When Should You Change Puppy Food To Dog Food

Feeding Your Puppy: A First

How to Change your pets food

612 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
36 months: Sometime during this period, decrease feedings from four to three a day. A pup should be losing her potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If she is still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until body type matures.
612 months: Begin feeding twice daily. Spaying or neutering lowers energy requirements slightly after the procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make the switch at 7 to 9 months bigger breeds at 12, 13, even 14 months. Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food a little too long than not long enough.
After age 1: Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day.

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.

Should I Change My Puppy’s Food

It’s best to change your dog’s diet gradually and systematically.

Transition your dog to a new food by substituting a little of the new stuff for the old in their usual meal.

Swap out a little more at the next feeding, and so on, for seven days.

A diet change may add more stress to a body that needs to focus on getting healthy.

Whether you’re switching brands, changing from dry to canned food or simply changing flavors, the key is to make the transition gradually.

Start by adding a small amount of the new food while slightly reducing the previous food.

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What About Organic Puppy Food

There is no official definition for organic pet food yet, although you may see some pet foods labeled this way. The U.S. Department of Agricultures National Organic Program, which regulates the use of an organic label, is weighing a November 2008 recommendation from its standards board and is expected to issue rules soon.

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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How Is Puppy Food Different

All dogs require a balance of protein, fat, and essential nutrients for optimal health and wellness, regardless of breed.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials has established the minimums required for healthy growth and maintenance in dogs. At a minimum, puppies require 22% protein and 8% fat to fuel their growth and development while adult dogs require a minimum of 18% protein and 5% fat in their diets.

However, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the protein requirements of dogs and cats vary with age, activity level, temperament, life stage, health status, and protein quality of the diet. This means that as your dog grows and ages, his protein and calorie requirements vary significantly, so its important that when you switch your puppy to adult dog food, you understand how to make a successfuland safeswitch.

Puppy food has higher levels of protein and fat to fuel growth and development in addition to nutrients typically found in a mother dogs milk such as DHA. Foods formulated for puppies may also have higher levels of calcium and phosphorus to support healthy bones.

As your puppy approaches maturity, his growth will slow, and you should adjust his diet to prevent overgrowth. Generally speaking, higher levels of protein are better for both puppies and adult dogs. Some brands like American Journey go above and beyond the recommended minimums to provide dogs with an abundance of animal-based protein to support lean muscle mass and healthy weight.

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

Identify When He’s Not Ready

Your dog may not seem to tolerate the new food, no matter how slowly you go, and that’s OK too. Slowly shift him back to the old food and start again with something else after giving his tummy a break. It could be that the new dog food contains ingredients to which your dog has an intolerance or allergy. If you continue to have trouble changing dog food, or if his stools contain blood or an unusual color, you should consult a veterinarian.

Rotating Dog Food Is It A Good Idea

Should I Change My Dog’s Food?

Some people like to rotate their dogs food, either using the same brand and different formulas or several different brands. You may have wondered if this is a good idea or not. Afterall, there are a couple of dog food companies that recommend it. Here are some thoughts about this practice.

Get A List Of The Highest Customer Rated Dog Food Here

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Finding The Adult Right Food

Not all pet food is made the same way. When it comes to finding the right formula, look for a food that is gently cooked and highly digestible. A slow-cooking process, like the Bil-Jac Nutri-Lock cooking method, helps to protect the key nutrients your dog needs his daily diet.

Dry foods that are cooked quickly in large batches at high temperatures and pressure, the way most dog foods are processed, can have nutrients damaged in the cooking process. In turn, your furry friend could suffer from an upset stomach and even loose stools.

Its also good to maintain some consistency with your food choices. If youve been feeding your puppy a super-premium puppy food like Bil-Jac, its just as important to feed him a super-premium adult food as well.

Youll also want to match your dogs size with the right formula. Dogs don’t require a breed-specific dog food, but their size does make a difference in their metabolism. As such, you’ll want to select a high-quality dog food made for large breeds, small breeds, or more average-size dogs to match your particular pooch.

Why Do Puppies Need Different Food

When a puppy is young, they are growing really rapidly much more so than humans at the same life stage. When you think about it, humans reach their adult size by about 18 years of age. Dogs reach their adult size in 9-24 months . So the growth happens over a much shorter time period. The average adult human grows to approximately 25-30 times their birth weight, but the average puppy eventually grows to 40-50 times their birth weight. So, not only does the growth happen over a much shorter time scale, but it is of a greater magnitude also.

With this huge and rapid growth comes the potential for things to go wrong. And, the bigger the dog, the more potential there is for issues. If dogs grow too quickly, or too slowly, or if there is an imbalance in the nutrients that are needed for correct bone growth, then it can lead to joint problems, such as hip dysplasia osteochondrosis or brittle bone disease.

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Signs Its Time To Switch From Puppy To Adult Food

Once your dog reaches a certain weight or age, youll need to transition to adult dog food. Please note that these are rough estimates for weight and ages, and you should consult your vet to determine whats best for your dog.

Toy breeds : around 9 months old
Small breeds : around 12 months old
Medium breeds : around 12 months old
Large breeds : 18 to 24 months old
Giant breeds : 18 to 24 months old

Its best to ask your vet about your dogs diet. And if youre unsure about your dogs breed, consider doing a canine DNA test.

But Isnt Variety Good For Your Dogs Health

You dont have to stick with one dog food all the time. Most people will change dog foods for various reasons from time to time. Certainly, variety is good for your dog when you are cooking for him or providing a raw food diet where you are trying to balance out his nutrition over the course of several days. But commercial dog foods are supposed to guarantee that every meal you feed your dog provides complete and balanced nutrition if they are AAFCO-approved for adult dogs or all life stages. You should not have to feed your dog a variety of dog foods in order for him to achieve good health under these circumstances, especially if you are feeding a good quality food. This is particularly true if you are feeding a dog food that has achieved AAFCO approval through feeding trials.

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How Long Will My Dog Have Diarrhea After Changing Food

Switching your dogs food is sometimes necessary, or sometimes it might just be time to change things up. That said, changing your dogs food will probably cause some degree of diarrhea, just so you are prepared. This is normal, and it should not last for too long. Lets take a closer look at this issue.

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.

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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.

How To Feed Your Dogs Growing Needs

When to change your puppies food to adult food

As your dog grows, their dietary needs change. Each blend of Just Right is uniquely crafted to support your dogs lifestage or lifestyle, so you never have to worry if you are missing an important dietary milestone.

Follow these tips for feeding your dog at each lifestage:

Puppy food should help support areas like healthy brain and vision development, proper bone and muscle growth, and a strong immune system. · Now that you know when to switch from puppy food to adult dog food, keep in mind that adult dog food should help support their unique nutritional needs and lifestyle.
Consider your dogs activity level, skin and coat health, body condition, and digestive health.
As your dog grows, their metabolism changes can lead to weight gain or loss of lean body mass, so calories and type of diet should be adjusted accordingly.
Dog food designed for the nutritional needs of your dog from puppy to senior should help support areas like bone and joint health, strong muscles, and changing activity level.

Ready to switch dog food? Create your dog’s personalized blend of dog food that grows and changes as your dog does. Start your dogs unique blend today.

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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.

Do Puppies Still Need Milk After 8 Weeks

Puppies usually do not need milk after 8 weeks of age and in fact, stop taking milk a few days before then. However, depending on the breed and the specific health of your puppy, he might need some amount of milk until about 6 to 10 weeks of age. During the weaning period, the best form of milk for the puppy is his mothers milk, if available. The change from this nursing milk to commercial puppy milk to ultimately no milk should be gradual and well calculated.

Avoid feeding your puppy with cows milk because it doesnt suit most breeds of puppies, especially those that are lactose intolerant. Also, your puppy needs certain levels of phosphorus and calcium to fulfill his nutritional needs at this crucial stage of his life and growth. Cows milk does not contain the required levels and is also diluted, implying that your puppy can suffer from diarrhea and get quickly dehydrated.

The commercially-available puppy milk replacer formulas, if chosen well, are good options for your puppy. They can be available in liquid form or as a powder that needs to be reconstituted. Consult your vet for the precise brand of formula to be given, depending on the age, breed and overall health of your puppy.

How To Choose The Right Dog Food

High quality dog food will help ensure a shiny coat, healthy digestive and immune systems, and overall good health. The food you feed your dog is a major factor that helps determine her longevity and quality of life.

First of all, dont be fooled by clever pet food companies who use words like all-natural,organic, and holistic. Nobody has defined these terms for dog food, and no one regulates the use of these descriptors. No matter how much you want to believe otherwise, these terms are absolutely meaningless, because theres no way to know whether theyre true. And usually, they arent.

Secondly, a good rule of thumb for picking high quality food is to choose a brand that has a short ingredients list. The longer the list of ingredients, the more likely youll be feeding your dog a lot of unsavory chemicals, fillers, and artificial ingredients.

Finally, choose a dog food that doesnt have artificial preservatives. Look for vitamins E or C as the preservative, and eschew any food that contains harmful preservatives like ethoxyquin, propyl gallate, BHT, or BHA. But dont mix these last two up with DHA and EPA, which are healthy fatty acids.

Youll also want to avoid food with these ingredients: