Why When And How To Switch Your Puppy To Adult Dog Food
Right now, your puppy probably has a ton of energy and wants to play all the time!
And a lot of that energy will continue into adulthood. But, just like us human beings, its natural to have some slowing down of their metabolism as they exit their childhood and teen years and grow into an adult.
Thats the main reason your puppy will need a change of food
Is My Puppy Overweight
Puppies are far more likely to overeat than to not eat enough, which is why it is so important to evenly space out their recommended daily food intake via smaller portions throughout the day. If your puppy often eats too much, too quickly, it can lead to them developing long-term weight problems. Equally, even if you stick to a strict diet plan, if your puppy doesnt get enough exercise or you give them a few too many treats, this will also cause obesity issues.
Obesity in dogs is just as dangerous as it is in humans, and can lead to a number of health problems for your puppy, including:
- Diseases like diabetes and heart disease
- Arthritis due to nutrient imbalance and extra strain on the skeleton
- Respiratory problems
- Lowered immune system
- Increased risk of developing tumours
All of these can lead to a poor quality of life and a shorter lifespan. So, rather than risk these diseases, take your dog out for regular walks, stop the treats and table scraps and, if necessary, speak to your vet about switching to a lower calorie diet.
So, given how easily puppies can become obese and how bad that is for their health, here are the signs that your pet is overweight:
- You cannot easily feel their ribs and spine
- Placing your hands on their sides, you still cant feel their ribs
- They have an oval body shape, rather than a tapered waist
- Your puppy might also show hip and neck fat, although this is very rare in young dogs.
How Much To Feed A Puppy
Getting a new puppy is exciting, but it is no simple task either, especially if you are a first-time owner. There is a lot to know before bringing your new puppy home to ensure you are suitably prepared and that he or she will be comfortable. Some of the biggest conundrums are to do with the best puppy food for your dog, and how to properly feed puppies after all, you cant trust your puppy to tell you they are likely to eat whatever is put under their nose!
Perhaps you already own a puppy or have had one in the past, but want to see if you can learn something new? Whatever your circumstances, this puppy feeding guide tackles the most common and pressing questions new puppy owners ask when it comes to nourishing their dog.
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When Should I Switch From Puppy Food To Adult Food
Knowing when to start the switch from puppy food to adult dog food depends on your puppys breed. Roughly, toy, small and medium dog breeds mature between six to 12 months, while large breeds, who have much more growing to do, mature at 12 to 18 months, although some can take longer. For advice on your puppys specific breed, check their food packaging, or consult a vet.
If your dog liked the food you had been feeding them as a puppy, it is a good idea to stick to the same flavours when transitioning to adult dog food. Start slowly by feeding your dog 90% of their usual puppy food with 10% of the new adult food mixed in. Then, once you are sure your dog is eating their food without any problems, you can gradually increase the ratio of adult food to puppy food over the course of a week or two.
What Kind Of Puppy Treats Should I Give
Many pet owners like to reward their dogs with treats, but its best to limit them. Because puppies need so many nutrients to grow, its important to give them food that provides complete and balanced nutrition. A puppy should get most of their calories from puppy food rather than from treats, which typically dont provide complete nutrition.
Aim for no more than 5% of calories from treats, say nutrition experts at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Choose treats that are the right size for your puppy. A Yorkshire terrier, for instance, doesnt need an extra-large dog biscuit. And avoid table scraps, which teach your puppy at a young age to beg for treats at the table and can cause digestive upset and pancreatitis, a serious illness.
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Consider giving other types of treats to deepen the bond with your puppy. Healthy snacks like bits of carrot, green beans, or bell peppers give your puppy something to crunch without many calories. And remember, in your puppys mind, spending time with you is the best treat of all.
Play is a treat, training is a treat, learning tricks is a treat, Buffington says. Dogs are a pack species, and they want to be a member of the pack. Anything a member of the pack does with them is positive reinforcement.
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Choosing An Adult Dog Food
Once you are able to recognize the signs of adulthood in your pup and you are ready to make the switch to adult dog food, you should look for only the best that stores have to offer. It is important that their food leaves their bellies feeling happy, and also meets their nutritional needs. While researching doggo nutrition on the internet, you may find yourself in confusion with the myths and misinformation. Make sure to check your sources when making this decision and always consult with a veterinarian if you are unsure.
Learning how to properly read the label on the food packaging is also crucial when choosing the best fit food for your doggo. The Food and Drug Administration has made it mandatory to to include 8 key pieces of information, including product name and list of ingredients, which can be helpful when making this decision. Its also good to remember that some ingredients may be pawesome for some furry friends, they may not be best suited for others.
Your pups whole future is in your hands. It is up to you to shape him into a happy, healthy adult by making the right decisions when it comes to nutrition! Give your pet the life he deserves by knowing when and what to feed him.
And remember, puppyhood is fast and is gone before you know it. Make sure to savor the time when your pup is young, and take lots of pictures along the way!
When To Switch A Puppy To Two Meals A Day Feeding Guide
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It may not seem like it, but your puppyâs first year will fly by, and that tiny pup will grow into an adult dog in the blink of an eye.
Transitioning from three to two meals a day is one of the biggest milestones in your pupâs life and has a huge impact on their overall health. Knowing when to switch a puppy to two meals a day will put your pup on the right track to becoming a happy and healthy adult.
When my dog was still a puppy, I heard different advice about how often and how much he should eat. Some said once a day, others advised twice a day.
I was even told to keep the bowl full at all times and let my pup eat at will. To be honest, none of this made any sense, and I wasnât willing to risk my pupâs health and well-being based on other peopleâs opinions.
Iâve come to find that puppies are a lot like human babies: They need several smaller meals throughout the day and do best on a strict schedule.
And while all dogs are individuals, all puppies should start at four meals a day and gradually transition to two meals a day during their first year of life.
In this article, Iâll tell you why a regular feeding schedule is so important and when to feed a puppy two meals a day. Keep on reading to learn everything you should know about your puppyâs nutritional needs.
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When Should A Puppy Go From Three Meals To Two Meals
Bringing a new puppy home is a huge responsibility! Not only do you need to survive the puppyâs first night at home, but you also have to create and stick to a regular feeding schedule from the get-go.
A good feeding schedule and high-quality food are essential for your puppyâs growth and development and have a huge influence on how healthy your pooch will be when they grow up.
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Free feeding and low-quality puppy food put your puppy at risk of becoming overweight and developing serious health problems such as diabetes and musculoskeletal conditions.
Therefore, itâs vital that you know what the best feeding schedule is for your puppy, based on their life stage. All puppies go through the same developmental stages during their first year of life, but some pups can transition to two meals a day sooner than others.
This largely depends on your pupâs breed and size. Smaller breeds need less time to develop and grow than larger and giant dogs. Consequently, a small breed dog such as a Chihuahua may start eating two meals a day way sooner than a giant Great Dane puppy.
Generally speaking, you should switch a puppy to two meals a day when they hit the six-month mark. This is a general rule of thumb. As you know, all dogs are individuals, and you should always talk with your breeder or veterinarian before changing your puppyâs food or their feeding schedule.
What Types Of Foods Should A German Shepherd Puppy Never Get
Medium-length beef marrow bones can be a tasty treat in addition to their food, especially if stuffed with pumpkin without any spices or peanut butter. However, avoid pork or poultry bones, because these can splinter very easily.
Gravy should never be given as a treat because of its potential to cause diarrhea. Another concern is that gravy might contain spices possibly toxic to dogs. Avoid feeding table scraps for the same reason.
There are concerns about some kibble-based dog foods that owners should be aware of, according to Anna Burke.
These foods include grain-free varieties high in potato and legume content like lentils or peas. Such ingredients increase the risk of canine dilated cardiomyopathy. Large dogs like Shepherds may be somewhat more prone to this condition.
Raw food diets can be poor choices for German Shepherd puppies because it is harder to regulate your dogs growth on this diet than you can with regular puppy food. If you want to consider this diet, wait until your dog has achieved adult size.
Avoid homemade diets, as these are mostly deficient in crucial nutrients that growing puppies require.
If you do feed one of these types of diets, consider adding a diet base to the dogs food to ensure they receive the proper nutrition.
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What Nutrients Does Your Dog Need For Their Skin And Coat Health
Your dogs skin and hair arent just nice to pet they play an important role in keeping your pup healthy and comfortable. They prevent water and heat from leaving your pups body, plus they help keep viruses and bacteria out. One of the best ways to make sure your dogs skin and coat are in the best possible condition is by paying close attention to what you put in their food bowl.
Nutrients like protein, fat, vitamins and minerals can all impact your dogs skin and coat health. Your dogs coat is made up almost entirely of protein. If their diet doesnt contain enough quality protein, your dogs hair might fall out or become dry, weak and brittle.
Likewise, their skin is made up of tightly packed flat cells with tough membranes made of proteins and fats. Without proper amounts of these nutrients, the cell membranes can weaken, allowing water to escape and bacteria and viruses to enter more easily.
Make sure your dog is getting the following nutrients to help keep their coat and skin healthy. And keep in mind that IAMS dog foods contain an optimal blend of these nutrients to support your dogs skin and coat health.
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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When To Make The Transition
Decipheringwhen to make the switch from puppy food to adult food can have a bigimpact on your dog’s health. You want to make sure that your puppy isstill getting the nutrients that he requires, and at the same timeswitching him to adult dog food when his nutritional needs change. Buthow do you know when your dog’s nutritional needs have changed?
Theanswer is relatively based on the size and breed of your dog. Whilemixed dogs can be a little more complicated to gauge, you can still usethe overall size of your dog as an indicator of when his food needs tobe changed. So, the first thing you will need to do is determine whichof the following categories that your dog fits into: small-breed,medium-breed, large-breed or giant-breed.
Dogsthat are considered to be small-breed dogs typically do not grow toweigh more than 20 pounds. Small-breed dogs can safely be switched toadult formula around nine months of age. A medium-breed dog is the nextstep up, averaging a full grown weight of 20 to 50 pounds and requirewill require that their food be switched at around one year of age.
Largeand giant-breed dogs, on the other hand, will both fall into the sametime range for having their food switched. These breeds of dogstypically grow to be anywhere from 50 to 150 pounds and they should beswitched to adult dog food around one to two years of age.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog
How much and how often you feed your dog depends on many different factors. These factors include your dogs weight and activity level, as well as the calorie content of the diet and any other food or treats your dog receives during a typical day. Every dog is different, and some will prefer one meal a day, whereas others prefer two or three smaller meals.,
Different brands of dog food have different nutritional makeups. Therefore, some will be more calorific than others. Most dog foods have a feeding guide on their packaging, but these are meant as a guideline and are not always accurate. The best way to ensure your dog is getting the right amount of food is to ask your veterinarian to calculate his daily calorie requirements. You can then use this to determine how much to feed based on the calorie content of your dogs food. Dont forget to include any treats, supplements, or table scraps in your dogs daily allowance, as these can be a significant source of extra calories!
Remember that adult dogs are no longer growing and may have a slower metabolism after being spayed or neutered. Therefore, they may need fewer calories per day than they did previously.
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What Foods Are Dangerous For My Puppy
Some foods that people enjoy can be harmful to dogs. Keep your puppy away from avocados, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and raw bread dough made with yeast. Also avoid onions, garlic, and chives milk and large amounts of dairy products such as cheese alcohol coffee and caffeine salty food, such as potato chips and food sweetened with xylitol, such as gum, baked goods, and candy. Xylitol, also used in products such as toothpaste, can cause liver failure in dogs.
Transitioning From Puppy Food To Adult Dog Food
Transitioning from puppy food toadult dog food is an important step in the health of your dog. Puppyfood is formulated for the appropriate growth and development ofpuppies whereas adult dog food is made for the strengthening andmaintenance of an adult dog. Because they are two different formulas offood that need to be fed respectively, an important part of your dog’soverall health is related to the proper transition of his food.
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