When To Switch Labs From Puppy To Adult Dog Food

It’s critical not to switch your puppy to adult food too soon. That’s because adult dog food can contain too much calcium… which can make it unsafe for a growing puppy. Truth is… The best time to switch your puppy to adult food depends on your puppy’s breed type. The following table can help you determine when it’s safe to switch.

When to switch labs from puppy to adult dog food. In other words, it’s a food that has all the nutrients your growing puppy needs, and you won’t have to switch to a new food when your puppy becomes an adult dog. Can adult dogs eat puppy food? Adult dogs can eat puppy food, but should they? As a general rule, adult dogs do not need the highly caloric food, but there are some exceptions. When to Transition to Adult Food. Consult with your vet to help determine the best time to change from puppy food to big-girl food, but most dogs are ready to change foods between 18 and 24 months of age.The exact age at which your “puppy” becomes a “dog” varies from one individual to the next, but most small breeds mature at relatively young ages, while most giant breeds require 2. 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. Spaying or neutering usually occurs at this age as well, lowering your dog’s need for increased energy; hence a reason to switch from puppy to adult dog food. Breed size matters Switching to adult food coincides with maturity, but due to the large variety of breeds, different dogs mature at different rates.

The change of dog food from puppy to adult must be done at the end of the dog's development and growth. Thus, your puppy's breed plays a crucial role, since each one develops at a different time. 2. Small breeds, such as Chihuahuas or Yorkshire terriers, reach maturity long before the larger breeds. This can make a puppy’s bones grow too quickly, resulting in abnormal joint development. That can lead to arthritis down the road. Large breed puppy food has a specific calcium and phosphorus ratio to ensure the bones develop properly to help prevent joint disease. When Do I Switch My Puppy to Adult Dog Food? An immediate change in food can be a burden on their stomachs. Once you are nearing the end of the puppy chow and you have purchased the adult dog food, start to mix in the adult food with the puppy food. For example: if you give your puppy 4 scoops of puppy chow start with 1 scoop adult 3 scoops puppy chow. When to switch a puppy to adult dog food If your puppy is a small or medium breed: Both small and medium breed puppies are considered adult at about one year of age, so your dog’s birthday indicates when to switch from puppy food. Toy breeds can be an exception to this. Some are considered adults at nine months of age.

When is the right time to switch my lab puppy to adult food? Typically, the right time to switch your Labrador puppy to adult dog food is between 12 and 18 months of age. However, it is important to consider their growth and size before making the transition. 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. When puppies have reached approximately 80% of their expected adult size, they can usually be switched to an adult dog food. This happens at different times for different individuals. Extremely small dogs (e.g., Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, and Toy Poodles) reach this point first, usually at around 9 or 10 months of age. 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.

There is no one single time that is ideal for every dog to switch from puppy food to adult dog food, but there are clues you can look for to adjust your pet’s diet to meet its changing nutritional needs. As a general rule of thumb, puppies are ready to switch to adult dog food when they reach 75-85 percent of their adult size, at which time. Here is a list of a couple of the main ingredients in dog food as well as the minimum requirements and how they differ between adult dog food and puppy food. Protein – 22% for puppy food and 18% for adult dog food Fat – 8% for puppy food and 5% for adult dog food Calcium – 1% for puppy food and 0.6% for adult dog 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. 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.