Reason #3 Transitioning Your Boston Terrier From Adult Food To Senior Food
At around 7 years of age, I recommend switching your Boston from an adult dog food to a senior dog food using the gradual transition described above.
Senior dogs need fewer calories than adult dogs because they are usually less active. Senior dog foods are specially formulated to meet the needs of elderly dogs.
Certain high-quality senior dog foods may contain ingredients that help support the joints and brain as your dog ages.
Reasons For Changing Dog Foods
Its okay to switch dog food. In fact, at some point, it may be necessary. Here are a few reasons you may need to switch up your dogs food:
- Age: Around their first birthday , puppies need to transition to an adult dog food. Around age seven, most dogs are considered senior and may benefit from switching to a senior formula.
- Weight: If your dog is not his ideal body condition, your veterinarian may recommend a weight management formula. Not all weight changes need to be addressed through a change in the food itself. It may just require feeding more or less of the current food. Your veterinarian can help you determine whats best for your dog.
- Activity Levels: Dogs who participate in shows, sporting or agility events or who have demanding jobs may need a formula to support those activities. These types of dog foods often have higher levels of protein and calories. As dogs retire from these activities, they may need to switch to a lower-calorie food to avoid unnecessary weight gain.
- Health: Some foods have been formulated to help veterinarians nutritionally manage certain health conditions. For example, your veterinarian may prescribe a therapeutic formula to help support the unique nutritional needs of dogs with GI conditions.
How To Pick An Adult Dog Food
Here are a few guidelines to help you choose an adult dog food when the time is right:
- To make the transition as smooth as possible, consider keeping the brand of adult food consistent with the brand of puppy food you were feeding.
- It is important that the food is complete and balanced so that your dog will receive all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need in the correct proportions to support a functioning body.
- Make sure you are happy with the ingredients list. If you have any concerns, speak to your veterinarian.
- Be sure you are happy with the price tag. Since your dog will be on this long-term, make the food fits within your budget .
Once you have found the right food for your young adult dog, be sure to follow the diet transition schedule above to minimize stomach upset.
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How Do You Change A Puppys Food
The first thing youll need to decide is which food to feed your puppy as an adult.
A good place to start would be an adult food from the same brand of puppy food youre currently feeding, assuming your pup likes the food and is doing well on it. If you are transitioning from one Fromm product to another, like Puppy Gold to Adult Gold, a transition period is not absolutely necessary, but is encouraged.
That way, the transition wont feel like such a big change, and it will be less likely to upset your pups tummy.
However, ANY food change can potentially result in an upset stomach or diarrhea. Thats because it takes time for the digestive tract to get used to something new, especially if your puppy has a sensitive stomach.
Making the change slowly and gradually will help prevent these symptoms. A slow change will also make your dog more likely to accept the new food if theyre a picky eater.
Here are two ways to make the switch slowly
- The Mixing Method.
- Mix the puppy food and new adult food together, starting with a smaller portion of the adult food. This works out to about 1 part new adult food per 3 parts puppy food.
- After a few days, switch to a 50:50 mixhalf puppy, half adult.
- After a few more days, switch to 75% adult food, 25% puppy food .
- In another few days, switch to 100% adult food.
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Fromm Family Pet Food
Consider Your Dogs Breed And Size
As a rule of thumb, your puppy is ready for adult food when he is about 80% of his adult size.
However, when a dog reaches maturities depends on his breed and size.
While your dog might look all grow up to you at six months, Fluffy might still be a puppy who needs calorie-rich food.
Im going to give you an average estimate of when different dog breeds reach maturity:
- Tiny breeds 6-7 months
- Small dogs 9-11 months
- Medium dogs 12-14 months
- Large dog breeds 15-18 months
- Giant dog breeds 18-24 months
As you can see, some dogs might need up to two years to reach maturity.
However, these are only guidelines, and your pooch might be ready for the transition sooner or later.
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How To Transition A Boston Terrier To A New Food
There are many reasons that you may be considering switching your Boston Terrier to a new dog food. It could be you are transitioning your Boston from puppy to adult food. Maybe you just need to switch your Bostons food because they dont really enjoy eating their dog food anymore.
Whatever the reason, you need to be sure you are doing it safely.
Transitioning your Boston to a new dog food should be done gradually over 1 to 2 weeks.
A slow transition is important to prevent vomiting and diarrhea from a food switch.
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How To Switch Dog Food
You may be anxious to make the switch to a new food, particularly if the new food will help address any issues your dog is having. A gradual transition is the best way to switch to a new food, though.
We recommend making the switch over a 7- to 10-day period. This gives your dog a chance to adjust to the new food.
Heres our 7- to 10-day plan for switching dog food:
- Days 1 to 2: Feed 3/4 of the normal amount of current food and add 1/4 of the new food.
- Days 3 to 4: Serve half the current food and half the new food.
- Days 5 to 7: Feed 3/4 of the new food and 1/4 the previous food.
- Days 8 to 10: Serve only the new food.
If your dog doesnt seem to like the new food or if he experiences digestive upset, extend the transition over a few more days. You can also ask your veterinarian for advice.
Remember, you can use this transition process any time you need to change your dogs food.
Visit our Pet Expertise page for more nutrition and feeding tips from our experts.
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Pregnant Or Nursing Dogs
Pregnant and nursing dogs have different nutritional requirements than other adult dogs. These dogs should be eating food that is calorie dense and high in protein. Look for foods that are at least 22 percent protein.
It may seem unusual, but feeding puppy food, like Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, to a pregnant or nursing dog is a good way to meet these requirements. Because puppies, like pregnant and nursing dogs, also need more calories and protein than other dogs, food made for them is suitable for dogs who are moms or moms-to-be too.
And heres the good news for your pregnant or nursing dog: Unless she is overweight, you can let her have all she wants.
Monitor Your Dogs Reaction Closely
Dogs who have sensitive stomachs, food allergies or other gastrointestinal diseases may need more time to switch foods. Every dog is different, so monitor your dogs individual response. If your buddy shows changes in appetite, vomits or has diarrhea, transition even slower. If your dog still has an upset stomach after switching slowly, tell your veterinarian. He or she may advise a different type of diet completely.Pro Tip: The best way to monitor your dogs digestive health is to evaluate his bowel movements. Minor variations in stool color and consistency are normal, but tell your veterinarian about any major changes. No matter what, if you follow the slow and steady approach to switching dog food, your best buddy will most likely be enjoying his new food soon. Bone-appetit!
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Long Dog Food Transition Timeline
| Week 1 | |
| 25% current food + 75% new food | |
| Week 4+ | 100% new food |
The percentages in the timelines above refer to the quantity of food fed. For example, if before the transition you were feeding 2 cups of the current food, then day 1 of the transition you would feed 75% of the current food which is 1½ cup. This leaves ½ cups of the new food to fill the bowl.
Regardless of which diet transition schedule is used, it is generally recommended to give your dog a pet-specific probiotic during the transition to help your dogs stomach break down and digest the new ingredients in a healthy way. Consult your veterinarian to find the best probiotic that is recommended for your dog.
When To Switch Puppy To Adult Food
Once you know when your puppy will reach maturity, you can decide when to switch to adult food.
If your puppy will be full grown at 12 months, you can start transitioning him to an adult formula around his first birthday. It can take 7 to 10 days to make the switch, so youll want to plan for that before you start.
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What If My Boston Has A Very Sensitive Stomach
If your Boston has a sensitive stomach, you should consider lengthening the diet change process to 2 weeks. You can follow the same instructions above except double the time for each stage.
This will allow your dog even more time to adjust to the new food especially if they are prone to getting an upset stomach.
A Guide To Transitioning Your Dogs Foodand Why Fasting Can Be A Healthy Option
- Though dog owners are traditionally advised to slowly transition from one pet food to another over several days to avoid gastrointestinal distress, theres no evidence that switching food in itself causes stomach problems. Most dogs can switch to a new food without an extended transition period.
- We recommend a 24-hour fast before you feed your first fresh-food meal to your dog.
- Fasting isnt starving! And it has numerous benefits for dogsit can boost immunity and detoxification, and promote overall health.
- A short fast is easier than you think. If you feed twice a day, give your dog their existing food for their morning meal. Skip the evening meal and provide only water until the next morning. If you feed once a day, no change is necessary!
- Dont fast if your dog is under one year old, pregnant or lactating, or has diabetes or another serious health condition. Contact our customer service team if you have any questions.
Fasting has been shown to have numerous health benefits for humansstudies have linked temporary periods of not eating to everything from decreased inflammation and reduced risk of cancer to improved brain function and longevity. Unsurprisingly, the benefits of fasting apply to other animals, including dogs.
And when it comes to transitioning from kibble or canned to fresh food, for healthy adult dogs, fasting can act as a much-needed reset, making a fresh dietary start even fresher!
A more direct way to transition dog food
Why fasting is a healthy option
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Why Transition From Puppy To Adult Food
Puppies require different nutrients and calories than adult dogs. Puppy-formulated foods typically have higher protein and fat to help them grow. They also often include DHA, which is also in mothers milk.
Once your puppy is fully grown, they dont need as many calories. If you continue to feed puppy food to an adult dog, it could result in the dog gaining excess weight.
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.
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Reason #1 Your Boston Doesnt Like The Food You Are Giving Them
Sometimes your dog may grow tired of the food that you are feeding. In this case, it can be appropriate to try a different dog food.As long as you follow the steps above to gradually transition to a new dog food, it is safe to periodically change the food you are feeding your dog.
To reduce the risk of stomach upset, I dont recommend switching dog foods more than a few times per year.
The Best Rule Of Thumb For Making The Switch
Every dog is different, but in general, its a good idea to switch over to adult food once your puppy reaches about 85 percent of his anticipated maturity weight. So if your Chihuahua is expected to reach a weight of six pounds at maturity, switch her over when she weighs about five pounds.
If you have a very large or giant breed, ask your vet for advice or consider having an x-ray performed to determine whether your dogs skeleton is mature enough to make the switch.
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When To Stop Feeding Your Dog Puppy Food
while to forestall feeding your canine doggy meals
Right vitamins is an crucial a part of worrying for dogs and grownup puppies maximum proprietors recognise that dogs want meals especially made to sell increase and improvement but many proprietors conflict to decide while the time is proper to interchange to grownup canine meals that is due to the fact theres no rule that applies to all puppies unique puppies develop at unique quotes you and your vet can estimate the satisfactory time to make the alternate on your doggys food plan.
feeding doggy meals dogs want extra energy than grownup puppies to assist their increase improvement and excessive strength degrees younger dogs want approximately two times the quantity of energy as grownup puppies of the identical length as your doggy procedures maturity his increase starts offevolved to sluggish and his caloric wishes lower in case you keep to feed doggy meals as soon as your canine stops developing itll bring about weight benefit extra weight can speedy grow to be weight problems that may cause a bunch of fitness troubles while to interchange to grownup meals in general .
When to Transition from Puppy Food to Adult Food:
puppies are taken into consideration dogs till approximately 12 months of age but unique breeds age at unique quotes for instance many big and large breed puppies are taken into consideration dogs till or extra years of age
How Long to Feed Puppy Food & When to Switch to Adult Dog Food
Transitioning To A New Food Without Illness
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