Glossary

Complete and balanced

A label claim that a dog food contains every nutrient a dog needs, in the right amounts, for the life stage named on the package.

Also called: nutritionally complete, complete and balanced diet, nutritional adequacy statement, for intermittent or supplemental feeding only

"Complete and balanced" means a food provides all the known required nutrients, in suitable proportions, as the only diet for the life stage on the label. A nutritional adequacy statement says how the claim was supported: either the recipe was formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles, or the finished food passed an animal feeding trial.

Foods marked "for intermittent or supplemental feeding only", including many toppers, some treats and a few canned items, are not complete and should not be the main meal. Homemade recipes often lack nutrients such as calcium unless a veterinary nutritionist designs them.

Check that the statement names your dog's life stage. Complete and balanced describes what is in the bag, not how well a particular dog does on it, so judge by body condition, stool, coat and energy and ask your vet.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

AAFCO The US body that sets model pet food rules and nutrient profiles but does not itself approve, test or certify any dog food. Life stage The category on a dog food label, such as growth, adult maintenance or all life stages, that shows the nutrient needs the recipe is designed to meet. Kibble Dry, cooked, bite-size pieces of dog food, usually made by extrusion, that are shelf-stable, convenient and the most common way to feed dogs. Raw feeding Feeding uncooked meat, organs and often bones, either homemade or commercial, which carries germ risks for dogs and the people who handle it.