Complete or complementary, dry, wet or raw: what the label means and how to switch without an upset stomach.
A food labelled complete covers all nutritional needs on its own; a complementary food, like most treats and toppers, does not. Choose a food that suits the dog's life stage and size, and compare feeding amounts and energy content rather than the price per bag.
Dry and wet complete foods can both be good choices; what matters is that the diet is balanced and the dog thrives on it. Home-made and raw diets need careful planning to avoid deficiencies, and raw meat can carry bacteria such as salmonella, so handle it as hygienically as raw meat for people.
Mix the new food into the old over about a week, increasing the share every couple of days. Softer stools during the change are common; diarrhoea that persists, vomiting or a dog that refuses to eat means slowing down, and calling your vet if it continues. Log the change under the dog's food in the app, so you can see later what suited your dog.
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