May 27, 2025, 12:57 pm | Read time: 13 minutes

Complete Dog Foods Should Provide All Essential Nutrients Complete dog foods should be formulated to supply all the vital nutrients an adult dog needs for a healthy and balanced diet. Philine Ebert, a canine nutrition expert, examined twelve different brands of dog food available at pet specialty stores such as Zooplus, Fressnapf, and Futterhaus, analyzing them based on their labels. The results surprised even her!

While many other dog food comparisons test for contaminants or micronutrient concentrations, we looked at the composition. Are all essential nutrients included? Is the food made only of meat? How precise are the feeding recommendations? And which affordable food actually provides good nutrition for my pet? Unfortunately, half of the selected food types were not suitable for a permanent, balanced, and healthy dog diet, which surprised me.

How the Premium Wet Dog Foods Were Evaluated in Comparison

All twelve tested dry foods come from the high price range in pet specialty stores like Futterhaus, Fressnapf, or Zooplus. We selected varieties with the highest per-kilo price. They were evaluated solely based on their packaging declarations and listed with a 5-star rating.

The evaluation was conducted for the following criteria:

• Composition
• Description
• Additives
• Feeding recommendation
• and finally, a summary of the key facts as a conclusion.

Also interesting: How do I recognize good dog food?

Herrmann’s Classic “Organic Beef with Organic Sweet Potatoes,” 400g Can for 3.59 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: very good
Beef (50% muscle meat, heart, lung, liver), cooking broth (15.2%), zucchini (14.3%), pumpkin (12%), sweet potato (5%), fennel (3%), linseed oil (0.5%)
Additionally:
no artificial additives; no addition of artificial vitamins or minerals (meaning all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals come from the natural meat and vegetable content)

Declaration: very good
Described as a supplementary food for adult dogs (i.e., vitamins and minerals can be added as needed, a recommendation for the first 12 months); precise listing and declaration of ingredients with exact quantity; nutrient-rich base food in organic quality without additives, cold-filled and gently heated; suitable for all age groups

Additives: very good
Without sugar, flavor enhancers, aroma, attractants, color, preservatives, and fillers, binders, or animal meal; note for allergy sufferers: only one animal protein source, without grains, gluten, and lactose

Feeding recommendation: good
Simple listing, weight specifications from 5 to 40 kg for recommended food amount

Summary

• High-quality premium food (like homemade) in organic quality from sustainable production in Germany
• 100% fresh ingredients from sustainable and transparent sources (no factory farming, no animal testing, food origin and feed production with organic seal, from controlled breeding, without hormone use, environmentally friendly and GMO-free)
• Particularly detailed declaration, with transparent composition and many important details from the manufacturer (homepage)
• Grain-free and without artificial additives–overall the best, highest quality, and most balanced composition
• Rich in protein and low in fat, with an important share of oil (Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids)
• It is recommended to alternate this food variety with others for complete nutrient coverage

Conclusion: 5 out of 5 stars (Test Winner)

Wildkind “Adult Beaver Creek Wild Boar” 200g Can for 1.99 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: very good
66% wild boar, 28.2% broth, 2% currants, 2% blackberries, 1% minerals, 0.2% brewer’s yeast, 0.2% salmon oil, 0.1% linseed, 0.1% chicory, 0.04% chamomile, 0.04% nettle, 0.03% yarrow, 0.03% dandelion herb, 0.02% plantain, 0.02% St. John’s wort, 0.02% dandelion root
Additionally: Vitamins, copper, zinc, and manganese

Declaration: good
Described as a complete food for adult dogs; precise listing in percentages of each ingredient; made in Germany, gently cold-filled

Additives: very good
Without added sugar, note for allergy sufferers: only one animal protein source (one type of meat)

Feeding recommendation: good
Simple listing, weight specifications from 2.5 to 15 kg for recommended food amount including activity

Summary:

• Good, balanced composition of individual components
• Relatively low crude fiber content, but many small portions of various fruits and vegetables as well as herbs and oil

Conclusion: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lukullus Menu Gustico “Duck with Carrot, Cranberries, and Rosemary,” 400g Can for 2.50 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: very good
55% duck consisting of duck meat, duck hearts, duck liver, 16.5% carrots, 16.5% potatoes, 5% pumpkin, 2% cranberries, 2% linseed oil, 1.9% seaweed meal, 0.1% Andean salt, 0.1% minerals
Additionally: Vitamin D3, E, and B1, copper, iodine, manganese, zinc, and biotin

Declaration: okay
Described as a complete food for adult dogs of any breed and size; precise listing in percentages of each ingredient; made in Germany from raw materials in 100% food quality; according to the description, high meat content, but with 8.8% crude protein (55% meat content) rather low.

Additives: good
Without artificial flavor and colorings or preservatives

Feeding recommendation: okay
Simple, rather imprecise listing, weight specifications from 5 to 30 kg for recommended food amount, but in 10-kg steps

Conclusion:

• Composition good
• No herbs
• Fat content at 6.8% is somewhat high due to 2% linseed oil

Conclusion: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Wiejska Zagroda “Venison with Rabbit,” 400g Can for approx. 4.12 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: good
Venison (53%), rabbit 15%, meat 7%, heart 3%, kidney 3%, lung 2%, roe and rabbit broth (25.8%), raspberries (4%), minerals (1%), salmon oil (0.03%), dried brewer’s yeast (0.2%), spirulina (0.2%), Mojave yucca (0.2%), rosehip (0.2%), mint (0.01%)
Additionally: Vitamin A, D3, and E, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, taurine

Declaration: good
Described as holistic wet food for dogs with high meat content (94%), according to the description on the can “hypoallergenic”; made in the EU (Poland)

Additives: unfavorable
No information on the addition of preservatives, aroma, or colorings, without added sugar

Feeding recommendation: very good
Individual precise listing, weight specifications from 2 to 60 kg for recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• Composition okay but advertised with up to 94% meat content (which would actually be too much, but probably includes the broth)
• No origin and quality information of the meat
• Fat content at 7.9% too high and not definable why
• Entire description on the product in Polish
• Long transport route, not sustainable

Conclusion: 4 out of 5 stars

Natur Plus “Beef with Kohlrabi” 200g Can for 1.49 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: okay
60% beef (meat, lung, udder, heart, tripe, kidney, larynx, liver), 6% carrot, 4% kohlrabi, 3% cottage cheese, 1% minerals, 0.8% rapeseed oil (refined), also contains about 25.2% production-related cooking water
Additionally: Vitamin D3 and E, manganese, zinc, and iodine

Declaration: okay
Described as a complete food for adult dogs; natural ingredients, no unnecessary additives; on the can it says: made in Germany (or in neighboring countries according to brand description online), raw materials from Europe (according to brand description online “preferably from Europe”); special focus on the sustainability of the product (environmentally friendly raw material origin, CO₂ emissions, and recyclability)

Additives: unfavorable
No precise information on additives

Feeding recommendation: good
Simple listing, weight specifications from 5 to 50 kg for recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• Rather vague information
• No precise information on meat origin and quality (preferably from Europe)
• Fat content of 7.5% is rather high
• Only 0.4 crude fiber content, only from vegetable content (no fruit or herbs)
• Contains cottage cheese (can cause tolerance issues in some dogs)

Conclusion: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Real Nature “Turkey with Veal, Chicken, and Linseed Oil,” 200g Can for 1.95 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: unfavorable
52% turkey (from meat, livers, hearts), 10% veal, 6% chicken gizzards, 3% rice, 2% mango, 0.85% minerals, 0.5% linseed oil
Additionally: Vitamin D3, iodine, manganese, and zinc

Declaration: okay
Described as a complete food for adult dogs; gently processed through cold filling; without animal and bone meal; highest quality animal proteins, best carbohydrates, and carefully selected plant components

Additives: good
Without artificial preservatives and flavorings or sugar; may contain traces of other ingredients

Feeding recommendation: unfavorable
Very simple listing, weight specifications from 2.5, 7 to 10 kg for recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• Three types of meat mixed (caution for intolerance)
• Composition not particularly high quality and balanced
• Fat content at 8.1% way too high!
• Crude fiber content at only 0.3% way too low, as only a small fruit content, no vegetable content, and no herbs

Conclusion: 3 out of 5 stars

Activia Friends “Aromatic Duck with Beef Juicy Paté,” 150g Tray approx. 1.09 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: unfavorable
Poultry (heart, meat, liver, stomach, neck) 32%, broth 31.3%, beef (heart, meat, liver, lung, tripe) 23%, duck (heart, stomach, neck) 10%, rice 2.5%, minerals 1%, linseed oil 0.2%
Additionally: Vitamin D3, iodine, manganese, and zinc

Declaration: okay
Described as a complete food for adult dogs; selected, high-quality ingredients; made in Germany

Additives: unfavorable
Gluten-free, no information on other additives

Feeding recommendation: unfavorable
Simple listing, weight specifications from 3.6 to 9 kg for recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• The designation “Duck with Beef” is misleading, as the main component is poultry meat, so it contains three types of meat (caution, allergy sufferers!)
• Composition only moderately protein-rich, otherwise not balanced
• Fat content at 6% too high
• Crude fiber content 0.4% only from rice
• No vegetable or fruit content and no herbs

Please note: This variety is not suitable for permanent feeding; there are other varieties from this manufacturer with a more balanced composition.

Conclusion: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Encore “Chicken Breast and Rice” 156g Can for approx. 2.20 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: concerning
Chicken breast (75%), chicken broth, rice
Additionally: according to the manufacturer, arginine, taurine, Omega-3, and Omega-6 fatty acids, but no declaration of this in the composition and product description

Declaration: okay
Described as a complete food, premium wet food for adult dogs; 100% natural without additives; suppliers for natural raw materials from around the world, according to strict quality guidelines and transparent origin; made in Thailand

Additives: good
Without additives, preservatives, colorings, and flavorings, without sweeteners, derivatives, by-products, or fillers

Feeding recommendation: unfavorable
Minimal listing only in cans, weight specifications only for 0 to 5 kg and 5 to 10 kg as recommended food amount in cans calculated

Conclusion:

• Composition like a diet or light food with 13% protein content too high, but fat content of 0.3% way too low
• Crude fiber content 1% only from rice
• No vegetable or fruit content and no herbs included
• 82% moisture, no nutritional value
• No origin and quality information of the meat (made in Thailand)
• Description on the can only in English
• Little content in the can, not environmentally friendly
• Long transport route from Thailand (not sustainable)
• Disproportionately high price or high price-performance ratio

Please note: This variety is not suitable for permanent feeding; there are other varieties from this manufacturer with a more balanced composition.

Conclusion: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Lex Pure “Chicken” 400g Can for approx. 1.79 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: concerning
65% meat and offal (consisting of chicken meat, chicken hearts, chicken gizzards, chicken livers), 34% broth, 1% minerals
Additionally: Vitamin D3, iron, manganese, iodine, copper

Declaration: okay
Described as a complete food for adult dogs; extra delicious butcher quality; made in Germany

Additives: good
Without the addition of preservatives, colorings, and flavorings

Feeding recommendation: good
Simple listing, weight specifications from 6 to 40 kg for recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• Composition like a diet or light food
• No vegetable or fruit content, no herbs
• Fat content 6% inexplicably high!
• 0.5% crude fiber, but unclear where from
• No vegetables, fruits, or herbs included, only meat and broth in the composition!

Please note: There are other varieties from this manufacturer with a more balanced composition.

Conclusion: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Animonda Gran Carno Adult “with Duck,” 400g Can for approx. 1.62 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: unfavorable
48% pork (heart, liver, lung, meat), 29% poultry broth, 20% duck, minerals, safflower oil
Additionally: Vitamin D3, manganese, zinc, copper

Declaration: unfavorable
Described as a complete food for adult dogs (from 1-6 years); with 100% fresh ingredients; made in Germany without animal testing with great commitment to economic, ecological, and social sustainability (description on the homepage); balanced, delicious, healthy nutrition at the highest level; provides the dog with all essential nutrients; according to the description developed with veterinarians

Additives: good
Grain-free, gluten-free, without soy, sugar, and without artificial colorings, flavor enhancers

Feeding recommendation: unfavorable
Very simple listing, weight specifications from 2 to 7 kg and 7 to 16 kg as recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• It says “with Duck,” misleading designation, as the main component is pork and poultry broth, with duck coming third, so three types of meat (caution, allergy sufferers!)
• Fat content at 5% rather high
• 0.4% crude fiber, unclear where from,
• No vegetables, fruits, or herbs included, only meat and broth in the composition!

Please note: There are other varieties from this manufacturer with a more balanced composition.

Conclusion: 1 out of 5 stars

Rinti Gold Adult “with Wild Boar,” 185g Can, for approx. 1.12 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: concerning
Wild boar 30%, lung, liver, tripe, minerals
Additionally: Vitamin D3, E, zinc

Declaration: unfavorable
Described as a complete food and complete diet for dogs (also for demanding and small dogs) without carbohydrates; rich in natural and particularly tasty meat pieces; full of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements

Additives: good
No addition of soy, colorings, or preservatives; without the addition of formed meat

Feeding recommendation: unfavorable
Very simple listing, weight specification only 5 and 10 kg as recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• No vegetable or fruit content, no herbs
• Fat content at 8% way too high
• 0.6% crude fiber, unclear where from, as no vegetables, fruits, or herbs are included, only meat and minerals in the composition
• Little content in the can, not environmentally friendly

Please note: There are other varieties from this manufacturer with a more balanced composition.

Conclusion: 1 out of 5 stars

Premiere Best Meat Adult “Beef and Rice” 400g Can for approx. 1.65 Euros

Ingredients/Composition Meat/Vegetables: concerning
70% meat and animal by-products (of which 26% beef), rice 5%, minerals; muscle meat content 20%
Additionally: Vitamin A and D3, copper, iodine, and zinc

Declaration: unfavorable
Described as a complete food for adult dogs; with 100% fresh meat in the meat content; meat and animal components 70% in total; without formed meat and bone meal; high-quality ingredients and gentle processing for excellent tolerance

Additives: okay
Without the addition of soy, sugar, salt, colorings, and flavorings, attractants, artificial flavors, or preservatives; may contain traces of other ingredients

Feeding recommendation: okay
Simple listing, weight specifications from 2 to 20 kg for recommended food amount

Conclusion:

• Indication of 70% meat and animal by-products
• Animal by-products should not be present in a premium food, as they are usually inferior by-products, i.e., waste products of the food industry
• Unknown how much, which meat, and which parts of the animal were processed (indication only 26% beef and a share of 20% muscle meat)
• Fat content at 6.5% somewhat high
• No vegetables, fruits, or herbs included

Please note: This variety is not suitable for permanent feeding; there are other varieties from this manufacturer with a more balanced composition.

Conclusion: 0.5 out of 5 stars

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Our Comparison of Premium Wet Dog Foods at a Glance

In summary, it can be said that each of the premium wet dog foods showed average values of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fiber, and moisture content. In all food types (except for the last place), inferior plant and animal by-products were avoided in this premium segment, unlike discount or drugstore brands, and only pure meat, fruits, and vegetables were processed. All varieties are grain-free.

Six varieties from different manufacturers unfortunately contain no plant components. According to current knowledge, a permanent diet of the dog with only meat and meat by-products without vegetables, fruits, or herbs can lead to malnutrition in the long term.

Correction

In an earlier version of the article, the conclusion for the three brands Animonda Gran Carno Adult “with Duck,” Rinti Gold Adult “with Wild Boar,” and Premiere Best Meat Adult “Beef and Rice” included the sentence: “This variety is not suitable for permanent feeding.”

Since the current scientific data does not clearly support this statement, we have removed it.