What Happens If You Feed A Puppy Adult Dog Food
Puppies can eat a couple of kinds of dog food, including a food that adult dogs eat. One food has an AAFCO nutritional statement known as Growth and Reproduction.
These are puppy foods, though they can also be fed to expectant mother dogs and mother dogs that are nursing. These foods are specifically formulated to have all of the calories, protein, fat, DHA, calcium/phosphorus levels, and other requirements for puppies.
The other kind of food you can feed to your puppy is called an All Life Stage formula. These foods are formulated to be nutritionally adequate for dogs of all ages, including puppies.
They also have the protein, fat, calories, DHA, and calcium/phosphorus levels, and other nutrients, that puppies need. They can also be fed to adult dogs, nursing mothers, active dogs, and senior dogs. So puppies can eat this kind of adult dog food.
If you have a large breed puppy, you should look for a formula that states it is made for puppies that will weigh more than 70 pounds as a mature adult.
If you have a smaller breed puppy, look for a formula that states it is made for puppies that will weigh less than 70 pounds as an adult. This statement should be included in any food that is suitable for a puppy to eat.
The one kind of food that you should not feed to puppies is an adult maintenance dog food. Adult maintenance dog foods are formulated only for adult dogs that dont require a lot of calories or any special nutrients.
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When Is My Puppy Ready For Solid Food
Once your puppy is ready to start eating regular puppy food, make sure you are feeding your puppy the best type of food for the breed and right amount as he grows. Talk to your vet or breeder to make sure you are feeding him enough but not too much. Some breeds will continue to beg for food even if they are not hungry, leading to obesity. However, depriving your puppy of needed calories and nutrition can be just as detrimental as too much food.
Why Adult Dog Food Is Important
Puppy food is nutrient rich and high in calories to support your puppys growth, development and high energy levels.
Continuing to feed puppy food past the point of maturity could cause him to become overweight, which can lead to other health problems.
Choose a complete and balanced adult dog food formula once your puppy reaches maturity to help him maintain his ideal body condition.
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Do Senior Dogs Have Special Nutritional Needs
“Seniors and geriatrics generally need lower-calorie diets to help prevent obesity — a huge problem in seniors — and higher-fiber diets to improve gastrointestinal health, Metzger says.
Probably the most important thing for a geriatric dog is that their energy requirement gets lower, Nunez says. With a slower metabolic rate, older dogs are more likely to become overweight or obese.
Many dog food companies now offer senior dog food formulations, which Nunez recommends as an age-appropriate diet for older pets because theyre lower in calories.
If possible, owners should feed their pets foods that are suitable to their stage in life. But some owners have more than one dog and would prefer to buy just one type of food.
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In that case, foods labeled multi-stage would be acceptable for puppies, adults, and seniors. You make some compromises when you do the multi-stage diets, Nunez says. So theyre my second choice. But some people just cant separate the foods. The puppy will get into the senior diet, and the senior dog will get into the puppy food.
Metzger tells WebMD that when it comes to snacks, you should serve your senior dog healthy, low-fat, low-sodiumtreats. Although many dog owners think of bones and milk biscuits as snacks, there are alternatives. Vegetables are great, Metzger says. Most dogs like carrots and apple slices. But avoid grapes and raisins because theyre harmful to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter
Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter. However, it is important to check the ingredients for xylitol, an all natural sweetener used to replace sugar. Although yilotol is perfectly safe for humans, as little as 0.5 gram per kilogram can cause liver failure in dogs, and 0.1 gram per kilogram could cause hypoglycemia. Take note that the ingredient label might refer to it as natural sugars, which is true, but check for any other ingredients that include the letters Xilit, or Xylite, which might be listed under inactive ingredients. Another harmful content in peanut butter is salt however, some brands are available in salt free versions.
Peanut butters nutritional value for dogs includes vitamins B and E, along with minerals like folate, copper, and magnesium. Although it is a rich protein source, it contains less essential amino acids cysteine and methionine because it is a legume rather than an animal protein.
Peanut butters calorie count is high, therefore portion size matters. A small dog like a Maltese or a Yorkshire Terrier shouldnt get more than ½ a tablespoon of peanut butter per day, and a larger dog like an Afghan Hound or an Alaskan Malamute can get a full tablespoon per day.
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What Are The Nutritional Requirements Of Dogs
Many dog owners have switched from commercial wet or dry dog foods to home cooked meals. This could have many benefits for dogs, but not if the dog parents feed the dogs their leftover scraps, or even dish up the same for the dogs as for the humans. That is where the harm to the dogs begins. Regardless of whats on the menu, the seasonings in the food pose health risks. When choosing to feed a dog homemade food, the dogs nutritional needs must be based on its weight, health, age, and breed. Furthermore the owner must become familiar with which foods are safe for dogs.
When Is A Dog Considered An Adult
When a dog reaches 90% of its expected adult weight, its considered an adult for feeding purposes, according to The Merck Veterinary Manual. An adult dog diet, or maintenance diet, contains nutrients suited for animals that have passed their growth stage. Most of a puppys growth occurs by 6 or 7 months of age, but large and giant breeds can continue to grow for 12 months or beyond.
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Can Dogs Eat Coconut
Yes, dogs can eat coconut. Although coconut is not a necessity for dogs that are carnivores, it makes an awesome treat. Coconut is packed with minerals, fiber, and vitamins, regardless of whether it is dried, raw, shredded, flaked or oil. The primary nutrients in coconut include substantial manganese levels essential for metabolic function and bone health in dogs. Coconut contains antioxidants that help boost the immune system, plus lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that is anti-inflammatory.
Most importantly, do not give your dog too much coconut. Spoonfuls and not cupfuls are the way to give a dog coconut in any form. Coconut contains medium-chain triglycerides, which is not poisonous for dogs, but too much can cause gastrointestinal tract and stomach lining irritation and a leaky gut. The risk is higher for dogs with sensitive stomachs because it could cause painful bloating. Another potential consequence of overfeeding coconut to a dog is weight gain and pancreatitis because all forms of coconut, including milk and oil are high in fat content.
A practical guideline for feeding coconut to dogs is one teaspoon per 10 pounds body weight weight. For example, Miniature Pinschers, and a Miniature Schnauzer that weighs about 20 pounds can eat 2 teaspoons of coconut. Larger dogs of about 30 pounds, like Cocker Spaniels, can eat a tablespoon of coconut. Dogs over 30 pounds can safely have one tablespoon for every 30 pounds of their weight.
What Are The Most Beneficial Fruits For Dogs
Adding fruit to dogs diets can ensure they get sufficient minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. The most beneficial fruits for dogs are listed below.
- Apples: Apples are packed with Vitamin C, A, B6 and B12, along with valuable minerals that dogs need. The fibre content benefits digestion, and neurohormones benefit a dogs mood.
- Bananas: Bananas are packed with beneficial nutrients that affect dogs kidneys and heart. Bananas help alleviate anemia and upset stomach, and some people refer to bananas as mood-food for dogs because they relieve depression and stress.
- Blueberries: Dogs who eat blueberries have strong immune systems due to the high antioxidant levels. Blueberries promote optimal health throughout a dogs life, from building strong bones in puppies to promoting optimal health as dogs age.
- Watermelon: Watermelon can prevent dehydration in dogs. It contains lycopene that supports dogs vision and prevents cancer and slows growth of existing tumors.
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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.
From our family to yours,
Fromm Family Pet Food
How Often Should I Feed My Dog
Although free-choice feeding is the least labor intensive and therefore the easiest for the people in your family, offering open access to today’s tasty foods opens the door to obesity. Dogs are no longer required to forage for their food, and they largely live sedentary lives. Their caloric output rarely matches their intake when left to their own devices. Free-choice feeding not only provides less control over food intake, it makes monitoring changes in appetite and food intake especially challenging. In contrast, meal feeding provides complete control over food portions, immediate evidence of decreased appetite, and better control over body weight. Meal feeding also provides an excellent framework and foundation for any nutritional transitions that are in the dog’s best interest, mixing the old with the new until the transition is complete.
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Can Dogs Eat Green Peas
Yes, dogs can eat peas. Green peas, sugar snap peas, snow peas, English or garden peas are all safe as occasional treats for dogs. Fresh and frozen peas are OK for canine companions, but avoid the canned version because they contain salt and other additives.
Peas are surprisingly filling for dogs, despite their low calorie count because they are a naturally gluten-free source of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Peas contain vitamins C, B, A, and K, all working to keep a dogs eyes, teeth, bones, and nervous system healthy. Peas also provide antioxidant properties to fight cancer and cell damage. Peas are legumes that provide minerals like potassium and magnesium to help maintain a healthy heart and folate and iron for blood health.
Peas should not be a part of a dogs daily diet but an occasional treat instead. Its easy to give a dog a handful of peas, but that is too much even for a large breed. Small dogs like Boston Terriers should not get more than a teaspoon of peas, and large dogs like Labradors can eat one tablespoon of peas. Too much of this treat can cause bloating and flatulence.
Peas contain purines, which are only dangerous for dogs with kidney disease, and owners of dogs with kidney issues should not treat their dogs with peas. To be safe, it is wise to give a dog who has never had peas two or three only to check for adverse reactions.
When To Switch To Adult Dog 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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Which Proteins Are Safe For Dogs
Take care only give your dog raw bones. Also keep a lookout for signs of lactose intolerance when adding cheese or yogurt or other dairy products to your puppys food.
Some of the proteins that are safe for dogs to eat are listed below.
- Lean Beef
- Bread small amounts of plain bread are ok as occasional treats.
Why Cant Dogs Eat Garlic
Unlike many humans who cannot imagine preparing meals without garlic, dogs dont do well with garlic. In fact, consuming garlic can kill dogs. Garlic is the most toxic member of the Allium family, with onion, chives, and leeks the other members. Compared to onions, garlic is five times more toxic than onions.
When dogs consume garlic, their red blood cells are compromised, making them likely to rupture, causing anemia. Another adverse effect of garlic on the health of dogs is gastrointestinal upset including drooling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Additional anemia-related clinical signs include the dogs pale gums, lethargy, increased respiratory and heart rate, exercise intolerance, weakness, and collapse.
Dog owners should note that garlic poisoning signs for several days. Large breed dogs like Dobermanns and Shepherds might be unaffected after eating small amounts of garlic. However, small breeds like Japanese breeds of dogs such as Akita, Shiba Inu are more sensitive and even tiny amounts could be fatal.
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Get The Latest Recipes Right In Your Inbox:
Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!
I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.
But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.
Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!
Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.
But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:
Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.
Hills Science Diet Dry Dog Food Adult Perfect Weight For Weight Management
This foods ingredients list is very similar to the kibble above, with one key difference: its absolutely packed with fiber. Youll find pea fiber, oat fiber, and dried beet pulp inside, all of which should get your dogs bowels in tip-top shape.
The idea behind all that roughage is that fiber is good for overweight dogs, as it makes them feel full for longer, even if they havent eaten as much as they normally do. Also, being able to fully eliminate any waste can also improve their entire digestive system.
This food has more protein than the one above it, but its still on the low end of the spectrum. We like that they added coconut oil, though, as its full of omega fatty acids.
There are artificial flavors in here, which isnt something you really ever want to see, plus theres a fair amount of salt. Its surprising to find those ingredients in a weight-control food, but we suppose the fiber offsets them somewhat.
This recipe also has highly nutritious fruits and veggies like broccoli, cranberries, and apples, but theyre buried so far down the ingredients list that we doubt theyll have much of an impact.
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