Our Veterinarian Anita Kröger

As a holistic veterinarian, Anita Kröger places great importance on a species-appropriate, natural, and varied diet when it comes to canine health. From the perspective of holistic veterinary medicine, nutrition plays a key role in ensuring a long and healthy life for dogs. The veterinarian and founder of the Center for Canine Health specializes not only in medical nutrition counseling but also in the treatment of chronic diseases, focusing particularly on intolerances, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorders.

As a specialist in healthy canine nutrition, she contributes valuable ideas and expertise to the formulation and product range of FIDELIS. Anita Kröger and her team at the Center for Canine Health are enthusiastic supporters of FIDELIS and proudly recommend its products.

Does It Contain Everything My Dog Needs?

Every dog owner wonders whether the food they choose truly meets their pet’s nutritional needs. So let’s start right away: all our Fidelis Fresh Menus are designed as complete meals. This means each Fidelis Fresh Menu contains all the nutrients an average dog needs every day. But why does Fidelis still recommend a varied diet?

The term “complete food” sounds wonderful. It promises that a single type of food contains not only all the nutrients a dog needs daily but is also suitable for (almost) every situation. Imagine, as a dog owner, eating the exact same meal every day—one that delivers all the essential minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, and energy you need, regardless of who you are: male or female, teenager or senior, athlete or couch potato, healthy or ill. For your dog, this would mean being fully nourished by one “complete” food—regardless of age, breed, energy level, or health. A utopian promise – but one that is legally intended to sound that way!

But why?

The success of “complete” dog food lies in its apparent convenience and illusion of guaranteed nutrition. It’s incredibly easy to believe your dog is perfectly nourished with just one type of food. Many owners also fear their dog might not get everything they need unless all nutrients are contained in one meal. This myth has been profitably reinforced by the pet food industry.

Large pet food manufacturers in Europe base their recipes on the FEDIAF table (FEDIAF stands for the European Pet Food Industry Federation). This table lists so-called “nutrient requirements” – standardized reference values derived from experiments. These values offer general guidance but do not represent individualized recommendations. In formulating “complete” foods, manufacturers don’t care where the nutrients come from – whether vitamins are derived from an apple or a test tube. Likewise, the quality of raw materials is often irrelevant: low-grade meat meal or high-quality muscle meat can both end up in the same product. This is why many dry (and wet) foods are fortified with added nutrients to meet the reference values. A common practice is to spray missing nutrients onto kibble – regardless of whether they are actually bioavailable to the dog. Chemical additives are often used, raising questions not only about bioavailability but also about the entire “artificial” concept of standardized nutrition without any sensory variety. After all, no living being should have to eat, smell, and taste the exact same thing every day. It’s neither necessary nor natural to consume identical amounts of magnesium, manganese, or vitamin B12 every day. Unfortunately, for most dogs, this monotonous feeding routine is the sad reality: the same uniform kibble, identical in smell, color, size, and nutrient profile, served day after day.

Why not feed your dog naturally and appropriately – just as you feed yourself?

Of course, there are certain differences between human and canine nutrition – for example, dogs have a much higher calcium requirement. But aside from a few exceptions (foods that are toxic to dogs), there are plenty of natural, wholesome ingredients dogs can eat: meat, fish, organs, vegetables, fruits, and seeds. Yet, many dogs are still fed out of bags filled with processed, artificial content instead of real, natural food. Common sense tells us that only a natural, varied, and balanced diet can provide sufficient minerals, trace elements, vitamins, and amino acids – this applies just as much to dogs as it does to us humans.

That’s why, just as with human nutrition, we recommend variety for dogs as well. Different meats, changing vegetables, and a mix of menus provide a natural and diverse nutrient supply – and also add excitement in taste and smell. No two dogs are the same: age, activity level, size, and individual needs make each one unique.

At FIDELIS, we follow a clear principle: our menus are designed to be nutritionally complete and cover the average daily requirements of your dog. At the same time, we place great importance on ensuring that your dog receives a wide range of nutrients from many different natural sources. With our diverse menu options, you can be sure your dog is not only optimally nourished but also eats with joy – day after day.