FAQs
We do not recommend this, as puppies continue to grow until they are 12-18 months, and we need to meet their nutritional needs with a diet formulated for growth.
Is it OK for puppies to eat adult dog food? ›
Puppies need a finely-tuned balance, which many adult dog foods don't necessarily provide. If you do choose to feed your pup adult dog food, then that's okay. Adult food won't necessarily make your puppy seriously ill – it's dog food, after all. They may, however, experience an upset stomach here and there.
Can a puppy eat adult dog food in an emergency? ›
If your puppy eats adult dog food, it may not receive the nutrients and caloric intake they need to support its development. For example, your puppy may suffer from allergies, slow wound healing, or persistent infections due to a low-protein diet during puppyhood.
What is the difference between puppy adult and senior food? ›
On average, senior dog foods have less protein, less fats, and higher carbohydrates than adult and puppy diets. This may or may not be a good thing for your pet. Typically, higher carbohydrates and less fat isn't a good thing and may be an indication of a cheaper dog food that uses more fillers.
What happens if I give my puppy senior food? ›
Yes, it's not going to hurt him. However, nutritional and dietary needs are very different for young dogs and for senior dogs moving forward make sure you get adult or even puppy food for the one-year-old but it's not going to harm him long-term.
When can I switch my puppy to adult food? ›
Small-breed dogs that weigh 20 pounds or less when fully grown are usually ready to eat adult food at 9 to 12 months of age. Medium-breed dogs that weigh between 20 and 50 pounds as adults normally mature at 12 to 14 months of age.
When can I feed my puppy human food? ›
At around 8 weeks of age, puppies can eat the same foods on the “safe for dogs” list; however, you'll want to reduce the portions or frequency to account for your puppy's smaller size. To ensure your puppy isn't eating too much human food, limit calories from these foods to no more than 10% of their overall diet.
Can puppies eat human grade dog food? ›
Is human grade food good for dogs? Human grade dog food can be better for your pup, but with the caveat that not all human grade dog foods are created equal. For example, low quality filler ingredients like potato, rice, pasta, squash and barley are still considered human grade.
What is the difference between puppy food and all life stages? ›
A pet food that is formulated for Growth and Reproduction is made for growing young dogs generally less than a year old and also for pregnant and nursing dogs. A pet food that is labeled for all life stages means that it meets the nutritional requirements for adult, young and pregnant/nursing dogs.
Is puppy kibble better than adult kibble? ›
Puppy food does have slightly higher levels of calcium and phosphorous when compared to most adult dog foods. Puppy food also has a higher fat and protein content, meaning there are more calories per bite than the adult version of the same brand.
Making sure your puppy has all the nutrition he needs is one of the most important things you can do to help him grow into a strong, healthy dog. Puppies and adult dogs have different nutritional needs, and as a result, it's important to feed your puppy a complete and balanced food formulated for his life stage.
Do I need to buy senior dog food? ›
“There is no true reason to feed a senior diet to our aging dog unless there are noted problems, such as lean body wasting, arthritis or obesity,” says Joseph J. Wakshlag, Ph. D.
What happens if a puppy eats adult dog food? ›
If your puppy eats adult dog food, it may not receive the nutrients and caloric intake they need to support its development. For example, your puppy may suffer from allergies, slow wound healing, or persistent infections due to a low-protein diet during puppyhood.
What if I accidentally gave my dog senior dog food? ›
It is generally safe for a 1-year-old dog to consume senior dog food by accident, but it is not recommended for long-term feeding. Here's why: Nutritional Needs: Young dogs have different nutritional requirements compared to senior dogs.
At what age should you stop giving puppies food? ›
A good rule of thumb for transitioning from puppy food to adult dog food is: 9-12 months old for small breeds (under 25 pounds expected adult weight) 10-12 months for medium breeds (25-50 pounds) 12-16 months for large breeds (50-100 pounds)
What age should dogs stop eating puppy food? ›
A good rule of thumb for transitioning from puppy food to adult dog food is: 9-12 months old for small breeds (under 25 pounds expected adult weight) 10-12 months for medium breeds (25-50 pounds) 12-16 months for large breeds (50-100 pounds)
Is large breed puppy food necessary? ›
Large and giant breed dogs can be prone to joint problems, which is why they can benefit from a food designed for large dogs. Large breed diets often contain ingredients that may help support joint health, such as omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil or glucosamine from some meat and poultry ingredients.
How to stop a puppy from eating an older dog's food? ›
Give your puppy a treat or different food to create a diversion while senior dogs are eating. This will distract your puppy during senior dog mealtime and make them focus on their own food. Puppies can be easily distracted, so using treats or different food will stop them from stealing older dog food.
What to feed puppies at 3 weeks? ›
At 3 to 4 weeks of age, a dish of water and dish of gruel should be introduced to the pups. Feed a high quality dry puppy food, softened with warm goat milk or water to make a gruel. This can be fed in a low heavy dish 4 times daily. “Flying saucer” dishes, pie plates, ashtrays or rabbit dishes work well for this.
