When To Switch Lab Off Puppy Food

You should switch to an adult dog food when your puppy is anywhere from 18 months to 24 months old. Large or giant breed puppies take a little longer to reach maturity, and many of them are still growing until they turn two years old.

When to switch lab off puppy food. Puppy food should also be higher in calories than adult food to compensate for the energy puppies expend by growing and playing. About half of the calories they consume are spent on tissue growth and development. You should consult your veterinarian to determine a healthy food for your growing puppy. There are many reasons you might decide to switch your dog’s food. Sometimes a change of life stage (puppy to adult, or adult to senior) requires a change of food. Or you may wish to switch from a dry food to a fresh dog food. Or perhaps the dog has a medical condition requiring a special prescription food. Most puppy food packaging will tell you to continue feeding the pup on the food for a year before switching to an adult formula. But, most people agree, that the switch should happen much earlier at four months whilst others say puppies should be fed on a good quality adult food right from the start. When Should You Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Food? The short answer is: It’s complicated. Most vets agree it should be done somewhere between 6 months and 24 months of age, but that’s a big window! The long answer is more nuanced, and it has everything to do with your dog as an individual.

After spaying or neutering, switch your puppy from puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds should make this switch between 7 - 9 months; larger breeds can switch after 12 months. After age 1: Feed your adult dog two half-portions a day. Once they've completed their growth and development and reached an adult size, it's very important to change from puppy food and adapt it to their current age, to ensure that they're getting all the nutrients they need. If you don't change its food, the dog could suffer an imbalance due to an excess or lack of protein, vitamins, nutrients, carbohydrates, etc. Remember that puppy food contains. Whatever the reason for the switch, changing your dog’s diet is more complex than simply pouring the new food into a bowl. In order to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach, you will need to. Switching dog food cold turkey may not seem difficult for some dogs, but a thoughtful and gradual food transition can help your dog avoid any side effects of switching, like diarrhea or stomach upset. To help you with the switch and dog food transition, refer to the 7-Day Transition Schedule below: Days 1 and 2. Days 3 and 4. Days 5 and 6. Day 7

Most veterinarians recommend sticking to puppy food for the first 12 months. In a large breed like the Labrador, however, your dog may not be fully grown at 12 months. You should plan to fed him a large breed puppy food for 12 months to control his growth and switch to a large breed adult food when his growth starts to slow down. Start to wean your Lab off the puppy food and onto the adult food bit by bit, no more than half a cup at a time. On the first day of the switch, you might feed a cup and a half of puppy food and a half-cup of adult food. On day seven, you might feed 1-and-a-half cups of adult food and half a cup of puppy food. If your puppy starts to have. Choose a puppy food that lists meat as the first three ingredients and does not contain byproducts. Byproducts are the leftovers other than meat, such as brains, blood and bones. Once you find the kibble you want to switch to, begin the transition with increasing ratios of new food mixed with the old food. If you have any questions about how much you should feed your puppy, talk with your veterinary care team. They’re your best resource for knowing when to switch your puppy to adult food. Adults Age 1 year to 6-8 years. Two of the most common questions puppy parents have are how long to feed puppy food, and when to switch to adult dog food.

For this reason, making the transition to adult dog food varies from breed to breed. Our experts can help you determine when it’s time to make the switch from puppy food to adult dog food. Why Switch to Adult Dog Food? Puppy food formulas are nutrient rich and high in calories to support your puppy’s growth, development and high energy levels. There are many reasons why a dogs go off their food besides health problems. Let’s have a look at some of them. My dog isn’t eating but acting normal. If your Lab is full of energy and charging around like a puppy there is probably no immediate need to rush your dog off to the hospital. Or even if he seems just a little bit reserved. Sometimes owners have to switch food abruptly, due to a recall or other unforeseen circumstances. Even in this situation, you can help your puppy adjust to a new diet. This is why it is important to switch from puppy food to adult dog food at the appropriate time. Switching the Food. Because a switch in food can sometimes cause stomach upset or even allergies, you should always make sure that the transition is a slow and gradual process. The best way to do this is to work in the adult food over a four day period.