How to choose a dog food: the WSAVA checklist

Choose a dog food whose label says it is “complete and balanced” for your dog’s life stage, then put WSAVA’s questions to the company that makes it. WSAVA says unregulated words such as “premium” and “holistic” are of little practical value for judging nutrition, and an ingredient’s name does not show its quality. Your vet can match the food to your own dog.

What does “complete and balanced” mean on a dog food label?

The FDA says that when a food’s nutritional adequacy statement includes “complete and balanced”, the product is intended to be a pet’s only diet and should be nutritionally balanced. AAFCO, the US feed control officials’ association, says “complete” means the food contains all required nutrients and “balanced” means they are in the correct ratios. Treats, snacks and supplements are often not complete and balanced.

FEDIAF, the European pet food federation, uses the word “complete”. It defines a complete pet food as sufficient for a daily ration, and a “complementary” one as sufficient for a daily ration only if used in combination with other pet foods. Rules differ between regions (for example, WSAVA notes that calorie information is required on labels only in the US), so check which standard your label names. The nutritional adequacy statement on a US label reads in one of these ways:

What the label says	What it means
“…formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage]”	The recipe is formulated to meet AAFCO’s profile. WSAVA describes such formulated foods as manufactured to meet specified levels without testing via feeding trials.
“Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that…”	The food was tested in a feeding trial following AAFCO’s standardised protocols.
“…comparable to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests”	A “family” product, similar but not identical to a tested food. AAFCO says this wording is not used often.
“This product is intended for intermittent or supplementary feeding only”	Not a complete diet. AAFCO says such products are limited to non-continuous or supplemental use, and WSAVA says foods labelled this way should be 10% or less of the diet, or fed under veterinary supervision if a therapeutic diet.

WSAVA tells vets to interpret formulated foods with caution, but says a feeding trial does not guarantee adequate nutrition under all conditions. AAFCO says it does not approve, certify or otherwise endorse pet foods, and the FDA says endorsements and seals of approval from other organisations are not assurances of nutritional adequacy.

Which life-stage statement should my dog’s food carry?

AAFCO recognises four claims: gestation/lactation, growth, maintenance and all life stages. WSAVA says “all life stages” foods are formulated for reproduction and growth, and FEDIAF says the same of a complete food that names no life stage.

AAHA says puppies should eat a growth diet until skeletal maturity: about a year for small and medium dogs, closer to 15 to 16 months for some large and giant breeds. It adds that there are no AAFCO requirements for mature, senior or geriatric pets, that there is no consensus among manufacturers about what a “senior” food is, and that an older dog doing well on a complete and balanced adult maintenance diet can stay on it until a medical condition prompts otherwise. For how dog life stages are defined, see why “7 dog years” is a myth.

What does the WSAVA checklist ask a dog food company?

WSAVA’s Global Nutrition Committee lists these questions. AAHA says that if product packaging is not available, the company’s customer service line or website may provide the label information.

About the company

• Does it employ a nutritionist? WSAVA names a PhD in animal nutrition, or ACVN or ECVCN board certification, and notes a consultant may have less influence than a staff nutritionist.
• Who formulates the diet: an experienced formulator (MS or PhD in animal nutrition), a veterinarian, or a pet owner, breeder or trainer?
• What quality control covers ingredients and the finished food, including nutrient analysis, toxicology, bacteriology and shelf-life screening?
• Has nutrition research been done and published in peer-reviewed journals? Companies need not do any, but WSAVA says those that do show commitment.

On the label and the pack

• Is there a nutritional adequacy statement, complete for the right life stage?
• How many calories per gram or serving?
• Is a phone number or email given? The company should be able to supply an average analysis of all essential nutrients.
• Who makes the food? “Made by” differs from “Made for” or “Distributed by”.

WSAVA’s bottom line: if the manufacturer cannot or will not provide any of this information, vets and owners should be cautious about feeding that brand.

Are marketing words, “grain-free” and ingredient lists good guides?

Not on their own. WSAVA points out that labels mix required information with images and phrases meant to promote sales. AAFCO says “premium” is a totally unregulated term, “natural” and like terms are not expressions of safety, and a product called “dog food with chicken” should contain at least 3% chicken.

WSAVA’s 2018 owner FAQ says an ingredient’s name does not detail its nutritional quality, digestibility or the bioavailability of its nutrients. What matters most, it says, is that the final product, formulated by experts, is tested to ensure a pet’s nutritional requirements are met. It adds that the ingredient list may be useful for pets with food allergies and intolerances, though cross-contamination with ingredients not reported on the label can occur. WSAVA’s internet guide (2013) adds that most websites that rank dog foods do so on opinion or on criteria that do not necessarily ensure a good quality food, such as price, ingredients or size of the company.

On “grain-free”: from 2018 the US FDA investigated reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart disease, in dogs eating certain foods, many labelled grain-free, with peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes as main ingredients. Its 2019 update called the possible link a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors, and noted that most dogs have eaten pet food without apparently developing DCM.

In December 2022 the FDA said it would give no more public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information. AAHA’s 2021 guidelines say that, given the evidence then available, the most conservative approach is to avoid feeding grain-free diets or diets high in legumes, and that because this is an evolving issue, owners should consider the pros and cons of a specific type of diet with their veterinarians. The FDA urges pet owners to work with their veterinarians to obtain dietary advice before making diet changes.

How do I read the calories (kcal) on a dog food label?

Energy turns a daily calorie target into a daily portion. AAFCO’s label rules put the calorie statement under a “Calorie Content” heading, in kilocalories per kilogram as fed and per familiar unit such as a cup or can. WSAVA’s label guide marks a measured figure “(fed)” and an estimate “(calculated)”.

WSAVA noted in 2021 that calorie information is required on labels only in the US. Where it is missing, ask the manufacturer or calculate it from the label’s nutrient analysis. Moisture matters too: the FDA says canned food is typically 75 to 78 percent moisture and dry food 10 to 12 percent, so label percentages cannot be compared across the two until converted to a dry-matter basis.

WSAVA’s 2018 FAQ says label feeding instructions are a good starting point, based on the calorie needs of an “average” dog at a certain weight. Watch your dog’s weight and body condition and adjust. The dog calorie calculator turns a daily calorie estimate into grams using the food’s kcal per kg, and our diet charts, including the Labrador and Pug charts, show the same sums by breed.

How many treats can a dog have? The 10% rule

WSAVA counts anything given on top of a complete diet as a treat: snacks, chews, supplements and foods used to give medicine. Treats should be less than 10% of a dog’s daily calories and never replace a meal. AAHA gives the same split, with 90% or more from a complete and balanced food. WSAVA’s table, for an average healthy adult dog in ideal condition, gives about 47 kcal a day from treats at 10 kg, 79 kcal at 20 kg and 108 kcal at 30 kg.

WSAVA advises avoiding bones and excessively hard chews such as antlers and hooves, and lists chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and xylitol among toxic foods. Dental chews count as treats too: see dog dental care.

How should I change my dog’s food, and when should I ask my vet?

Published advice differs. WSAVA’s 2018 owner FAQ says to switch over at least 3 days in healthy pets, longer in pets with disease, and warns that sudden changes can result in vomiting and diarrhoea. WSAVA’s 2011 clinical guidelines say preferences for transition methods vary with no clear evidence that any one is superior, and that some animals tolerate an abrupt change with little problem although some appear to have fewer gastrointestinal issues if food is changed gradually over 7 to 10 days.

No checklist replaces advice for your dog, and WSAVA says the veterinary team has a vital role in helping owners choose. WSAVA’s FAQ says pets that are not eating at all, or not eating enough to maintain their body weight, need to be assessed by a vet as soon as possible. For home-prepared diets, AAHA says veterinary studies of recipes from books and websites found that the majority do not provide complete and balanced nutrition, and it recommends a consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Frequently asked questions

What does “complete and balanced” mean on dog food?

The FDA says the product is intended to be fed as a pet’s sole diet and should be nutritionally balanced. To carry the phrase, a dog or cat food must meet an AAFCO nutrient profile or pass a feeding trial using AAFCO procedures. AAFCO says the nutritional adequacy statement also names the life stage the product is for.

Is grain-free dog food better?

The FDA, in a 2019 update (note added December 2022), described the possible link between certain diets, many labelled grain-free, and dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs as a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors. AAHA’s 2021 guidelines say that, given the evidence then available, the most conservative approach is to avoid feeding grain-free diets or diets high in legumes. Ask your vet before changing a food.

Does “AAFCO approved” mean a food is safe?

AAFCO says it does not approve, certify or endorse pet foods, so there is no AAFCO-approved food. Read the nutritional adequacy statement, which says which AAFCO standard the maker says the food meets.

How should I switch my dog to a new food?

WSAVA’s 2018 FAQ advises a slow transition over at least 3 days in healthy pets, and its 2011 clinical guidelines say some animals appear to have fewer gastrointestinal issues if food is changed gradually over 7 to 10 days. Ask your vet for a plan if your dog has a health condition.

Sources

• WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (2021). Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf
• WSAVA (2011). Nutritional Assessment Guidelines. J Small Anim Pract. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/WSAVA-Nutrition-Assessment-Guidelines-2011-JSAP.pdf
• WSAVA (2018). Frequently Asked Questions & Myths. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Frequently-Asked-Questions-and-Myths.pdf
• WSAVA (2013). The Savvy Dog Owner’s Guide: Nutrition on the Internet. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/The-Savvy-Dog-Owner-s-Guide-to-Nutrition-on-the-Internet.pdf
• WSAVA (2025). Interpreting Food Labels. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Interpreting-Food-Labels.pdf
• WSAVA (2024). Feeding treats to your dog. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Feeding-treats-to-your-dog-v2.pdf
• Cline MG, et al. (2021). 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 57:153-174. https://www.aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/globalassets/02-guidelines/2021-nutrition-and-weight-management/nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines.pdf
• AAFCO. Reading Labels; Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/reading-labels/ and https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/frequently-asked-questions/
• US FDA (2020). “Complete and Balanced” Pet Food. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/complete-and-balanced-pet-food
• US FDA (2019, note added 2022). Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine DCM. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
• FEDIAF (2025). Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food. https://europeanpetfood.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FEDIAF-Nutritional-Guidelines_2025-ONLINE.pdf