When to Transition from Puppy to Adult Food?
thanks! Allison |
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| I always keep my guys on puppy food for a year, then transition them to the adult. |
| Two schools of thought, one is like above, keep them on a year then gradually move to adult. The second school is to keep from "growing them too fast" as thus risk structural problems, get them off the high protein puppy stuff about 7-8 months. I can argue both sides, so if your pup is doing well on good puppy food, then continue. If it seems a bit rich for them, try reducing it and adding some adult. |
Due to loose poops, Foz transitioned to adult food at about 6 months of age. It worked like a charm  |
| I might follow Fozzie; we've had problems with loose poop since day one. I also wonder; what constitutes "growing too fast"? My guys were adding about 5 pounds a week for a while; is that "too fast"? We are at 6 months and probably around 50+ pounds. I'll know for sure when we taket hem to the vet tomorrow to be spayed! |
| i know i'm still really new but i was told a few times that u should start incorporating the adult food at about 6 month AFTER the spay/neuter. maybe a half and half mixture i was told. keep me posted on ur girls!!! i want to sponge up all i can from your expiriences!!!! |
| Our vet school in TX recommends and teaches vets that it's better to change earlier than later because food made for dogs is a lot different (better) than back in the day when they used to recommend keeping them on for a year. |
We transititioned Barney at about 10 months, I think. No problems, but he has a stomach of steel.  |
| ok; here's an add on question:
Everything I've read suggests taking away the pups water at around 7- 8pm, to help with housebreaking. But nothing I've read suggests when its okay to allow them to have water around the clock. Any suggestions? |
Darth Snuggle wrote: ok; here's an add on question:
Everything I've read suggests taking away the pups water at around 7- 8pm, to help with housebreaking. But nothing I've read suggests when its okay to allow them to have water around the clock. Any suggestions? I think it really depends on your dog(s). Kind of like when you are starting to not crate and let your young dog be out for short times when you are gone. Test it, and see how it goes.
At our house, we have one of those gallon water fountains in the kitchen. If it runs dry in the late evening, I just wait to refill it in the morning. If there is still water in it at bedtime, it gets left down and refilled in the morning. Either way, I don't see any difference. The exception is for my little pee machine min pin Tazz. He is crated at night, so he does not have access to the water. He is old too, and on diuretics, so he still has accidents in his crate on a regular basis. It isn't his fault, I just wash his bed and crate out nearly everyday! |
| Ask your vet his/her opinion as to when the switch of food should take place. My vet recommended it at 7-8 months due to Obe's size at the time. He said it would not hurt a thing to start doing the transition now. He said it would be best to prevent growing to fast, thus keeping the proper bone development.
The second question, I used to take Obe's water up until about a year old. My reasoning was: A full nights sleep! Now it stays down, but if it's empty @ 8-9 at night I wont refill it until in the morning. I usually fill it in the morning and then when I get home from work. If it's empty at 7, I will give a half a bowl. |
| There really is no set time to do it, it depends on the dog. I'd talk to your breeder and your vet and see what they suggest. They know your dogs the best.
I used to take water up during housetraining but once everyone was 100%, the water stays down all the time. Most older dogs have a good sense about them to regulate their water intake and will drink when they need it. Puppies will drink until they puke! |
ButtersStotch wrote: Puppies will drink until they puke!
thats my girls! they are total water hogs. |
| Our boy Rhys is now 6months and has a huge appetite. We are maintaining his breakfast of eggs or oats but now feeding him adult solids of meat and rice as a main evening meal. We will leave it to him to let us know when he is ready to stop the puppy stuff. |
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