Complete means the recipes have all of the essential nutritional elements that dogs need to be healthy - this is an extensive list of minerals, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids that dogs need. Our recipes not only meet 100% of the requirements but exceed them by huge margins. Balanced means the right amount of individual nutritional elements that can counteract with each other - for example Calcium and Phosphorus interact with each other and too much phosphorus Vs. calcium will affect the bone mineral density (weaken them) while too high calcium will inhibit the absorption of Phosphorous / Phosphate, an essential mineral that aids in metabolism, and maintaining bone and teeth health.All Pala recipes are both complete and balanced for the life stages listed.