What does holistic nutrition really mean for a dog?

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'Holistic nutrition' sounds grand, but what does it actually mean? I only began exploring the idea properly when I started studying canine nutrition and working with dog food. At first, the easiest explanation seemed to be that holistic food is a complete diet with extras such as herbs and berries. Now I know that description is too narrow. What matters is what a dog actually gets from its bowl and its everyday life.

I like the idea that good food should support a dog's health, rather than just fill its stomach. But that makes one question especially important: how can we distinguish thoughtful nutrition from attractive packaging and the word 'holistic'?

'Holistic' is not a nutritional quality certificate

The word 'holistic' means taking a whole-picture approach. Applied to nutrition, that might mean considering ingredients, nutrient balance, preparation, life stage, health, activity and how the food actually suits the dog. But 'holistic' is not a defined veterinary nutritional standard with specific numerical requirements. Even when a label displays words such as 'natural', 'premium' or 'holistic', we still need to check whether it is a complete food and which nutritional needs it meets.

In Europe, the FEDIAF nutritional guidelines are an important reference when formulating complete pet foods. Among other things, they describe nutrient levels for different life stages. This is a necessary foundation, but it doesn't automatically tell us everything about ingredient origin, quality control, processing, digestibility or an individual dog's tolerance. The reverse is equally true: a beautiful ingredient list alone doesn't guarantee that a diet meets every need over time.

That's why, for me, holistic nutrition cannot simply mean adding dried berries or a handful of herbs. Those ingredients may enrich a recipe, but they play a very different role from adequate protein, essential fatty acids, calcium or phosphorus.

Where does food quality begin?

Ingredients matter a great deal to me. I want to know where the meat comes from, how it is processed and why particular ingredients are included. I also appreciate a short supply chain and traceable raw materials. A manufacturer's 'zero-kilometre philosophy' or specified sourcing radius can be an interesting production principle, but it isn't, by itself, proof of superior nutritional value. Still, I like the idea of using local ingredients rather than sending raw materials tens of thousands of kilometres around the world.

One frequently repeated claim is that 'human-grade' ingredients automatically produce better dog food. In reality, we need to distinguish standards for ingredients or manufacturing from the finished food's nutritional suitability. Similarly, adding a synthetic vitamin doesn't automatically make a food poor, and a plant-derived ingredient isn't automatically good. The questions are why an ingredient is included, whether the amount is appropriate and how well the dog can use it.

The word 'preservative' shouldn't settle the matter either. Vitamin E compounds, or tocopherols, can help slow fat oxidation, but their presence alone doesn't prove that a food is 'holistic'. Shelf life also depends on fat composition, packaging, storage conditions and the manufacturer's quality controls.

What can changing a dog's food really change?

Here's an experience from one of our customers. An Australian Shepherd puppy originally ate the dry food recommended by its breeder, and there was no particular reason to change. When the owner visited us, we offered several foods to try, and the puppy preferred the holistic range's puppy and junior formulas. Some time later, the owner told us that the puppy had stopped eating faeces after the food change, while its littermates continued the behaviour.

That is a real observation, but it doesn't mean holistic food will stop the behaviour in every dog. Coprophagia can have several causes. For instance, a large owner survey published in 2018 found no simple association between the main food type and this behaviour. Still, the change was noticeable in this particular puppy, and it is worth remembering as a practical experience.

Food and stress: could there be a connection?

A dog's wellbeing depends on more than food alone. Sleep, meaningful activity, the environment, security and the opportunity to make choices all play a part. At the same time, inadequate or unsuitable nutrition can affect wellbeing, digestion and body condition. Interactions between the gut and nervous system are an important research area, but that doesn't mean every restless or stressed dog needs a supplement or a different food first.

Sometimes the first question is whether the dog has enough restful sleep, species-appropriate activity and the right amount of food. If the problem continues, pain, illness or behavioural causes must also be considered. A holistic approach doesn't mean there is one explanation for everyone.

Is raw feeding automatically more complete?

Raw feeding is one possible approach, not a guarantee of either better or worse outcomes. The whole diet's nutrient balance and hygiene matter. I've always been cautious about the claim that feeding 'naturally' automatically provides everything a dog needs. An annual routine blood test, for example, isn't enough to establish that a home-prepared diet supplies all vitamins and minerals. The body keeps blood calcium within a narrow range, so normal blood calcium doesn't prove that the long-term balance of calcium and phosphorus in the diet is adequate.

That is why I ask the same questions about every feeding approach: does it suit this dog's age and circumstances, can its nutritional adequacy be assessed, and does it work for this individual in real life? An appealing philosophy or a fashionable diet cannot replace checking the nutrients.

For me, holistic nutrition is bigger than the food bowl

For people, holistic nutrition is often discussed as part of a lifestyle. There is something to that for dogs too: well-chosen food matters enormously, but movement, play, rest and interaction with people also belong to the picture. When a dog has a health problem, looking at the whole animal doesn't mean replacing diagnosis or necessary treatment with a diet change.

If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I'd say: holistic nutrition isn't about printing the word 'holistic' on a bag. It's about being able to explain why this particular food, in this amount, makes sense for this particular dog.

This is also how we select products at FendaF. You can explore our range of WINNER PLUS holistic foods here. But the choice doesn't end with the range name: the specific recipe and your dog's individual needs always matter.

Sources

FEDIAF. Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs (2025).

WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Selecting the best food for your pet (2021).

Hart, B. L. et al. (2018). The paradox of canine conspecific coprophagy. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 4(2), 106–114. PMID: 29851313.

Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals (biotin, calcium and other nutrients).