Puppies are adorable! If you have a puppy and you’re seeing that they’re growing rapidly, it might be time to start the transition from puppy food to adult dog food.
Changing your puppy’s food to adult dog food is essential because a puppy’s nutritional needs are different from adult dogs. How will you know how and when to do it?
Puppy Food vs. Adult Dog Food
There’s a significant difference between puppy food and adult dog food. As mentioned, a puppy’s nutritional needs are different. For one, they need more nutrients, calories, and proteins to grow and function. Also, puppies use more energy, which means they require richer foods.
Therefore, puppy food has higher concentrations of nutrients and minerals compared to adult dog food.
On the other hand, as pups grow, their energy levels drop significantly, and they don’t need to be on diets rich in calcium, protein, etc. With that, the best thing to do would be to feed them adult dog food. Otherwise, your dog can become obese and will have other health issues.
When to Make the Switch
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this because every puppy is different. With that, there’s no specific time to make the switch. What you can do is pay close attention to the signs.
A general rule of thumb is when puppies reach about 85% of their adult size, their growth rate will slow down. When this happens will depend on the breed and the predicted size of your puppy.
Tiny breeds usually transition between 6 and 7 months of age, while small breeds transition between 9 and 11 months. Medium breeds may start at 12-14 months, and large breeds will start at 15-18 months. Finally, giant breeds usually begin the transition to adult dog food at 18-24 months.
Still, you will need to pay attention to your puppy’s daily activity when making a decision. For example, if your puppies are more active and energetic, they will need more energy from puppy food. However, if you notice that your dog is less active, then it’s time to make the switch to adult dog food.
Don’t worry; your dog will show signs when he is no longer satisfied with the puppy food. And that’s one of the major signs that means it’s time to make the switch.
The Switch
When you finally have the confirmation that it’s time for adult dog food, take it slow. Doing it quickly can lead to digestive problems, and that’s something you don’t want to happen. That’s why you need to be gradual about it. This will also help your dog ease into the new diet.
Conclusion
Take into consideration the age of the puppy, their daily activity, and their size to know if it’s time to transition into adult dog food. Now that you know how and when to make the switch from puppy food to adult dog food, you should also source the best quality dog food. Shop around to find the best store that will provide you with dog food that will sustain your dog’s nutritional needs.
Get quality adult dog food at Wags to Wiskers, a local pet store in Ann Arbor, MI. We focus on natural and holistic pet foods to customers in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Ludington. Place your orders today!