Complete vs complementary food

Cat and dog food (wet, dry, treats) are classified as complete or complementary. In some countries, it is mandatory to indicate the food as either complete or complementary.

Complete food

A complete meal contains all the nutrients required by a cat or dog to stay healthy. If a cat or dog eats only one brand of complete meal, it will get all the nutrients required to stay alive and healthy.

Complementary food

A complementary or supplementary meal do not contain all the nutrients required by cats or dogs to stay healthy. Cats or dogs fed complementary food must have access to complete food to prevent health issues.

For example, if the complementary food does not have sufficient taurine, cats consuming only that brand on a long-term basis risk developing retinal degeneration leading to blindness and even heart failure and death.

Which to use?

It is not an issue to feed complementary food as long as the owners are aware and ensures that the cat or dog also consumes complete food.

For community animals, especially those who are not fed regularly, it makes sense to make sure they consume complete meals for their well being.

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