What Does Complete Dog Food Mean?
When a dog food is described as complete, it means it is designed to provide all the nutrients your dog needs when it is fed according to the instructions and is suitable for their particular life stage.
It is an important phrase to look for when choosing your dog’s main everyday food. It is also different from “complementary,” which usually describes a product intended to be fed alongside something else.
What is complete dog food?
A complete dog food is formulated to supply the right balance of essential nutrients for the dogs it is intended for. That includes suitable amounts and proportions of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.
The label should tell you whether the food is complete and whether it is intended for puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs or another group.
Complete does not describe a particular format. Dry food, wet food and commercially prepared raw food can all be complete if they have been formulated and labelled that way.
What is complementary dog food?
Complementary food is not designed to provide the dog’s entire diet by itself. It should be combined with other food or offered in limited quantities as directed.
Products commonly labelled as complementary include:
- Dog treats and chews
- Some toppers
- Some meat-only products
- Broths and additions for a main meal
Complementary products can still have a useful place in your dog’s routine, but they should not accidentally replace too much of a complete diet.
Are dog treats complete food?
Usually not. Most treats are complementary and are designed to be given in small amounts. Giving too many can unbalance the diet and add more calories than you realise.
Check the packaging for feeding guidance and consider treats as part of your dog’s total daily intake.
Does complete mean high quality?
Complete tells you that a food is intended to meet your dog’s nutritional needs, but it does not tell you everything about the recipe.
You may also want to consider:
- Whether it is suitable for your dog’s age and size
- The protein sources used
- Whether your dog enjoys it
- How well your dog digests it
- The feeding amount and cost per day
- Any particular needs discussed with your vet
Claims such as “natural,” “grain-free” or “high meat” do not replace the need to check that the main food is complete.
Why does life stage matter?
A growing puppy has different nutritional needs from an adult or senior dog. A food can be complete for one life stage without being appropriate for every dog.
Always check the label rather than assuming all complete foods are interchangeable. If your dog has a medical condition, food allergy or needs a prescription diet, follow your vet’s advice.
Does a complete food need supplements?
A healthy dog eating an appropriate complete diet should not normally need extra vitamin or mineral supplements unless a vet recommends them. Adding nutrients without a clear reason can upset the carefully formulated balance.
Functional ingredients such as prebiotics or omega-3 may already be included within a complete recipe.
Is Dewkes dog food complete?
Dewkes dry dog food recipes are complete foods designed for their stated life stages. The Dewkes dog food range includes recipes for puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs and small breeds.
Our grain-free recipes use freshly prepared meat or fish with sweet potato and selected ingredients. Depending on the recipe, they also include prebiotics to support healthy digestion and omega-3 to support healthy skin and coat.
You should still follow the feeding guide for your chosen recipe and adjust the amount in response to your dog’s body condition, activity and veterinary advice.
What should you look for on the pack?
Before choosing a dog’s main food, check:
- That it says “complete”
- The species and life stage it is intended for
- The daily feeding guide
- The composition or ingredient list
- The analytical constituents
- Storage instructions and best-before information
Complete dog food in one sentence
Complete dog food is intended to provide all the nutrients your dog needs as their main diet when it is suitable for them and fed correctly.
If you want to explore a complete dry food without committing to a large bag immediately, Dewkes taster packs start from £1.
