When to stop feeding large breed puppy food

When should I stop feeling my dog puppy food? Heres what a vet has to say

When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food? This is a question that lots of new pet parents have, but the answer isnt always so obvious. As your furry friend gets older, you might notice changes in their behavior and energy levels, which might make you think that its time to re-assess their diet.

At some point in time, your little one will need to make the switch from the best puppy food to the best dog food. But how do you know theyre ready? Unfortunately, this isnt a straightforward answer as it depends on their breed.

You might have heard that dogs are mature by the age of one. However, large and giant breeds can actually take between 18 months and two years to reach full development, and small dog breeds can take just nine months.

Before you start switching your dogs diet up, you need to wait until they have reached musculoskeletal maturity (when they have stopped growing and the growth plates in their bones have closed).

If youre not sure when that is and want to learn how to transition into dog food safely, then youre in good hands. Weve rounded up everything you need to know - from when you should change their food, how much you should be feeding them, and everything in between:

Elizabeth RacineSmall Animal General Practice Vet

Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice vet with a bank of knowledge on all things pet health and wellness. She is especially interested in veterinary behavior, nutrition, and internal medicine.Dr. Racine also has experience writing content for the American Kennel Club, Merck Animal Health, Bayer PetBasics, Elanco, and CareCredit.

Are there significant differences between puppy food and adult food?

Your puppy should eat a commercial diet that is specifically formulated for puppies. Growing puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and puppy food is formulated to meet these needs.Puppy diets tend to be higher in calories to support growth, and have a different balance of vitamins and minerals to provide optimal nutrition for growing bones and muscles.Most vet nutritionists do not recommend homemade, raw, or adult dog food diets for puppies because these diets do not provide the right balance of nutrients to support rapid growth and may lead to developmental abnormalities.

While feeding puppy food to an adult is less risky than feeding adult food to a puppy, there are still concerns with feeding an adult dog a diet that does not match his current life stage. Puppy diets are often higher in calories than adult food, in order to support rapid growth. This can lead to rapid weight gain in adults, especially in spayed or neutered dogs.

When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food?

The exact timing of the transition from puppy food to adult food will depend on a few individual factors. Your puppys age, breed, expected adult size, and current health status should all be taken into account. In most cases, you should wait until your dog is fully grown before transitioning to an adult diet. Small and medium breed dogs typically finish growing at around eight months to one year of age, while large and giant breeds may not reach their full adult size until 18 months of age.

If youre uncertain when your dog will be fully grown, a good rule of thumb is to wait until your dog is one year of age before transitioning to an adult diet. Some dogs may need to transition even earlier if they have medical problems that can be managed with diet, such as food allergies or digestive problems. Your vet is a great resource to help you decide the best time to make the transition, and can also recommend adult dog foods to meet your dogs individual needs.

If your dog has sensitivities, you might want to invest in the best dog food for allergies when making the switch.

At what age is a dog considered an adult?

A dog is considered to have reached adulthood once their musculoskeletal growth is complete and the skeletal growth plates have closed.This can occur between eight and 18 months of age, depending on your dogs breed and size.Small breed dogs tend to reach maturity sooner.Large and giant breed dogs take much longer to finish growing and may not reach adulthood until well over a year of age.

If youre still not sure, your vet can help you determine whether your dog is likely to be fully grown or not. In some cases, he or she may even take X-rays to determine whether your dogs growth plates have fully closed, indicating musculoskeletal maturity.

How should I transition my dog to adult food?

Transitioning to a new diet should be done gradually, to prevent digestive upset. A diet transition should take at least seven days, but may need to be longer if your dog is prone to gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea.

To help your dog get used to the new diet, start by mixing a very small amount of the new diet with their old puppy food. Every day, add a little bit more of the new food and a little bit less of your dogs old food. By mid-week, aim to be feeding a 50:50 mixture of the new and old food. Continue this gradual transition in the following days, with the goal of having your dog fully transitioned to the new adult diet by day seven.

If at any point your dog develops symptoms of an upset stomach such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, flatulence, or bloating, this is a sign that the diet transition may be happening too quickly.

Slowing down your transition can usually resolve midl gastrointestinal issues associated with a diet change. If gastrointestinal symptoms are severe, or if they persist for more than 24-48 hours, contact your vet for further guidance.

How much should I feed my dog?

Just like the answer to the question How much should I feed my puppy will differ from pup to pup, how much you feed your dog at each meal depends on many different factors, such as your dogs current weight and body condition score, activity level, the calorie content of the diet, and any other food or treats your dog receives during a typical day.Every brand and variety of dog food has a different nutritional content, so its impossible to make a blanket recommendation without knowing the caloric content of a diet.

Most dog food bags have a feeding guide on the back of the bag. This can be a helpful starting point, but isnt always very detailed.For a more accurate assessment, ask your vet to calculate your dogs daily calorie requirements.You can then use this number 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 allotment as well these can be a significant source of extra calories!Remember that your adult dog is no longer growing and may have a slower metabolism after being spayed or neutered, so he may need fewer calories per day than he did previously.

How do I know if Im feeding my puppy enough?

Your puppy should be eating enough to grow and gain weight at a steady, healthy rate.Puppies that grow too quickly or become overweight are more prone to develop orthopedic problems, so you do not want to overfeed your puppy.Ideally, your puppy should maintain a healthy lean body weight.

To determine whether you are feeding your puppy enough, ask your vet to evaluate your puppys Body Condition Score, or learn how to evaluate the Body Condition Score at home.If your puppys Body Condition Score is too low, you may need to increase the amount of food you are feeding your puppy.If the Body Condition Score is too high, your puppy is overweight and you will need to decrease the amount of food you are feeding to reach an ideal score.

Welcome to adulthood!

When should I stop feeding my dog puppy food? When he reaches adulthood. You might miss those adorable puppy antics, but there are tons of new adventures to discover in this phase of your dogs life.With the right nutrition and a gradual transition to his new diet, your dog will be ready to take on any challenge his new adult life may bring!

Enjoyed this piece and looking for more great content to help you in the first year of your little one's life? Then be sure to check out our guides to 'how to stop puppy food aggression' and 'Puppy not eating? Try this...

Puppy Feeding Fundamentals

Walk down the dog food aisle of any large pet-supply store, or peruse the shelves at a boutique pet-food shop, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. This is especially true for puppy owners, and probably even more so for first-time puppy owners. When did it get so complicated? Back in the day, dog food options were far more limited, and even responsible dog owners didnt worry too much about what went into their dogs dish.

The process may now be somewhat more involved, but thats a good thing. Higher quality ingredients with better sourcing and specialized diet formulas lead to overall better health for our puppies. And every bit as important as what to feed your puppy is having an understanding of his special nutritional needs.

All puppies are different, so if you have any concerns or questions about your puppys food, feeding schedule, or nutritional health, always consult your breeder or veterinarianthats what theyre there for.

Many puppy owners wonder, How long should I feed puppy food? Here is a general timeline for what your puppy needs at each stage of his first year of life.

Feeding YourPuppy: A First-Year Timeline

• 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.

How much food should I give my puppy?

Theres a saying in canine feeding: Watch the dog, not the dish. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes. Portion sizes depend on individual metabolism and body type, and nutritional requirements vary from dog to dog. If your puppy occasionally skips a meal or picks at food, dont worry. It could mean she is ready to eliminate a feeding or that you have given her too much, in which case simply reduce the quantity served.

Also, if you are doing treat-based training with your pup, adjust the amount you feed at mealtime accordingly. Whenever training with treats, keep the treat as small as possible.

How often should I feed my puppy?

Like human babies, puppies start out needing many small meals a day, of a food formulated for their special nutritional requirements. Most, but not all, dogs finish meals quickly. To discourage picky habits, feed at regular times in regular amounts and dont leave food down for more than 10 to 20 minutes.

Your breeder will be an excellent source of guidance for both of these questions, as will your vet.

Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?

Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.

The major dog-food companies invest heavily in product development and research, constantly upgrading formulas to keep up with their competitors. This means that feeding premium food puts you on the cutting edge of canine nutrition.

Dry food, wet food, or both?

Many pet-food companies have worked with canine-nutrition scientists to develop special formulas for both large- and small-breed puppies.

• Canned foodis the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Be careful of all-meat claims, though. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it.
• Semi-moist foodis available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
• Kibbleis the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag.

Some dog owners say there is an oral-hygiene advantage in hard kibble because the friction produced helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy. Kibble can be moistened, either with water or canned food. Although unnecessary, that addition may make food tastier.

Food for Big Puppies & Little Puppies

There are differences between the nutritional needs of small-breed and large-breed dogs, and that is especially true for puppies. Adult dogs who weigh less than 20 pounds are considered small-breed dogs. These puppies grow quickly and may reach adulthood by 9 months. Large-breed puppies (20 pounds and up), grow more slowlyit takes anywhere from 15 to 24 months to reach full size and maturity.

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.

My puppy is begging! Should I feed him people food or table scraps?

One little French fry will invariably lead to another, and another. Before long, an obese dog will be crowding you off the love seat. Also, a steady diet of table scraps can create a nutritional imbalance, and certain ingredients and spices in your favorite dishes can cause upset stomach in dogs.

The pleading gaze of a begging dog can be irresistible. This is no accident. During his long partnership with man, the dog has perfected cunning methods of exploiting the human habit of associating food with affection. In prehistoric times semi-domesticated canines first cultivated human beings as a food provider. As the two species grew closer, dogs modified begging behaviors to maximize results: The more pathetic a dog seemed, the more scraps were tossed his way. Dogs have since refined this approach into a low-risk, high-reward hunting technique.

But dont be fooled: Begging is not an emotional crisis or a test of your love. Its what scientists might call an evolutionary survival strategy, or what the rest of us might call a scam. Allowing your dog to guilt you into overfeeding him, or serving him a steady diet of table scraps in a misguided show of affection, can have harmful or even fatal results.

Puppy Feeding Tidbits

• Feeding your pup the moment you get home may encourage puppy separation anxiety. Play or grooming is a more positive way to say hello.
• When medically necessary, you can purchase canned or dry prescription diets from veterinarians to feed dogs with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. These foods should never be fed without a prescription.
• Some vitamin or mineral supplements, when utilized incorrectly (such as extra calcium given to a large-breed dog on a good diet), will do more harm than good.
• Before making a major change in your dogs diet, consult with your veterinarian and, when possible, the breeder. Once the formula is chosen, stick with it. Sudden changes in food may cause digestion problems.
• Small portions of carrot or apple chunks are healthful low-calorie snacks most dogs love.
• Fresh water should be available at all times. During the summer months, consider setting up multiple indoor/outdoor water stations. To avoid a buildup of bacteria, wash the water bowl daily.

How to Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Food

When switching from puppy food to adult food, you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days. A sudden change in your dogs diet may cause stomach upset. Talk to your veterinarian about the best food for your puppy.

Puppy Feeding Advice

Make sure everyone gets with the program

Your entire household must be committed to your dogs feeding regimen. If theres a soft touch for a handout in your family, your dog will find it and exploit it, thus undoing the good you are trying to do. Keeping a dog trim takes a conscious effort from everyone on your team.

Give a dog a bone? Careful!

Our best advice here is caution. Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind, are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dogs mouth, throat, or intestines. Any bone, in fact, once chewed into small pieces, can block the intestines and lead to a nasty bout of constipation, can cause lacerations of the mouth and internal organs, or can lodge in the throat with fatal results. It is important to note that bones have little if any nutritional value.

There are other ways to satisfy a dogs craving to chew. Commercially available chew toys and simulated bones are made for dogs of all sizes.

As the famous food writer M.F.K. Fisher wrote, First we eat. Then we do everything else. This is true for our pups, too.

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