Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food

Difference Between Puppy Food And Adult Dog Food

When to change your puppies food to adult food

So, can puppies eat adult dog food? The simple answer to this question is, feed adult dog food to your adult dog and feed puppy food to your puppies. Both foods are not the same as they were specifically made for different dog ages. Still not convinced? Let us take a look at the differences between the two.

First of all, puppies have a different nutritional need than adult dogs. That is the main reason behind the need for two different types of dog food. The difference in nutritional needs has a lot to do with the biological makeup of both groups of dogs. Puppies need growth and development food, while adult dogs need food to maintain their nutritional requirements not more, not less. For example, an adult dog should have not more than eighteen percent of its calories from protein. A puppy, on the other hand, can have over twenty-two percent of its calories from protein sources. Puppies need more energy to bounce around than adult dogs do.

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Dry Food Wet Food Or Both

Many pet-food companies have worked with canine-nutrition scientists to develop special formulas for both large- and small-breed puppies.

Canned food;is the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Be careful of all-meat claims, though. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it.
Semi-moist food;is available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
Kibble;is the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag.

Some dog owners say there is an oral-hygiene advantage in hard kibble because the friction produced helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy. Kibble can be moistened, either with water or canned food. Although unnecessary, that addition may make food tastier.

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Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food

While adult dogs can eat puppy;food, its generally recommended;that they do not consume it. Puppy food is high in;calories and most dogs do not benefit from such a high-calorie diet. In addition, while some dog foods;are formulated for all life stages, its best to feed your adult dog;food formulated specifically for adult dogs. Dogs have different nutritional needs than puppies, and it is important that they get the nutrients they require.;;

Changing Puppy Food: When To Transition To Adult Dog Food

When you first get a puppy, you should be feeding them a high-quality, nutritionally balanced puppy food that will help them grow and develop into healthy adult dogs. However, dogs nutritional needs change at each life stage, so at some point you will need to make the transition to a food suitable for older dogs. Read on to learn more about changing puppy food and how to successfully make the move to adult dog food.

When can puppies eat adult dog food?

Once they are weaned off their mothers milk, puppies should be fed a calorie-rich puppy food containing the right balance of nutrients for healthy growth and development. If puppies are given regular dog food, they may not develop properly.

When your puppy reaches adulthood, you can make the switch to adult dog food. This could be anywhere from around 9 months to 24 months, depending on their size and breed, so always check with a vet first.

Be aware that puppy food has a much higher calorie content than adult dog food, and if you continue to feed your dog puppy food after they have matured, they may quickly gain weight. You should weigh your puppy regularly to check how they measure up against breed guidelines and take them to the vet if you are concerned about their weight. ;

Changing puppy food

As well as the type of food, you should also start to change the frequency of feeding. Puppies require numerous small meals a day so as not to overburden their small stomachs, but as your dog gets older, they can be reduced.

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When Is The Right Time To Switch To Adult Dog Food

Determining when to make the switch from puppy to adult dog food depends on your puppys size and breed, as well as his metabolism. Simply put, small and large breed puppies develop at different rates, meaning that some dogs will make the switch to adult food at different life stages. At Bil-Jac, we agree with our friends at VetInfo.com and recommend the following guidelines:

Smaller breeds mature more quickly and can be switched at about 9 months to 1 year
Medium breeds can be switched at around 1 year of age
Large and giant breed dogs can transition anywhere from 1 year to 18 months

Of course, one to two years is quite a wide range of time. Every dog is different, so keep an eye on how much food your dog eats. Skipping meals or leaving some food behind is one notable sign that your furry friend is ready for a switch. If you notice that your best friend is regularly leaving some of her puppy food behind in the bowl, its probably time to make the jump to an adult formula.

Your dogs body condition can also help you figure out when its time to switch to adult food. Since puppy formulas are designed to support rapid growth, once a puppy is first weaned, splitting up meals info three feeding a day si recommended.

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?;

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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How Much Should I Feed My Puppy

Puppies need to take in a lot of calories to fuel their rapid growth. At the start, that means about twice as many per pound as an adult dog of the same breed. Puppies grow the fastest in their first five months.

Look for feeding charts on commercial puppy food labels. You can use them as a guide. They provide recommended amounts based on a puppys age and weight. Adjust as necessary to keep your puppy in the best condition, something you may need to do weekly.

When To Switch To Adult Dog Food

How Long Should Dogs Eat Puppy Food

Dogs under 12 months of age are typically referred to as puppies while dogs over 12 months are considered adults. As a general rule, puppies can be safely switched to adult dog food when they reach 80% of their expected adult size.

However, just because your puppy is technically of adult age, doesnt necessarily mean hes ready for adult dog food. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to determining when to switch to adult dog food, primarily your puppys breed size. For small breed dogs thats typically somewhere between 9-10 months, while for medium breeds and larger dogs, it might be closer to 12-18 months.

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Can I Feed My Adult Dog Puppy Food

Every dog owners faced the conundrum at some point: the family dog is hungry, the regular food is empty or unavailable, and someone well-meaning offers a bag or bowl of puppy food instead. Taken at face value, its easy to rationalize just swapping the two brands out. After all, theyre both made for dogs, look similar, smell the same, and probably taste similar to him as well. The short answer is that yes, owners can feed an adult dog puppy food in a pinch, but its not something that should become habitual for several reasons:

Remember that dogs become used to their brand of food: Human stomachs can get upset and prone to urgent bathroom needs when a new food is suddenly introduced, and dogs are no different. Normally when switching dog food brands, veterinarians recommend a slow transition, mixing the food over several days or weeks into one to the other.

A sudden bowlful of puppy food can send an adult dogs stomach on strike and in some instances, leave pet parents with an unhappy pup, or an uncharacteristic accident inside. If hes resisting a new brand of food when you are trying to switch your dog to adult food, try adding a little wet food or gravy on his adult food to make it more enticing.;

Things To Look For In Foods For Dogs

While puppy foods and dog foods differ in their precise nutritional requirements, there are a number of characteristics that you should look for in any food that you offer your precious family member. Some of the most important traits of good foods include:

Good foods feature a protein as the primary protein source. Dogs and puppies of all ages are best supported by a meat-based diet, so look for things like deboned chicken, duck, beef, pork or salmon as the first listed ingredient.
Good foods dont include unnecessary additives, including dyes or flavors. Artificial colors and other additives do not add anything important to your puppys diet, and they may trigger food allergies. Fortunately, most high-quality puppy foods now leave these types of ingredients out of their recipes.
The very best foods are made in a country with high food-safety protocols. Countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and those of Western Europe typically have sufficient regulations in place to help ensure your puppys food does not contain any harmful ingredients, while those made in other countries often lack such regulations.
Good foods may include by-products and meat-meals, but they must be specifically identified. By-products and meat-meals sound thoroughly disgusting to most people, but they often represent a viable and perfectly acceptable ingredient for your pups food; but they must be identified by species so that you know what your dog is getting.

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When To Make The Switch

Depending on your puppys breed and size, youll likely switch to adult dog food between seven and 14 months.3;Puppies need the most food when they are around six- to 12-weeks-old. At this stage, you will need to feed them three times a day. As your puppy gets older, youll gradually reduce the feeding to twice a day.

Small breed puppies may be ready to switch to adult food around seven to nine months of age, while larger breeds may not make the switch until theyre between 12 and 14 months old.4;In general, its better to make the switch a little too late rather than too early.

Talk to your veterinarian about when you should switch your pup to adult food since the exact timing will depend on your puppys breed, size, and health. Sometimes it can take longer than 14 months if your puppy is still growing.Some dogs even take up to 24 months to reach their full size.5

When making the switch to adult dog food, consider a nutritious and flavorful variety like AvoDerm Natural;Lamb & Sweet Potato recipe;for dry kibble. If your pup prefers wet food, try the AvoDerm Natural Original Wet Canned Food;Beef & Potato Stew Recipe.

If youre worried about transitioning your puppy to adult dog food, consider moving to an all-life-stages variety of dog food first. All-life-stage varieties, like AvoDerm Natural;Salmon & Vegetables Recipe, are suitable for puppies and can be a great way to help your puppy make the transition to adult dog food.

4. Ibid.

Why Switch From Puppy Food To Adult Dog Food

Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food? â Benefits, Risks ...

Because of that faster metabolism of youthand the nutritional demands of growthpuppy food is formulated with more calories, fat, protein, and certain other nutrients than adult dog food.

All of this is very important during puppyhood. Its the right nutrient profile to help your puppy grow up strong and healthy.

However, for most adult dogs , puppy foods provide a far higher calorie density than they need.

So, unless you really cut back on their quantity of food , theres a good chance your dog will gain weight if they continue to eat their puppy food as an adult.

Considering the health risks that come with obesitysuch as arthritis and increased risk of orthopedic injuries, diabetes, cancers, and other health problemsits best to keep your young adult pup at a healthy weight, right from the start.

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Can My Puppy Have Adult Food

Since adult dog food will deprive your puppy of the nutrition they need during their growing years, we highly advise you not to give your puppy adult dog food.

Puppies that have adult food may have stunted growth, weaker bones, slower brain development, poor reproductive health and so on.; It is essential for them to get certain vitamins and minerals during their puppy years because they cannot break it down as they grow older.;

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Dog Articles: Health

Puppy, adult and senior: all three stages are important times in your furry pals life when its appropriate to ask your veterinarian about your dogs diet.

Growth foods necessary at the puppy stage have higher protein levels and calorie counts to meet your pups developmental needs. But once your pup is six to 12 months old those needs change.

Thats usually when your puppy is nearing his adult height and can transition to adult food. Spaying or neutering usually occurs at this age as well, lowering your dogs need for increased energy; hence a reason to switch from puppy to adult dog food.

Breed size matters

Switching to adult food coincides with maturity, but due to the large variety of breeds, different dogs mature at different rates. Smaller breeds tend to mature faster than larger breeds:

Dogs up to 30 pounds mature around 10 to 12 months of age.

Some toy breeds can mature as early as seven to nine months old.

Medium breeds, up to 80 pounds, mature between 12 to 16 months.

Large breeds can mature at 12, 13, or even 14 months old.

Giant breed dogs can take up to two years to reach full maturity.

No more three squares a day

Most pet parents feed two half-portions of adult food when their dogs are over a year old.

Eyes on your furry friend. Not his food.

Switch slowly

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How And When To Transition Your Puppy To Adult Food

Puppies grow quickly, therefore requiring special food that contains more protein and calories than adult food. As they mature their nutritional requirements change and puppy food is no longer required; so, transitioning to adult food at the right time can be crucial, and switching too early can result in bone and joint abnormalities. So, when is the right time to switch and what is the best way to go about it? Carry on reading for our top tips on how and when to transition your pup to adult food.

Timing is Key

Transitioning to adult food should coincide with maturity however this is not always universal among all dog breeds. Larger breeds mature slower than smaller breeds. In general, small and medium dogs reach maturity around 9-12 months, with large dogs at 12-15 months and giant breeds 18-24 months.

Watch for Signs

Growing puppies have higher energy needs than adult dogs but once they have reached maturity their metabolic rate slows. Your dog will give you signs when theyre ready to transition to adult food; they may skip meals or leave food they would have normally eaten. The calorie-dense puppy food will have filled them up much quicker and fulfilled their energy demands when they have reached maturity.

Do it Gradually

How Much Do They Need?

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How To Switch Yourpuppys Food

Human Food That Dogs Can Eat (Healthy & Tasty Human Food That Is Good For Dogs)

When its time to switch your puppy to adult food,you should do it slowly. Switching too quickly may cause stomach upset andgastrointestinal issue such as vomiting or diarrhea. Leading up to the change,be sure to research your food options.

There is more than commercial food available, such asfresh food deliveryservices. You can also learnhow to make your own homecooked dog food, including the proper supplements that needed to be addedto the food.

Dr. Carlson recommends swapping ¼ of your dogs meal each weekto adult food until you fully transition into adult food. So, on the firstweek, youd give your dog ¼ serving adult food and ¾ puppy food; on the secondweek, youd do ½ adult food, ½ puppy food. This allows your pups stomach to getused to the new food .

While going slow shouldnt make your dogs tummy upset, if you do notice signs like gastrointestinal rumbling, diarrhea, constipation or vomiting, take your pup to the vet.

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