Keep An Eye On Their Size And Weight
The puppy pudge and potbelly should be gone by the time your young dog reaches one year old. At the same time, they shouldnt look too skinny or underweight.
Generally speaking, you should see a dip between the stomach and hips if youre looking at your puppy from the top down. Its OK if their ribs are showing, you just dont want their skin to look sunken between them. They should be lanky, not emaciated.
Puppy Food Has Nutrients Growing Dogs Need
Puppy food has a lot of extra nutrients and protein that adult dog food may lack.1 A growing dog thats building muscle and bone needs more nutrients and calories to maintain healthy development. Puppies, especially those of a larger breed, need the right amount of fatty acids, fiber, and protein, along with controlled amounts of calcium so bones grow at the proper rate. They also need certain omega-3 fatty acids for proper development.2 This is why puppies need food formulated for their nutritional needs, rather than adult dog food.
AvoDerm Natural dog food offers two formulas created especially for puppies. The canned Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula has chicken as the first ingredient to help any puppies with food sensitivities to other proteins. Its also made with avocado, which is rich in antioxidants that can help promote a healthy immune system.
If you prefer dry kibble, AvoDerm Natural dog food offers a Puppy Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula. This has just the right balance of protein, fat, and nutrients that puppies need. Its also corn- and wheat-free, which is great for puppies with more sensitive stomachs.
Your Puppy Gets Weaker
Have you ever seen your dog go through an illness or a stressful moment in life? Any of these might cause him to be a bit exhausted. If so, its time to transition to the adult dog food, but with the higher levels of antioxidants.
Theyre well-known for increasing the pets immune response to speed up the dogs recovery. For this reason, your dog can get back on their feet sooner. For safer results, consult with a veterinarian before making any change in diet.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Wet Food For Senior Dogs
How To Manage Your Puppys Treat Intake
Limiting your puppys treat intake is important for many reasons. First, treats dont have as much nutritional value as food, so you dont want your puppy to fill up on empty calories. Second, it sets a bad precedent and can increase your puppys begging habits. A healthy alternative to treat training is to use puppy food as training rewards. Remember, not all meals have to be eaten from a bowl.
When Should You Stop Feeding Your Dog Puppy Food
The age for transitioning from puppy to adult dog food is based on your dog’s own characteristics, health, lifestyle and the brand of dog food they are being fed. Every dog is different so we strongly recommend you speak with our healthcare team before changing to an adult food. As a basic guide small dogs can change at around 12 months of age, and large dogs can change around 15 months of age. We provide this information with great caution and would prefer for you to contact us at any time to discuss your puppy’s nutritional program.
Don’t Miss: Diamond Naturals Dog Food Large Breed Puppy
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.
How Much Food Do They Need
The amount of adult food you should give your dog depends on their size, breed, metabolic rate and activity level. They no longer need as much fuel for growth and development, and theyre typically much calmer than their younger-selves. As they mature, their metabolic rate will decrease, so you may need to reduce their portion sizes or decrease the amount of times you feed them in the day. Pups should be fed smaller portions more often, typically eating about three or four small meals a day, however when they transition on to adult food you should cut down to twice a day.
Here at Harringtons, our range of dog foods provide a balanced, tasty meal thats full of natural goodness and packed with plenty of minerals and vitamins. With options for puppies through to adult and even senior dogs, were with you every step of the way, providing delicious, nutritious food which makes for strong, healthy and happy dogs. Our recipes are tail-waggingly good, and our portion guides make it clear how much and how often you should feed your pooch!
Its important you calculate their portion sizes with any treats or snacks in mind as the calories can quickly add up, and much like us, being overweight can lead to a whole host of health problems for your pooch. Be sure theyre eating a complete, balanced diet and get plenty of exercise to stay fit and well.
Did you find that useful? Join our Pet Club for more exclusive content
Read Also: Where Is Ollie Dog Food Located
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.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: We feed our puppies Wellness Core Puppy Formula.
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.
How Do I Know If My Puppy Is Eating The Right Amount
Veterinarians evaluate dogs using a body conditioning score, which ranges from one for emaciated, to five for obese. Its normal for very young puppies to have some baby fat, but after the first 8 to 10 weeks, puppies should be a two, Buffington says.
You can learn to assess your dog at home. At a score of two, which is relatively thin, a puppys ribs may be visible. The tops of the back bones will generally be easily seen. You shouldnt be able to feel any fat on its ribs. You should see a waist when looking down at your puppy and an abdominal tuck when looking from the side.
Continued
Read Also: How To Make Healthy Dog Food
How Long To Feed Puppy Food
Puppies need a complete and balanced puppy food until they reach maturity. Although dogs who are one year or older are often considered adults, this isnt always the case.
For dogs, adulthood depends more on breed size than their age. Because large and giant breeds take longer to mature, they need to eat puppy food longer than small- or medium-sized breeds.
Heres how long to feed puppy food based on breed sizes:
- Toy and Small Breed Dogs: Many toy and small breed dogs weigh less than 20 pounds at maturity and reach this size between 9 and 10 months of age.
- Medium Dog Breeds: Medium-sized dogs weigh between 21 and 50 pounds at maturity. They tend to reach maturity around 12 months of age.
- Large & Giant Breeds: Large breeds and giant breeds weigh between 50 and 100 pounds, respectively, and can take 18 months to 2 full years to reach maturity. They need to eat puppy food longer than small- and medium-sized breeds.
If you have a mixed breed dog or arent sure how big your dog will be at maturity, its best to consult with your veterinarian. They can tell you when to switch to an adult dog food and help make it a successful transition.
As puppies get older and reach maturity, it is important to monitor their food consumption. Leftovers in a bowl could signal that your puppy is getting full and needs less calories throughout the day. Start by offering less food per feeding and continue to monitor his body condition, says Purina Nutritionist Karina Carbo-Johnson, MS.
Chart Your Puppys Weight And Growth
- There are growth-and-weight charts available in print and online. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth.
- Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy. Subtract the differencethats the puppys weight. Voila!
- Dont worry about an ounce or two either way no two dogs, even within breeds, are built exactly alike.
- A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy.
Recommended Reading: Rachael Ray Zero Grain Dog Food
Time Flies When Youre With Your Furry Friend
It would be adorable if our canine companions could be puppies forever. However, switching from puppy food to adult food is an important step as your puppy grows. Your puppy will become a full-fledged adult before you know it, so get all the puppy kisses and love while you can! Regardless of their age, its crucial to feed your children well it can make all the difference in the world in their health as they grow and mature.
Want to learn more mealtime tips and other ways you can help support your four-legged friend? Join our Best Friends Club to receive our exclusive email newsletter full of interesting articles and members-only discounts on Bil-Jac dog food, treats, products, and other training tips.
When To Switch To Adult Food
In general, dogs are considered puppies until about one year of age. However, different breeds age at different rates. For example, many large and giant breed dogs are considered puppies until two or more years of age and will therefore need to remain on puppy food beyond age one. Conversely, some small dog breeds reach adult size before the age of one. Your veterinarian is the best source of information when it comes to your dog’s diet, so ask for advice before making the switch to adult food.
When deciding on the right time to feed adult dog food, the goal is to switch to adult food around the time the puppy stops growing but before he starts gaining excess weight. Keep track of your puppy’s weight and height and look for the numbers to increase at a slower rate. Most dogs will begin to reach a plateau around one year of age, but you might notice the growth slow down as early as eight or nine months of age.
Recommended Reading: Who Makes Exclusive Dog Food
When To Stop Feeding Puppy Food To Your Labrador
There is a lot of confusion about when to stop feeding puppy food to your Labrador. Most owners recommend a period of about a month. You should work closely with your vet to ensure the transition goes smoothly and safely. At eight weeks of age, your Labrador will have weaned from his regular food and should be ready to move onto a different diet. During this time, he will be ready to go off his old food.
Your Labrador puppy will likely have an enormous appetite at 11 weeks of age. This is his or her biggest growth period, so the amount they eat will increase rapidly. Be consistent and increase the amount each day. You should offer about three cups of food at each meal, which is more than enough for one day. If your Lab is a fussy eater, its best to feed it a small portion every time, as opposed to three cups all at once.
Contents
Signs Of Resource Guarding In Dogs
These are the most obvious signs of resource guarding. Unfortunately, too often it isnt until a dog is doing these things that I get a call for help from the dogs owner:
- Chasing you or another animal away
In developing and milder cases of resource guarding, a dog might show less intense signs of guarding behavior. A certified dog trainer, veterinary behaviorist, behavior consultant, or someone with experience reading dog body language, will often see these more subtle signs prior to the actions described above:
- Taking an item and moving away
- Braced body position over the item
- Subtle shifting of body weight to block the item
- Side eye staring or tracking of the person or pet approaching
- Raising lips and baring teeth
- Ears pinned flat against the head
Sharing our lives with our dogs means that we need to make sure they feel okay with us approaching things they find valuable. Theres no need to guard food, toys, or space if we teach them that our removing an item, such as their chew, results in something equal or better than what they had. Giving up something to us willingly and happily needs to be trained and rewarded for our dogs so that resource guarding doesnt become an issue.
Unfortunately, the collective human response to a dog who is resource guarding has been the wrong one for too long. Using punishment and aversives as a response to resource guarding can result in MORE resource guarding.
You May Like: What Is The Best Dry Dog Food For Sensitive Stomachs
Bland Foods You Can Give Your Dogs When They Have Diarrhea
These bland foods can help soothe your dogs upset stomach.
Diarrhea and upset stomach are very common in dogs. If you have a dog, you know he enjoys eating things he shouldnt.
Its normal for their digestive system to get sensitive and throw up or experience diarrhea.
Nearly every dog gets nausea and diarrhea. The frequency, extent, and intensity of this issue depends on your dogs diet, age, and temperament.
An upset stomach or diarrhea usually results from something the dog ate. Chronic digestive issues could show a bigger problem.
If your dog has frequent vomiting or diarrhea, contact your vet immediately to rule out a chronic illness.
If the problem is just temporary, have your dog try these 13 bland foods that can help soothe an upset stomach, boost hydration, and make your dog feel better.
What Causes Changes In A Dogs Coat Condition
Changes in diet can lead to changes in your dogs skin and coat condition, but the most common causes are season and life stage. As cold weather approaches, most dogs grow a thick coat to help keep heat in and cold air out. As the weather warms up, they shed their thick, heavy coat.
Most puppies are born with soft, fuzzy hair, but as they age, they grow a coarser coat. Pregnant or nursing dogs also might experience a change in coat condition or hair loss. And, just like humans, a dogs hair might thin out and become coarser and white as they reach their mature years.
Read Also: Who Sells Open Nature Dog Food
Which Dog Food Diet Is Healthier: Wet Vs Dry Vs Raw
Selecting a puppy food can be daunting. Most major dog food companies work with pet food nutritionists and adhere to strict guidelines for creating complete and balanced nutrition. The most important thing to remember when choosing a dog food diet is that its appropriate for your pups life stage.
While there are many pros and cons of what to feed a puppy, the best food for your pup is the one that he enjoys eating, fits in with your budget and your familys needs, and has your veterinarians seal of approval.
* Always follow veterinarian recommendations and/or instructions on the bag.
Read Also: Can You Get Dog Food On Food Stamps