Puppyhood really is so much fun!
Everything is a fresh new experience for both puppy and owner, but just like us humans, puppies grow up… The joy of raising them, though, doesn’t end when puppyhood does. In fact, the love between you and your dog only grows deeper with every extra year they spend by your side.
As your puppy grows into adulthood, you might be wondering: when does my puppy need to start eating adult dog food? Let’s look at the Why, the When and the How of switching your puppy from puppy food to adult dog food. Right now your puppy is probably bursting with energy and wants to play non-stop! That boundless energy carries on into adulthood. But just like us, as they leave their “puppy and teenage” years and grow into adults, their metabolism naturally slows down a little. That is the main reason your puppy needs a food change.
Why switch to adult dog food?
Because a puppy’s metabolism is faster during the baby and teenage stages — along with the nutritional demands of growing — puppy food contains more calories, fat, protein and certain other nutrients than adult dog food. All of these are very important during puppyhood. The right nutrition helps your puppy grow up healthy and strong.
[To learn more about natural puppy food comparisons, read: Popular Natural Dry Puppy Foods in Hong Kong Compared]
For most adult dogs, however (with possible exceptions like highly active dogs and pregnant or nursing dogs), puppy food provides far more calorie density than they need. So unless you genuinely cut back their portions (which may leave them feeling hungry all the time), if they keep eating puppy food into adulthood, your dog will most likely become, well… a little rounder. (Ha!)
Given the health risks that come with obesity — such as a higher risk of arthritis and joint/orthopaedic strain, diabetes, cancer and other health problems — it is best to keep your grown-up puppy at a healthy weight right from the start.
When to switch to adult dog food?
When should a dog switch to adult dog food? The simple answer is: when they stop growing rapidly.
So what does that mean… The more detailed answer involves a few more factors: for example, not all dogs reach adulthood at the same age.
Every dog is unique, but on average, small and toy breeds mature faster (around 10-12 months old), while large breeds take longer to finish growing (up to 24 months for large breeds). On top of that, once some dogs are desexed, their metabolism may slow down earlier. So your vet may want to monitor your dog’s weight more closely after the operation, and may suggest switching them from puppy food to adult food a bit sooner — especially if your puppy is already a big baby.
How to switch the food?
As we mentioned earlier, every dog is unique. The exact timing of the switch is best decided in discussion with your vet.
How do you change your puppy’s food? The first thing you need to decide is which food to feed your puppy once they are an adult.
The most common starting point is the adult food from the same brand of puppy food you are currently feeding, assuming your puppy likes it and is doing well on it (full of energy, sleeping well, and nice firm stools). If you are moving from one product to another within the same brand (using Fromm‘s Gold Puppy puppy food as an example), such as Gold Puppy to Gold Adult, a transition period is not strictly necessary, but we encourage it. That way the change won’t feel so drastic, and it is less likely to upset your puppy’s tummy. Take it slow…
That said, any change of food can cause an upset stomach or diarrhoea. This is because the digestive tract needs time to adjust to something new, especially if your puppy has a sensitive stomach. Making the change slowly and gradually will help prevent these symptoms. And if your dog is a fussy eater, a slow change also makes it easier for them to accept the new food.
Here are two methods you can follow:
Method 1: The mixing method
Mix the puppy food and the new adult food together, starting with a smaller portion (begin with adult food at 25%). That works out to about 1 part new adult food for every 3 parts puppy food.
After a few days, switch to a 50:50 mix: half puppy food, half adult food.
A few days later, move to 75% adult food and 25% puppy food (three parts adult to one part puppy).
After a few more days, switch to 100% adult food.
Method 2: The two-bowl method
Place a bowl with a small amount of the new adult food next to your puppy’s regular food bowl (still containing the puppy food they are used to). Let your puppy warm up and start nibbling on the new adult food. Keep going like this for a few days, gradually adding more adult food (and reducing the amount of puppy food accordingly). After a few days to two weeks, phase out the puppy food so that your dog is eating only adult food.
Some dogs do better with one method than the other, so if one isn’t working, try the other. If needed, you can also try different flavours and textures of adult dog food until you find something your puppy truly loves. Just don’t let them pick between too many different kinds of food — otherwise they may grow up to be a very fussy eater, and then you might have a bit of a headache (there’s that laugh again). Just imagine: if a picky dog ever needs to change food in future, it could be enough to keep you up at night… Then again, most puppies switch to adult food just fine, so no need to worry too much!
You will be giving your puppy all the nutrition — and all the love — they need to stay healthy and playful into adulthood.
Enjoy every unforgettable moment with your dog!
