How Much To Feed
Adult Dogs:
- 10 lb dog: Recipe will make a 21 day supply
- 25 lb dog: Recipe will make a 10-11 day supply
- 50 lb dog: Recipe will make a 6 day supply
- 75 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4-5 day supply
- 100 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4 day supply
Puppies:
- 5 lb dog: Recipe will make a 14-15 day supply
- 10 lb dog: Recipe will make an 8-9 day supply
- 25 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4 day supply
- 50 lb dog: Recipe will make a 2-3 day supply
Puppy Food Formulahelps Puppies Not Seniors
Puppy food is designed and specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of dogs who are growing rapidlythis is NOT your senior dog. Special attention is given to a puppys growing organs, muscles, bones and their immune system.
A puppys body needs specific nutrients in greater quantities than a senior dog can utilize. Some puppy foods have 2 or 3 times the requirements of what your senior dog can handle and that alone can have unintended consequences.
As dogs age, we know that excess vitamins and minerals can wreak havoc on a senior dogs overall health, and the symptoms of vitamin overdose can be slow to surface.
A lot of irreversible damage can be done to your senior dog before you have any indication that he is suffering.
Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food How To Simplify Mealtime
If you have more than one pet, mealtime might be something of a pain. Your puppy eats this food, your other dogs eat that. But what if you could simplify it by feeding everyone the same food? Were here to answer the question Can adult dogs eat puppy food? or Can puppies eat regular dog food?
Juggling different diets is difficult enough, but you also have to worry about your pets sampling each other’s meals. So can adult dogs eat puppy food, or the other way around? Technically yes, but thats only part of the answer.
Puppies and adults have different dietary needs, so lets start by pointing out what it is that puppies need that an adult dog doesnt.
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Is It Bad To Feed An Older Dog Puppy Food
Its not necessarily bad to feed an older pet puppy meal. Is this type of food is designed to help an animal grow, it may be hard to handle weight control if an older dog is regularly requesting puppy food.
An easy way to start the process of switching begins with slowly mixing in a new type of meal with your adult dog. Making a choice to gradually mix in a ratio of adult dog food with puppy meal will help to make sure that your pet can lower its calories and slowly work at transitioning onto meal thats much more age-appropriate.
Older dogs receiving puppy foods can be especially damaging. Adult pets in their senior years can run into a series of kidney problems and obesity problems. The diets of the senior dog are often designed to be very low in calories as well as low in protein. Higher levels of protein can place extra stress on the kidneys, and these are precisely the types of nutrients that you able often find in puppy meal.
When a senior animal has access to extra protein and the extra calories that can be found in puppy meal, its easy for them to put weight on and to also exacerbate some of the symptoms that are associated with kidney problems. It could be dangerous for an older dog to eat puppy food regularly, so if you have a new dog in the house that is on puppy meal, it could be wise to keep that older dog away from the food.
Nutrients To Volume Ratio
Senior dogs are far less energetic than puppies and adult dogs. They can spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping and will often struggle to go for walks as long as they used to. Because they move less, they require less energy from food.
Problems can arise with senior dogs who want to eat as much as when they were younger. Because their stomachs havent shrunk, they will easily eat the same amount as when they were more active. For this reason, senior dog food is less calorie dense for the same volume.
If your senior dog is gaining weight, even with the senior dog food, it might be worth adding warm water to their food. They will naturally ingest more water this way, filling up their stomachs quicker. This is also a good way to keep them hydrated, as older dogs can forget to drink water.
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Puppy Food Can Actually Be Bad For Senior Dogs
Those furry bundles of joy we call puppies do an incredible amount of growing in a short period of time. Thats why puppy formulas are super calorie-dense and high in fats to keep up with all that growth!
Senior dogs have done the growing they need to do, already. Feeding a senior dog puppy food isnt a good idea, because it will only make them grow in all the wrong directions. Excessive weight gain is no bueno, as it can cause older dogs to develop health problems like joint issues, diabetes, and heart troubles.
Some research even shows that overweight dogs can expect a lifespan of up to 2.5 years less on average than healthy weight dogs. And reducing your senior dogs lifespan is the exact opposite of what you wanted, right?
Even if an older dog could stand to put on weight like if an older eater seems less in love with the food bowl there are healthier ways to help senior dogs get excited about eating than feeding puppy food to fatten him or her up. Interest piqued? Read on, friend!
At What Age Is A Dog Considered An Adult
A dog is considered to have reached adulthood once their musculoskeletal growth is complete and the skeletal growth plates have closed. This can occur between eight and 18 months of age, depending on your dogs breed and size. Small breed dogs tend to reach maturity sooner. Large and giant breed dogs take much longer to finish growing and may not reach adulthood until well over a year of age.
If youre still not sure, your veterinarian can help you determine whether your dog is likely to be fully grown or not. In some cases, he or she may even take x-rays to determine whether your dogs growth plates have fully closed, indicating musculoskeletal maturity.
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Can I Feed Adult Dog Puppy Food
Since obesity is the most common nutrition-based issue for canines, its crucial adult dogs no longer eat puppy food, which can also cause orthopedic problems in older dogs. Instead, serve your best pal high-quality food formulated for adult maintenance.
No It Is Not Ok To Feed A Senior Dog Puppy Food Heres What To Do Instead
Shiny coat! Strong bones! Boundless energy! The superlative benefits of puppy food can tempt you to give your senior pal a few scoops of what seems like the really good stuff. But hold up.
If you catch yourself thinking Can I feed my senior dog puppy food to fatten him up? its time to check yourself before you compromise your dogs health.
We know you know your senior dog isnt a puppy. We also know you may see changes in your senior dog that spur you to want to do something. But theres a reason puppy food is called puppy food. Stop and think before filling an old dogs bowl with new dog num nums.
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So When Does My Dog Become ‘senior’
So when is the right time to switch your dog over to senior food? This is not an exact science, as factors such as size, breed and weight all help to determine the age at which your dog attains senior status.
In general, larger breeds tend to have slightly shorter life expectancies, meaning that a Great Dane might attain senior status at the age of five or six, while smaller breeds such as beagles or schnauzers would be classified as older dogs at around eight or nine.
The Best Type Of Calories For Puppies
Feeding a more calorie-dense food is important, but make sure those extra calories are coming from healthy proteins and fats. Compared to calories from carbohydrates, protein and fat contains not only a longer-lasting energy source to feed their brain but also the nutrients that your pup needs to properly develop. What is the difference between puppy food and dog food?
Omega fatty acids like EPA and DHA, as well as appropriate quantities of all essential amino acids, are vital to proper growth and development.
Adult food often contains these nutrients, but not necessarily in the same quantities needed for a growing pup. Learn more about your puppys dietary needs in What Should I Feed My Puppy?
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High Fat Foods Are Bad For Adult Dogs
Puppy food has a higher fat content than adult dog food, which helps to support healthy growth in little pups. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, all puppy foods that follow the feeding profiles of the Association of American Feed Control Officials contain at least 3 percent more fat than adult dog foods. This difference can make your adult pooch sick because high-fat foods can cause pancreatitis in our fully-grown canine companions, according to WebMD. A fatty meal like a portion of puppy food could trigger this condition, which causes vomiting and diarrhea due to the inflammation and swelling of the pancreas.
When And How To Switch From Puppy To Adult Dog Food
Getting a new puppy can bring a lot of joy to your household. These cute little furballs can bring out the best in us. Its almost second nature to give them the best care we can offer.
However, one of the first things a new dog owner needs to learn is how to feed their new puppy.
For most people, puppy chow is the first thing that comes to mind. During their younger years, pups need a special formula of vitamins and minerals to ensure that they grow to be healthy dogs.
But what happens when your little tyke outgrows puppy food? And when does that occur?
In this article, well go over what makes puppy food essential for young pups, the proper ways of feeding your little one, and when they can stop eating puppy food.
You should transition your dog to adult food when your dog reaches adulthood. Depending on the breed, your dog may mature between 9 months and 2 years. Follow your veterinarians advice on your dogs ideal diet.
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How Much Puppy Food Does Your Dog Need
Determining how much puppy chow your dog needs can be a bit tricky. Puppies dont just slowly become big dogs. They experience massive growth spurts on a week-by-week basis.
So, a puppy eating only half a cup of food one week may graduate to a full cup the next!
This is dependent upon several factors including your puppys size and breed. Typically, this process of feeding your pup more and more continues until their fifth month. After which, their appetites tend to stabilize. However, this is still breed-dependent.
For example, Labrador Retrievers never outgrow their propensity to eat everything in sight. However, its an endearing trait most owners come to love.
Smaller breeds are often much more reliable when it comes to developing self-control when eating. Often, they will stop eating when they are full and satisfied.
However, large dog breeds tend to be overeaters, which is why they need to be kept on a consistent feeding schedule with portion control in mind.
One way to check if your pup has had enough food is by examining its ribs. If you can feel the rib cage but not see it, it means theyve had enough.
Dont keep feeding them until they start looking like a furry slug.
But if you do accidentally overfeed your dog a time or two, dont worry. Just take them for a long walk to burn all those calories after theyve awoken from their food coma.
At The End Of 2019 During Our Yearly Vet Check We Received The Devastating News That Our 11 Year Old Dog’s Blood Work Showed That He Was In Stage 4 Kidney Failure
Honestly, I was a basket case, how on earth did we miss this? He seemed like he was just dealing with some symptoms of getting older – frequent urination, sometimes excessive water drinking. It definitely didn’t feel like life-threatening symptoms. As much as the diagnosis was a shock, the price tag of the prescription diet he would need to eat for the remainder of his life was pretty horrifying too!
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Why Puppies Should Eat Puppy Food
Simply put, the commercial foods out there that cater to puppies are designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of dogs during their fastest and most intense growing phase. The nutritional needs of puppies are different than those of adult dogs because their bodies must be supported during their growing period. Adult dog foods dont have the same nutritional profiles as puppy foods do. Therefore, its best to stick with puppy food until your pooch is considered an adult.
Transitioning To Homemade Dog Food
Most dogs dont have a problem making the switch to homemade food. If yours is prone to digestive issues, start slowly by mixing a little bit of the homemade food with the commercial food.
Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of homemade food while decreasing the commercial food.
If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, try introducing only a couple of new ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the fresh diet.
For dogs with health issues, please consult with a veterinarian if you arent sure what kind of supplements are needed. Use your best judgment, the way you would when feeding yourself or your family.
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Feeding Adult Dog Puppy Food
When can puppies eat adult food? We will address that question later, yet every pet owner has faced this conundrum at some point: the family pup is hungry, his regular food is unavailable or empty, and someone well-intentioned person offers a bowl or bag of puppy food instead. At face value, it is easy to rationalize merely swapping the two dog food brands out. Because after all, they are both formulated for dogs, appear similar, smell the exact same, and likely taste similar to him, too. So, yes, pet owners may feed an adult puppy food if theyre in a pinch however, it isnt something that ought to become a habit for many reasons:
Can puppies eat regular dog food? Keep in mind that canines become accustomed to their food brand: Human tummies may get upset and susceptible to urgent bathroom breaks when a new food is introduced suddenly, and dogs arent any different. Usually when changing brands of dog food, vets suggest a gradual transition, blending the food over several weeks or days into each other.
An abrupt bowlful of puppy food may send an adult pups tummy on strike and in some cases, leave dog owners with an unhappy pooch, or an uncharacteristic accident indoors. If he is resisting a new dog food brand when youre attempting to change your dog to adult food, try to add a bit of gravy or wet food on his adult dog food in order to make the food more enticing.
Reason#3 For Asking Can My Senior Dog Eat Puppy Food
You are wondering if puppy food should be your senior dogs main diet. If you are looking into feeding your senior dog puppy food because: you have a puppy and its easier to buy one type of food, you think it might be better for her nutritionally, puppy food is cheaper, your senior dog likes it better the answer is: NO.
Your senior dog has different dietary needs than a puppy and unless your veterinarian has instructed you to feed your healthy, senior dog puppy food, you should not be feeding it to her as her regular diet.
Here is why:
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Whats The Difference Between Puppy Food And Adult Dog Food
Different aged dogs will need different foods. We clear up the distinction between these foods formulated for dogs at various stages of life.
We all want what is best for our dogs, whether they are a newborn puppy or a senior citizen. Different aged dogs will need different types of foods to suit their needs. Pet store shelves are full of a seemingly endless variety of dog food formulas targeted at specific life stages. So what exactly is the difference between puppy food and adult dog food ?
Different dog foods are formulated to address the nutritional requirements specific to the age of a dog, whether they be a puppy, an adult, or a senior. The foods volume, calorie content, macronutrient ratios, and texture are all designed to provide the proper nutrients necessary to keep your dog healthy at their specific stage of life.
Lets look at the main differences.
Figuring Out Puppy Food
For first-time dog owners, the puppy food conversation can be overwhelming. Theres an extensive range to choose from. Youll also hear a lot from fellow dog owners sharing what they think is the best healthy puppy food. Among all the noise, bustle and talk, its a good idea to remember a few key things puppies need:
- Lots of Protein – fosters muscle and bone development
- High Calorie Intake – the fuel that keep our pups going during playtime and beyond
- Minerals and Vitamins – great for boosting teeth and bone growth
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