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Essence vs Polkadog

Essence is branded by Pets Global, Inc. and made by third-party contract manufacturers, and Polkadog is made by Polkadog Inc. (owned by TAW Ventures), and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Polkadog averages 9.3 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.5 for Essence. Polkadog is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Essence is not.

Essence and Polkadog compared

Essence Polkadog
Manufacturer Pets Global, Inc. Polkadog Inc.
Parent company Independent TAW Ventures
Founded 2010 2002
Headquarters Valencia, California, USA Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
Contract manufacturer In-house
Made in United States United States
Manufacturing region South Dakota Massachusetts
Products listed 13 24
Serves Cats & dogs Cats & dogs
Price tier A relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost.
$$$$$ $$$$$
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
No Yes
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works .
8.5 (avg of 13) 9.3 (avg of 24)
Recalls on record We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
None None
Where to buy
Amazon
Amazon

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Essence vs Polkadog: how they compare

Scores

Polkadog scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 9.3 out of 10 across 24 scored foods, compared with 8.5 across 13 for Essence. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

Essence is a brand of Pets Global, Inc., based in Valencia, California, USA, founded in 2010. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States. Polkadog is made by Polkadog Inc., owned by TAW Ventures, based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, founded in 2002.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. Polkadog is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Essence is not. KibbleLab lists 13 Essence foods and 24 Polkadog foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Essence or Polkadog?

Polkadog scores higher: it averages 9.3 out of 10 across 24 scored foods, compared with 8.5 for Essence. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes Essence and Polkadog?

Essence is a brand of Pets Global, Inc.. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States. Polkadog is made by Polkadog Inc., which is owned by TAW Ventures.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Polkadog has 24 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 13 for Essence.

Where is each brand based?

Essence is based in Valencia, California, USA. Polkadog is based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Are Essence or Polkadog PSC Accredited?

Polkadog is a PSC Accredited business. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that Accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification.

Have Essence or Polkadog been recalled?

Neither Essence nor Polkadog has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

See the full profiles: Essence and Polkadog .

More comparisons

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.