.5%.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (41.3% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 20% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
100% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
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.
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