Learn what makes dog food truly complete, from essential nutrients to how much and how often to feed them. 

When it comes to feeding your dog well, it’s not just about what’s in the bowl. It’s also about how much, how often, and whether it actually meets their nutritional needs at every stage of life.

This guide breaks down what a complete and balanced dog diet really looks like, based on trusted veterinary frameworks and regulatory standards.

In this article

• What are the 6 macronutrients in dog foods?
• What is a “complete and balanced” dog food?
• Life stage nutrition and special feeding needs
• How much should I feed my dog?
• How often should I feed my dog?
• Fresh dog food vs. raw vs. kibble
• What are the main differences between fresh food and kibble?
• How Freshpet delivers high-quality dog food
• FAQs

What are the 6 macronutrients in dog foods?

According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the six basic nutrients for dogs are:

1. Water – Maintains hydration, regulates body temperature, and transports nutrients.
2. Protein – Supplies amino acids for muscle repair, enzyme production, and hormone function.
3. Fats – Provide concentrated energy and support healthy skin, coat, and brain function.
4. Carbohydrates and fiber – Offer energy and promote digestive health and gut balance.
5. Vitamins – Regulate bodily processes and support growth and metabolism.
6. Minerals – Contribute to skeletal strength, immune function, and metabolic health.

These nutrients are essential for growth, repair, energy production, immune defense, and every other basic bodily function.

Water requirements for dogs

Water is the most critical nutrient and is vital for nearly every bodily function:

• Eliminates toxins and waste
• Regulates body temperature
• Transports nutrients
• Lubricates joints
• Aids digestion

Dogs generally require about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day, though needs vary depending on activity level, climate, and diet moisture content. Fresh and high-moisture diets can reduce the amount of water a dog needs to drink.

Protein in dog food

Protein is a fundamental nutrient composed of amino acids. It is crucial for:

• Tissue repair
• Hormone production
• Enzyme function
• Muscle maintenance and immune support

AAFCO protein minimums: 22.5% (puppies), 18% (adults) on a dry matter basis.

Quality matters:

High-quality proteins from animal sources, such as eggs, organ meats, and skeletal meats — have high biological value and digestibility (86–93% = high; over 93% = very high). These proteins also have bioavailability, meaning your dog can absorb and use more of the amino acids in the food.

Fat in dog food

Fats are a concentrated source of energy for dogs and are essential for gut health. They are critical for:

• Fat-soluble vitamin absorption (A, D, E, K).
• Source of essential fatty acids
• Skin and coat health.
• Reducing inflammation.
• Joint health and cognitive support (via omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids).

AAFCO fat minimums: 8.5% (puppies), 5.5% (adults) on a dry matter basis.

Quality matters:

The type and quality of fats, especially essential fatty acids, are critical for delivering these benefits. Omega-3s help maintain joint mobility, reduce inflammation, and support brain function. Diets with high-quality fat sources provide benefits that go well beyond basic calorie provision, promoting both short-term vitality and long-term well-being.

Fat sources like fish oil and some algal oils are excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids and essential fatty acids (like alpha-linolenic acid, EPA, and DHA).

Carbohydrates and fiber in dog food

Carbohydrates supply energy for a dog’s daily activities, while fiber supports gut balance. Just some of the many benefits of these nutrients include:

• Carbohydrates provide a fuel source for the body.
• Fibers help maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
• Fibers help with the regularity of bowel movements.
• Fibers help to decrease the energy content of the diet to help in weight maintenance or weight loss.
• Fibers help to improve satiety and maintain a healthy weight.
• Fibers can also help with hairballs in cats.

While not considered an "essential" nutrient, carbohydrates provide energy and can make up a significant portion of a dog's diet, particularly in dry food, where they can contribute up to 60% of calories.

Fiber can be categorized as either:

• Soluble fiber: Feeds beneficial gut bacteria and slows digestion.
• Insoluble fiber: Adds bulk and supports regular bowel movements. Also helps with weight maintenance and hairball prevention in cats.

Both forms of fiber play a distinct role in gut health and satiety, making them important considerations when evaluating a dog’s diet.

Quality matters:

Adequate fiber promotes satiety, helping control caloric intake and support healthy weight.

Diets with lower carbohydrate levels and higher-quality fiber often result in better weight management compared to high-carb kibble diets.

Vitamins in dog food

Vitamins are organic compounds that regulate bodily processes, support growth, and enable metabolism. They are either:

• Fat-soluble: Vitamins A, D, E, and K.
• Water-soluble: B-complex vitamins

Each vitamin plays a unique role in keeping essential body systems functioning properly. Maintaining the correct balance is critical – deficiencies can impair health, while excesses, particularly of fat-soluble vitamins, can cause toxicity. Fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate in the body over time, making careful formulation important.

Quality matters:

• Under-supplementation can hinder growth, weaken the immune system, and affect organ function.
• Over-supplementation, especially of Vitamins A and D, can lead to toxicity.

Vitamin Table

Vitamin	Key Function	Signs of Deficiency	Signs of Toxicity
Vitamin A	Vision, immune health, skin	Night blindness, poor coat	Bone deformities, joint pain
Vitamin D	Calcium absorption, bone health	Rickets, weak bones	Kidney damage, calcification of soft tissues
Vitamin E	Antioxidant, cell protection	Muscle weakness, reproductive failure	Rare but may cause bleeding disorders
Vitamin K	Blood clotting	Excessive bleeding	Rare; may cause anemia
B-Complex	Energy metabolism, nervous system	Poor growth, anemia	Generally low toxicity risk

Minerals in dog food

Minerals are inorganic compounds essential for bone health, immune function, and metabolic processes. They include:

• Macrominerals: Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, chloride.
• Trace minerals: Iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium.

The balance of certain minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus, is critical for skeletal health. This is particularly important for large breed puppies, as imbalances can cause lifelong orthopedic issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia. The AAFCO limits set the minimum for puppies at 1.2% and the max at 1.8% for large breed puppies with a ratio of 1:1 to 2:1 (calcium:phosphorus).

What is a “complete and balanced” dog food?

Life stage nutrition and special feeding needs

How much should I feed my dog?

How often should I feed my dog?

Fresh dog food vs. raw vs. kibble

What are the main differences between fresh food and kibble?

How Freshpet delivers high-quality dog food

FAQs