Product FAQs

Name: Fidelis Beef Fresh Menu Complete
Brand: Fidelis
Price: 4.29 GBP
Availability: InStock

Question 1

What does "grain-free" actually mean, and is it always better?

Accepted Answer

Grain-free means the food contains no wheat, maize, rice, oats, or barley. Grains are replaced with vegetables and pulses such as sweet potato, peas, or lentils. For dogs with grain sensitivities — itchy skin, recurring ear infections, loose stools — grain-free can make a meaningful difference. For dogs without those sensitivities, grain-free isn't automatically better, but high-quality grain-free foods tend to also be higher in meat content, which is the more important factor.

Question 2

How much meat should be in a good dog food?

Accepted Answer

The minimum standard for a genuinely natural dog food is around 30% meat content, but the better foods sit between 50% and 80%. Eden's 80/20 range contains 80% meat and is one of the highest on the market. Aflora is 60–65%. Canagan is around 50%. Anything below 30% is more accurately described as a cereal-based food with meat flavouring. Always look for the percentage stated on the bag, and check that it refers to fresh meat rather than meat meal.

Question 3

What's the difference between cold-pressed and extruded dog food?

Accepted Answer

Extruded food is cooked at high temperatures and pressures, which is the standard kibble manufacturing method. It's efficient but can destroy nutrients and creates kibble that swells in the stomach when wet. Cold-pressed food is cooked at much lower temperatures, preserving more of the original nutrient content and producing a kibble that breaks down slowly without expanding. Cold-pressed is gentler on sensitive stomachs and dogs prone to bloat. Both can be excellent — the right choice depends on your dog.

Question 4

How do I switch my dog to a new food without upsetting their stomach?

Accepted Answer

Always transition gradually over 7–10 days. Start with 25% new food mixed with 75% old food for two days, then 50/50 for two days, then 75/25, then fully on the new food by day 7 or 8. If your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach, extend each stage to 3–4 days. Sudden food changes are the most common cause of digestive upset in dogs — slow transitions almost always solve the problem before it starts.

Question 5

What are "meat derivatives" and why should I avoid them?

Accepted Answer

"Meat derivatives" or "animal by-products" are catch-all terms used when the manufacturer doesn't want to specify what animal the meat came from or which parts were used. They can legally include feet, beaks, hooves, and tissues that contribute very little nutrition. A reputable natural dog food names its protein source clearly: "freshly prepared chicken", "deboned salmon", "lamb meal". If you can't identify the animal, you're paying for filler, not nutrition.

Question 6

Is hypoallergenic dog food the same as grain-free?

Accepted Answer

Not quite. Grain-free means no grains. Hypoallergenic means the food avoids ingredients commonly known to trigger allergic reactions in dogs — typically wheat, soy, beef, dairy, and sometimes chicken. A grain-free food may not be hypoallergenic if it still contains other common allergens. A truly hypoallergenic food uses limited, novel proteins (lamb, duck, fish) and avoids the most common triggers. If your dog has confirmed sensitivities, look specifically for "hypoallergenic" or "limited ingredient" descriptions, not just "grain-free".

Question 7

How do I know if a dog food is actually working for my dog

Accepted Answer

Give any new food at least 6–8 weeks before judging it. Look for: shinier coat, firmer stools, more stable weight, calmer digestion, more consistent energy. The signs of a food not working are usually obvious within a few weeks: itchy skin, ear infections returning, loose or inconsistent stools, weight gain or loss without portion changes, lethargy, or fussy eating. If your dog has been on a food for two months and shows ongoing issues, the food probably isn't right for them — even if the label looks perfect.

Question 8

What is natural wet dog food?

Accepted Answer

Natural wet dog food is a complete or complementary diet in a high-moisture format — typically tinned, pouched, or tray — made without artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. The high moisture content is the defining nutritional characteristic: wet food is usually 70 to 80 percent water, compared to around eight to ten percent in dry kibble. That single difference has meaningful implications for hydration, kidney health, and palatability. A genuinely natural wet food will show a named protein source at the top of the ingredient list, a declared meat percentage, and nothing added that serves a cosmetic rather than nutritional purpose.

Question 9

What should I look for in a natural wet dog food?

Accepted Answer

The same principles as dry food, with two additional considerations. First: meat percentage matters even more in wet food because the high water content makes it easy to dilute a poor-quality recipe — a food that's 70 percent water and 20 percent meat derivatives is not the same as one that's 70 percent water and 60 percent named chicken. Second: check whether it's complete or complementary. A complete wet food meets all your dog's daily nutritional requirements on its own. A complementary food is designed to be fed alongside a dry or raw diet and will be deficient in certain nutrients if fed as a sole diet. The label is legally required to state which it is — look for it before you buy.

Question 10

Is wet dog food better than dry dog food?

Accepted Answer

Neither is categorically better — they serve different purposes and the right choice depends on your dog. Wet food wins on hydration, palatability, and digestibility. It's particularly valuable for dogs that don't drink enough water, dogs with urinary tract issues, older dogs with reduced kidney function, fussy eaters, and dogs recovering from illness. Dry food wins on convenience, dental mechanical action, and cost per daily serving. Many owners feed a combination — a dry kibble base with wet food as a topper — which captures the benefits of both. The quality of the formulation matters more than the format.

Question 11

What is the best natural wet dog food for fussy eaters?

Accepted Answer

High meat content and strong natural smell. Fussy eating is almost always about palatability rather than genuine food aversion — a dog refusing kibble will typically eat the same nutritional profile in a high-quality wet format because the aroma and texture are more appealing. Single-protein wet foods with a high named-meat percentage and no cereal bulking tend to get the best results with difficult eaters. Warming the food slightly — not microwaving, just taking the chill off — releases more aroma and often resolves refusal in dogs that have been written off as permanently fussy. If a dog that previously ate well suddenly refuses food, that warrants a vet check rather than a food change.

Question 12

What is the best wet dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Accepted Answer

A single-protein, grain-free wet food with a short ingredient list. The same principles that apply to dry food apply here — one named protein, no mixed meats, no wheat or corn, minimal additives. Wet food has one advantage over dry for sensitive dogs: the high moisture content supports gut transit and tends to be gentler on inflamed digestive systems than dry food. If your dog is currently on dry food and has persistent digestive issues, introducing a high-quality single-protein wet food — either as a complete diet or as a topper — often produces visible improvement within two to three weeks. Transition gradually regardless of how urgent the switch feels.

Question 13

Is wet dog food good for dogs with kidney problems?

Accepted Answer

Wet food is consistently recommended for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and urinary tract conditions because the high moisture content supports kidney function and urinary tract health directly. Dogs with kidney issues often drink insufficiently relative to their needs — wet food increases total fluid intake without requiring the dog to drink more. Phosphorus restriction is also relevant in CKD management, and some natural wet foods have lower phosphorus levels than dry equivalents. If your dog has a confirmed kidney diagnosis, dietary management is part of treatment and your vet should be directing the specific nutritional requirements. We can help translate those requirements into practical food choices.

Question 14

Can I feed wet dog food as a complete diet?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if the food is labelled complete rather than complementary. A complete wet dog food is formulated to meet all daily nutritional requirements without supplementation. A complementary wet food is not — it's designed to be part of a mixed diet and will be deficient in certain vitamins, minerals, or macronutrients if fed alone long-term. The distinction is always on the label. If you're feeding wet food as your dog's sole diet, check that the label says complete, check the declared analysis against your dog's life stage requirements, and ensure the daily feeding quantity reflects their actual size and activity level rather than a generic guideline.

Question 15

How much wet dog food should I feed my dog?

Accepted Answer

Feeding guidelines on packaging are a starting point calculated for an average dog at an average activity level. Wet food is heavier than dry by volume because of its moisture content, so the quantities look larger than equivalent dry food amounts — this is normal and not a sign you're overfeeding. If mixing wet with dry, reduce the dry portion proportionally to account for the calories coming from the wet food. Body condition is the most reliable guide: you should be able to feel your dog's ribs without pressing, see a visible waist from above, and observe an abdominal tuck from the side. Adjust quantities up or down based on what you see over two to three weeks rather than responding to daily variation.

Question 16

Does wet dog food cause dental problems?

Accepted Answer

Wet food doesn't clean teeth the way dry food creates mechanical abrasion — that's accurate. But the premise that dry kibble prevents dental disease is largely overstated. Most kibble shatters rather than abrabs, and the dental benefit of dry food is modest at best. Dental health in dogs is more effectively maintained through natural chews — raw bones, bully sticks, dried tendons — which provide sustained mechanical cleaning action that neither wet nor dry food replicates. If your dog eats primarily wet food, a regular natural chew and periodic dental checks are more useful than switching to dry food for dental reasons alone.

Question 17

What is a natural pet shop?

Accepted Answer

A natural pet shop is an independent retailer that stocks pet food, treats, chews and accessories selected against a nutritional and ingredient standard rather than a commercial one. In practice that means prioritising high meat-content foods, named protein sources, minimal processing, and transparent labelling — and not stocking products that don't clear that bar regardless of brand recognition or margin. The Pets Larder is an independent natural pet shop based in Hayle, Cornwall. We're also an award-winning one — Independent Pet Shop of the Year 2021 — but the award matters less than what it reflects: a consistent stocking philosophy applied since we opened, not a marketing position adopted later.

Question 18

How long has The Pets Larder been in the pet industry?

Accepted Answer

The Pets Larder was founded in 2018, but the professional animal care background behind it goes back further. Our founder Katy spent a decade running an award-winning dog daycare in Cornwall before opening the shop — which means the nutritional knowledge, the behaviour understanding, and the relationships with dog owners came first, and the retail operation was built on top of them. That's an unusual foundation for a pet shop. Most retailers learn about pet nutrition through supplier training. We came to it through fifteen years of watching what different diets did to dogs in our care every day.

Question 19

Do you work with vets and pet health professionals?

Accepted Answer

We work alongside veterinary professionals and take referrals from vets whose clients are looking for dietary support that sits outside a standard clinical prescription diet. We're not vets and we don't diagnose — but we do have a working knowledge of how diet intersects with common conditions: digestive issues, skin and coat problems, joint health, urinary health, and weight management. When a vet recommends a dietary change for a dog and the owner wants help finding the right food, we're a useful next step. If you've been given dietary guidance by your vet and want help translating it into practical food choices, contact us directly.

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Fidelis Beef Fresh Menu Complete

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Every product we source is chosen by pet care experts who value your pets’ wellbeing as much as their own.

Why shop with the Pets Larder Natural Pet Shop?

Sustainably Sourced, Thoughtfully Delivered

Cornish, Independent, and Female-Led

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Rooted in Community, Walking Together

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Family-Owned

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Fidelis Beef Fresh Menu Complete

400g

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Aflora Chicken Grain Free Dog Food

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Whitefish Cubes For Dogs

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Fidelis Beef Fresh Menu Complete

400g

Shipping & Return

Fidelis Beef Fresh Menu Complete

Trying to work out what's upsetting your dog?

30-Days Free Returns

Free UK Delivery

Secure Payment

Every product we source is chosen by pet care experts who value your pets’ wellbeing as much as their own.

Why shop with the Pets Larder Natural Pet Shop?

Sustainably Sourced, Thoughtfully Delivered

Cornish, Independent, and Female-Led

Backed by Know-How, Driven by Care

Rooted in Community, Walking Together

An Independent Retailer

Natural

Sustainable

Family-Owned

Country/region

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Fidelis Beef Fresh Menu Complete

400g

Choose your option