Holistic dog food is a type of dog food that is formulated with optimal nutrition, such as vitamins and minerals, to support a dogs overall health and wellbeing. The term "holistic" means "in consideration of the whole," and the hope of dog foods labeled as "holistic" is that they would be made of natural ingredients of human-grade quality without byproducts or fillers, made without chemicals or sewage sludge fertilizers, and be easily digested for maximal nutritional uptake with every ingredient complimenting all others to provide a nutritional balance for the whole body. However, since any food or product can be labeled "holistic," its important to read the ingredient list carefully to ensure that there are no fillers, chemical additives, or ingredients that pets dont synthesize into useful nutrients.

Holistic dog food is different from natural dog food, which implies that the products within are derived from nature and not manufactured by humans. While the terms "natural" and "holistic" are often used together, they typically arent used interchangeably. Natural dog food is regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which defines natural dog food as having all ingredients but the vitamins and minerals come from non-synthetic sources. Holistic dog food, on the other hand, is not regulated by the FDA, AAFCO, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates organic.

Holistic dog food can come in the standard kibble and canned, but also come in raw preparations. Some pet food brands include specific additives or ingredients that are thought to promote overall wellness in dogs, such as probiotics, vitamins or minerals, or supplements reported to help with certain conditions, like joint and skin health. Holistic dog food tends to be a little pricier than other types of dog food, but it contains higher quality ingredients and caters to a dogs nutritional demands, making it a healthier choice that can lead to less food-related illness and sensitivity.