Complete vs Complementary
With the increasing range of raw pet food products available to pet owners, it is important to understand what you are feeding and if it is nutritionally adequate (and safe). If it is not adequate, then you need to know what you would need to add in order to make certain your pet is getting all the nutrients it needs.
There are basic minimums that all pet foods need to meet in order to be considered ‘Complete’, these are known as the AAFCO or NRC Feed Regulations. These regulations give basic minimum (and sometimes maximum) amounts for macro and micro nutrients. They also require microbiological examination of the food. Nutrient needs can be broken down into a two main categories – macronutrients including moisture, protein and fat and micronutrients which includes your vitamins, minerals and trace minerals.
What is a Complementary Pet Food?
- Should be labelled and described ‘Complementary Pet Food‘
- Should be fed as part of a balanced, varied diet
- Should not be fed in isolation over any long term
- Does not meet the guidelines set out by AAFCO or NRC as a complete and balanced food for long term feeding
- Is lacking in either Vitamins, minerals or trace minerals
- May not be balanced
- Is designed to ‘complement’ a Complete Food which has all the required nutrients a pet may need
- Can be used to make a Complete Food by adding other ingredients
What is a Complete Pet Food?
- Should be labelled and described and ‘Complete and Balanced‘ Pet Food
- Should form the majority of your pet’s diet
- Can be fed in isolation over the long term
- Meets the guidelines set out by AAFCO or NRC as a complete and balanced food for long term feeding
- Contains all the necessary Vitamins, minerals and trace minerals
- Is balanced
- Is designed to form the basis of food intake which can be complemented with other foods
- Does not require the addition of any other ingredients
How to feed Complementary Pet Foods
Note: When referring to ‘Complementary Foods’ in this context, we are referring to our own products and cannot make these statements regarding other pet foods which may be labelled as ‘Complementary’.
PUPPIES & KITTENS
- Complementary foods containing bone that have balanced calcium and phosphorous can be fed as part of the diet to boost protein, fat, calcium and calories in growing pets.
- Complementary foods like chicken or duck necks, back or wings are great for chewing and also provide extra protein, fat, calcium and calories.
- Complementary products like 100% Chicken or 100% Duck are good starter products for puppies and kittens beginning on raw food.
ADULT PETS
- Complementary foods containing bone that have balanced calcium and phosphorous can be fed as part of the diet to boost protein, fat, calcium and calories in active or working pets.
- Complementary foods like chicken or duck necks, back or wings are great for chewing and also provide dental benefit for adult dogs.
- Complementary products like 100% Chicken or 100% Duck are good starter products for adult dogs beginning on raw food.
SENIOR PETS
- Complementary foods that do not contain bone, like our 100% Green Beef Tripe that have balanced calcium and phosphorous can be fed as part of the diet to aid digestion in older pets.
- Complementary foods like chicken or duck necks, backs or wings are great for chewing and also provide dental benefit for senior dogs.
- Complementary products like 100% Green Beef Tripe are balanced and can moderate protein and phosphorus intake alleviating stress on the kidneys.
How Much Complementary Food Can I include?
| PUPPIES & KITTENS | ADULT PETS | SENIOR PETS | |||
| Puppies & Kittens under 16 weeks | 30 – 70% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; poultry bones | Adult Small Dogs (over 12 months) | 30 – 40% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; 100% Green Beef Tripe, poultry bones | Senior Dogs (over 8 years) | ± 30% 100% Green Beef Tripe, poultry bones |
| Puppies & Kittens under 6 months | 30 – 50% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; poultry bones | Adult Medium Dogs (over 12 months) | ± 30% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; 100% Green Beef Tripe, poultry bones | Geriatric Dogs (over 12 years) | 30 – 40% 100% Green Beef Tripe |
| Puppies & Kittens over 6 months | ± 30% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; poultry bones | Adult Large Dogs (over 18 months) | ± 30% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; 100% Green Beef Tripe, poultry bones | Senior Cats (over 8 years) | 15 – 30% Hearts, Breast, Muscle Mince, poultry bones |
| Giant Breed Puppies under 18 months | No more than 30% 100% Chicken; 100% Duck; poultry bones | Adult Cats (over 12 months) | ± 30% Hearts, Breast, Muscle Mince, poultry bones | Geriatric Cats (over 12 years) | 15 – 30% Hearts, Breast, Muscle Mince |
How to Feed Complete Pet Foods
Note: When referring to ‘Complete Foods’ in this context, we are referring to our own products and the suggestions below are based on the nutritional content of our food.
PUPPIES & KITTENS
- From the age of 16 weeks Complete Foods should begin to form the majority of the food you feed – at least 60 to 70%.
ADULT PETS
- The majority of your pet’s diet should be comprised of Complete Foods – 70 to 100% should be ‘Complete & Balanced’ foods.
SENIOR PETS
- The majority of your pet’s diet should be comprised of Complete Foods – 60 to 100% should be ‘Complete & Balanced’ foods.
Which Complete Meals Should I Feed?
| PUPPIES & KITTENS | ADULT PETS | SENIOR PETS | |||
| Puppies (under 6 months) | 30 – 70% Chicken Meal Duck Meal Beef Meal | Dogs & Puppies (over 6 months) | 60 – 100% Chicken Meal Chicken & Ostrich Meal Duck Meal Beef Meal | Senior & Geriatric Dogs (over 8 years) | 70 – 100% Chicken Meal Chicken & Ostrich Meal Beef Meal Duck, Pear & Ginger Meal Beef, Pineapple & Turmeric Meal |
| Kittens (under 12 months) | 50 – 100% Chicken Meal Chicken & Duck Meal Rabbit Meal Chicken & Rabbit Meal | Cats (over 12 months) | 70 – 100% Chicken Meal Chicken & Duck Meal Rabbit Meal Chicken & Rabbit Meal | Senior & Geriatric Cats (over 12 years) | 60 – 100% Chicken Meal Chicken & Duck Meal |
All the required nutritional information and full ingredient declarations for our products can be found on our packaging and on our website below each product in the shop.
When you feed PaleoPet Pure™ you can be certain that the food you are feeding is thoroughly tested and any nutritional claims we make are accurate and transparent.
