When Do You Switch From Puppy Food To Adult Food?

[shekhina]

Glad I've read this thread.

Daegon's puppy food is nearly finished now and I was just going to go out and buy it again on Tuesday...think I'll just start swapping him over to Kovu's food now (Bonnie Working Dog). Daegon likes that so much more than the puppy formula anyways...not sure why

I can't remember how old Kovu was when I swapped him over, but I do think it was around 7 months, which Daegon is nearly 8 months now, so I suppose it's time. He just doesn't seem that big for an 8 month old Rotty pup so I keep forgetting he's as old as he is

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

It would appear that we all have varying information on what is the best age to switch from puppy to adult food, we perhaps need to agree to disagree based on that inofrmation which we have been given.

We also all have that product which we prefer, however please have a look at the posting updates on "Need Help with a finicky girl" , and "We've found a Dry Food."

[KitKat]

In regards to what age to swap....i think a lot depends on the size/breed of dog...eg maturaity/growth rates. I swapped Bronx (GSD) over at about 13-14 months old.

[Guest LittlePixie]

Kaeleigh is on adult food now (she's a 5 month old GSD x GSD/Kelpie). Mainly because I'd exhausted all puppy food options in trying to find something that wouldn't upset her tummy (and yes, that includes BARF).

I've now got her on Royal Canin German Shepherd 24 and she's doing really, really well. Her coat is nicer and there's NO MORE DIARRHEA after only a few days!!

This one is 24% protein and 19% fat.

My little Brody on the other hand ate puppy food right up until he was 10/11 months old.

Edited January 22, 2006 by LittlePixie

[KitKat]

Hey LP, glad to hear you've found something that Kaeleigh can eat and do well on

[Guest LittlePixie]

At your suggestion I'd be thanking you but currently I'm still crying over the fact that the Royal Canin has more than doubled my usual food bill for the buggers

[KitKat]

perhaps see if any breeders around your way could give you a hand...if you were up here i could get it cheaper for you if your bought the big bags at least. But if a breeder down your way was linked with RC, and had a breeder number eg RC184957393-2 (that's a fake one obviously..lol) then you'd be able to get breeder prices...which while perhaps not a huuuuge discount, it's better then nothing..lol

[debsvirgo]

Tell me about it! Feels like we spend more money on Sash than anyone else in the family at the moment! Thanks for your advice

Hvae a great weekend!

Ruth

Hi Ruth

If i was you and i had lots of food - rather than waste it and just change - decide which food she will change to and mix it in with the food you have and then you will get a gradual change over and not upset her tummy.

I did this when i changed my pups and their poops were just as good as if they were on the supercoat when they had fully changed over - i'm a poop watcher and if it looks good - not too soft and not too hard then in my opinion the food they are eating is good.

Hope this helps.

Debs

[jaegertheweim]

bump

cassie when did you end up switching Zephyr over to adult food? I'm feeding the same puppy food (EP Holistic large/giant puppy) myself at the moment and am wondering when the best time to make the switch for my Wei is.

My breeder's rec is 12 months and the EP Nutritionist suggests that anytime after 10-12 months would be fine.. but I'm also hearing others say to keep large/giant breeds on puppy food until they finish their growing (18-24 months).

[jaegertheweim]

Adding: the adult food I want to eventually switch to is the EP holistic large/giant adult. It doesnt seem too much different from the Puppy one

Puppy: Crude Protein 23%, Crude Fat 12%, Crude Fiber 3.5%, Moisture 10%, Calcium 1.1%, Phosphorus 0.8%, Vitamin A 22,000 IU/kg, Vitamin E 165 IU/kg, **Ascorbic Acid 30 mg/kg, **DHA 0.1, **Omega 6 Fatty Acids 2.0%, **Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.7%, **Beta-Carotene 5.0 mg/kg, **Glucosamine Hydrochloride 41 mg/cup. ME 375 kcal/cup Min.

Adult: Crude Protein 24%, Crude Fat 14%, Crude Fiber 3.9%, Moisture 10%, Calcium 1.0%, Phosphorus 0.8%, Vitamin A 22,000 IU/kg, Vitamin E 165 IU/kg, **Ascorbic Acid 30 mg/kg, **Omega 6 Fatty Acids 2.8%, **Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.5%, **Beta-Carotene 5.0 mg/kg, **L-Carnitine 150mg/kg, **Taurine 0.11%, **Glucosamine Hydrochloride 82 mg/cup. ME 392 kcal/cup Min.

At this stage I am considering waiting until after he is neutered to switch (which will be when he is 14 months).

[cassie]

bump

cassie when did you end up switching Zephyr over to adult food? I'm feeding the same puppy food (EP Holistic large/giant puppy) myself at the moment and am wondering when the best time to make the switch for my Wei is.

My breeder's rec is 12 months and the EP Nutritionist suggests that anytime after 10-12 months would be fine.. but I'm also hearing others say to keep large/giant breeds on puppy food until they finish their growing (18-24 months).

LOL this thread is so old! (that's ok though I don't mind!)

I remember I checked with his breeder first, and ended up switching to adut food when he was about 16 months old.

[jaegertheweim]

yeah, really old but i didnt feel like starting a new thread

which adult food are you feeding him?

[cassie]

Sorry Jaeger! Only just remembered about this thread and saw your reply!

Zephyr is now fed on the Eagle Pack Holistic Large Breed Adult Formula.

[Rysup]

I took my puppies off puppy food around 9-10 weeks old.

My amstaff baby who has massive bone and substance, has never had puppy food. Ever.

[rijbiz]

My BMD Zephyr is approaching 13 months old and I still have him on puppy food, (Eagle Pack Holistic Large/Giant Breed Puppy). Just wondering when you all switch/ed to adult food? Because he's a large/giant breed, I've heard he can stay on puppy food up to two years old! But i've also heard 18 months, so just wondering what you all think. Thanks

I've got four Rhodesian Ridgebacks (10yrs, 4yrs, 15 months and 12 months) and I feed them all Advance. At six months they go from Puppy to adult food and I also don't feed them "large breed" varieties as I don't want them to grow too quickly and become "bum high". Hope this helps.

[Odette]

How about a small breed dog?

[Paulp]

It is thought that high levels of protein (which are present in a lot of puppy foods) contribute to a fast rate of growth, although i have also read some research which disputes this!!

I assume that the physiology of dogs is a bit different to humans but the basics should be similar. Unless you severely restrict both protein and energy (in humans we are talking fat/carbs but I assume dogs are more biased towards fat metabolism) it should not have a great impact on growth. Feed too much they get fat but long bone growth should not be greatly effected. How much you feed your puppy (ie how much energy it gets) will probably have a bigger influence on it's rate of growth than the amount of protein in its diet.

Edited March 17, 2008 by Paulp

[Guest Tess32]

It is thought that high levels of protein (which are present in a lot of puppy foods) contribute to a fast rate of growth, although i have also read some research which disputes this!!

I assume that the physiology of dogs is a bit different to humans but the basics should be similar. Unless you severely restrict both protein and energy (in humans we are talking fat/carbs but I assume dogs are more biased towards fat metabolism) it should not have a great impact on growth. Feed too much they get fat but long bone growth should not be greatly effected.

I've read contradictory stuff too.

I did read that any excess energy goes straight towards growth, so by the time you realise the pup has had too much food and is getting chubby, the spurt has already happened.

The thing is there are so many pups on the prey model diet which is 80% meat and none of them are turning out horribly....

[BC]

Shilho is 12 weeks old and is already on a mixture of half puppy and half adult food. Once the bag of puppy runs out she will be on adult food :rolleyes: