The transition from puppyhood to adulthoodis an important milestone in any dog’s life—and any pet parent’s life as well.

Just a few months ago, your little ball offluff was tumbling around, getting into mischief. Now that ball of fluff hasgrown up, and it’s time to consider the steps you need to take to ensurelifelong health for your pet.

Fundamental to a dog’s lifelong wellness isnutrition and feeding. One of the most crucial questions to ask is, “When is mypuppy ready for adult dog food?”

The answer depends on a variety of factors,including your puppy’s breed, whether your puppy is spayed or neutered yet, andif there are any current or future health concerns you may have for them.

This article will help you determine whento switch your puppy from their puppy food to adult dog food, howpuppy and adult dog foods differ, how to select the best adult dog food, andhow to transition foods smoothly to ensure that your pup is set up for a lifeof good health.

What’s theDifference Between Puppy and Adult Dog Food?

The Association of American FeedControl Officials (AAFCO) is an organization that regulates the sale anddistribution of animal foods.

According to AAFCO, puppy foods shouldbe higher in protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorous than adult dog foods. Thesemacronutrients and minerals help support lean muscle and bone growth. They alsoprovide enough caloric density to enable the puppy to grow and perform basicbodily functions such as breathing, digestion, and movement.

Many puppy food manufacturers also includehigher amounts of compounds like omega-3 fatty acids to support proper brainand eye development as your puppy ages. Large-breed puppies need speciallyformulated puppy foods that contain less fat, calcium, andphosphorous to moderate their rate of growth. This helps prevent skeletaldiseases such as elbow and hip dysplasia that can result from growing tooquickly.

When to Switch toAdult Dog Food

Timing of a switch from puppy to adult dogfood is crucial. You need to ensure that your puppy has the extra protein, fat,and minerals they need to support their growth and development and preventvarious bone, joint, brain, and eye disorders.

Puppies will be ready for adult food whenthey reach about 80% of their adult size. But aside from breed size, you alsoneed to consider whether they are spayed or neutered or if they are a highlyactive dog that needs more calories.

Breed Size

Because of their faster growth rate,smaller breeds such as Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, and Pugs reachadult size sooner than larger breeds such as Golden Retrievers, GermanShepherds, and Dalmatians.

The guidelines below will help you todetermine when to start feeding adult dog food:

Smallbreeds (under 25 pounds when fully grown) reach adult sizeat 10-12 months of age. These breeds will be ready for adult dog food at 9-10months of age.

Medium-sizedbreeds such as English Springer Spaniels, AustralianShepherds, and Border Collies are 25-50 pounds when fully grown, andthey reach adult size at 12-15 months of age. With growth rates between thoseof small breeds and large breeds, medium-sized dogs will be ready for adult dogfood around 12-14 months of age.

Largebreeds are over 50 pounds when fully grown. There are many largebreed dogs, from the Boxer to the Great Dane, so the point atwhich these breeds reach mature size and weight can vary between 15 and 24months of age.

With the wide range of breeds under thiscategory and a generally slower rate of growth, these dogs will need to stay onpuppy food until they are 14-24 months old to ensure they have enough proteinand other nutrients during this stage. They also need to get those nutrients inthe proper ratio to support the growth and proper development of their largerskeletons.

Activity Level

Athletic dogs may benefit from staying onpuppy formulas longer, as the extra protein supports lean muscle growth andfunction, and the extra fat and higher caloric density can allow energy forhigh-intensity activities.

Spaying orNeutering

Breed size is not the only factor whendetermining when to transition your puppy to adult dog food. If your puppy hasbeen spayed or neutered before they reach 80% of their mature size, theircalorie requirement will drop noticeably following surgery, sometimes by up to30%.

Because puppy foods contain a highercalorie density, feeding the correct amount during the remaining months ofpuppyhood is very important to prevent obesity as the puppy matures into anadult.

Spaying or neutering does not usually slowthe growth rate of your puppy, but it may affect the growth plates in the bonesof large breed puppies, setting them up for joint problems later in life. Inaddition, unspayed female dogs who will be bred early in life may need to stayon puppy food longer to support gestation and lactation following whelping.

Switching TooEarly or Too Late

Because the timing of switching your puppyto adult dog food is so important, there can be negative consequences from bothswitching too late and switching too early.

Dogs that are taken off puppy food too latemay be more predisposed to obesity and associated health problemslater in life, given the fact that puppy formulas have more fat and caloriesper cup than adult dog formulas.

The extra protein and calories in puppyfoods can also increase the rate of growth in certain dog breeds if they arenot fed a breed-specific puppy food formula. If these breeds are left on puppyformulas too long, they can be more predisposed to developing joint problems inthe future.

Similarly, if your puppy is taken off apuppy formula too early, they may suffer from nutritional deficiencies andgrowth abnormalities, failing to reach adult size around the expected time andincreasing their risk of future bone, joint, brain, and eye issues.

How to Pick theRight Adult Dog Food

When it is time for your puppy totransition to adult dog food, how should you go about selecting the best adultformula for them as they become young adults?

The young adult stage is typicallyconsidered 1-4 years of age, as middle age starts by year 5-7 in many dogbreeds. While most dogs are generally quite healthy during this stage in theirlives, feeding them appropriately during their young adult years can help lowerthe risk of obesity, arthritis, and dental disease as they age.

Choosing a Brand

The many adult dog food companies are notall equal in terms of quality. The best first step is to feed a diet from oneof the major dog food manufacturers whose guidelines meet AAFCO standards forcomplete and balanced nutrition, such as Purina, Hill’s, Iams, RoyalCanin, or Eukanuba.

Dry Food vs. WetFood

The next step is to decide whether youwould like to feed your dog dry food, wet food, or a mixture of the two.Both types of food have positive and negative aspects, and the choice to useone, the other, or both depends on the specific needs of your dog.

For example, wet food:

·       Has a higher moisture content than dry food and may be betterfor dogs that do not drink much water.

·       Has a lower calorie density per volume than dry dog food,allowing dogs to feel fuller on fewer calories, which helps control theirweight throughout their lives.

·       Is often more palatable and appetizing than dry food, so it maybe a great option for picky eaters or for stimulating the appetite of dogs thatare less interested in food.

·       Can be beneficial for dogs with oral abnormalities or dentaldisease, as it is easier for them to chew.

By contrast, dry food:

·       Can be a more economical option than wet food.

·       Is a great option for easier portion control and for dogs thattend to graze throughout the day rather than consume a full meal in onesitting, as dry food will not spoil as rapidly if left out for long periods oftime.

·       Is beneficial for dental health, as the crunchy pieces act as anabrasive against the teeth during chewing and help prevent tartar buildup andthus tooth and gum disease.

·       Can be easily used as a tool in puzzle toys forenrichment and mental stimulation.

·       Is be used in slow feeders for reducing the rate atwhich dogs are able to consume their meals. When your pup eats more slowly, therisk is lower of them swallowing too much air and developing bloat, apotentially dangerous condition.

NutritionalRequirements

The final step in selecting the best adultdog food diet is to examine the Guaranteed Analysis panel on the bag or can offood and ensure that the formula meets a few major nutritional requirements.

Look for a food that has:

·       About 18% protein and 5.5% fat

·       Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium,chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, and selenium

·       Vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamine,riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, vitamin B12, andcholine

From there, you may decide to look forother ingredients that you wish to feed your dog:

·       Some adult dog formulas contain omega-3 fatty acids, which helpsupport healthy skin and joints.

·       Other formulas have glucosamine for joint health or probioticsfor gut health.

·       Some dogs are sensitive to chicken and do better on beef- orsalmon-based formulas.

If you are unsure of the additional needsfor your dog outside of the key ingredients and nutrients listed above, consultwith your veterinarian.

Level of Activity

How you go about feeding your young dogwill depend on their occupational status and whether they are spayed/neutered.

Working dogs and dogs that engage inagility work or endurance activities may require more calories and more fat (upto 10-20%) in their adult dog formulas. They can also make do with less fiber (around5%) in their food.

On the other hand, most dogs kept as petsmay be minimally active and can be fed the “standard” adult dog food diet asdescribed above. They may also benefit from diets with at least 10% fiber on adry matter basis. This will help ensure gut regularity with less physicalactivity.

Especially if they have been spayed orneutered, dogs with minimally active lifestyles can typically be fed 15-20%less than the amount recommended on the dog food label to avoid weight gain andits associated health issues.

Remember that dog treats and other sourcesof calories in the diet need to be included when determining the appropriateamount of food for your young adult dog.

How to Switch YourPuppy to Adult Dog Food

Once you have selected the best adult dogfood for your puppy, you are ready to transition them slowly onto their newdiet.

Because rapid diet changes can causegastrointestinal upset in dogs, such as vomiting and diarrhea,it is recommended to introduce the new food slowly over a period of five daysor so. Continue to feed your puppy as many times per day as they are used tothroughout this process. The feeding schedule might look somethinglike this:

·       Day 1: Mix someadult food with the puppy food at a ratio of 1:4, or 20% adult food and 80%puppy food.

·       Day 2: Increasethe amount of adult food so your puppy is getting 40% adult food and 60% puppyfood.

·       Day 3: Increasethe amount of adult food again to 60% adult food, and decrease the amount ofpuppy food to 40%.

·       Day 4: Feed 80%adult food and 20% puppy food.

·       Day 5: Feed 100%adult food.

If your puppy develops vomiting, diarrhea,or lack of appetite, stop feeding the adult dog food and see your veterinarian.

How Often to FeedYour Dog

·       For large-breed puppies, it may bebest for them to continue to eat three times per day.

·       For medium-breed puppies, they shouldcontinue to be fed twice daily when they have been transitioned to adult dogfood.

·       For small-breed puppies, you may considertransitioning them to eating twice daily instead of three times per day afterthey are fully on adult dog food.

This may involve providing more attentionand playtime for your dog as they become accustomed to fewer feedings per day.Consider extra walks, extra playtime, or brushing to distract them fromfeelings of hunger.

Some dogs may benefit from high-fiber adultdog food to increase feelings of fullness between meals. Your dog may alsoenjoy cleaned, raw fruits and vegetables such as sliced carrots, cucumbers, orapples without the core or seeds.

If you have any questions abouttransitioning your puppy to adult dog food, contact your veterinarian. Inaddition, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist can be a great resource forany issues that come up, and they can help develop the best diet and feedingschedule for your new family member.