puppy food

[mcnasty]

What age is Recommend to take your dog off of puppy food. Getting kinda Expensive!!

[cavalierowner]

Over the last 6 or 8 years I have read a lot and listened to a few nutritionists regarding whether what is advertised as "puppy food" is really necessary. After listening to the arguments on both sides, we have not fed puppy food in several years. We feed a high quality adult food that is a smaller size kibble to our pups. When I say high quality, it is my opinion that if you can buy it in a grocery store, it's not high quality. The bad news for people who are cost conscious is the high quality food probably costs more than a grocery store-bought puppy food. At any rate we feed the smaller size kibble until the puppies are about 5 to 6 months old. They are then transitioned to our high quality adult food. I will be interested to hear what others have to say.

Just as an FYI, our puppies get Now! Small Breed grain free. The adult food we transition to is Holistic Select.

[charliepete]

I'm with Bruce. I feed my pup high fat high protein adult dog food. Purina pro plan is my brand of choice currently.

[nofishfisherman]

I agree that if you have a good quality adult food picked out you could probably transition to it any time. Just make the transition slow over a 2 week period.

[Bryce]

One food from weaning to last meal for our dogs. No issues with 4 generations.

[FCspringer]

I do the puppy food during whelping and for about 3 months at least. Then as said, some brands are basically the same exact thing as the adult formula. It all just depends on the manufacturer of the food you have and the ingredients. Many foods will say right on the bag to feed to pregnant, whelping females, and pups from weeks old through adult. Look on your feeding instructions, and go by that on the adult bad. Plus as said, depending on size, keep an eye on the kibble size.

[corncob]

Feed a high quality dry food and supplement with meat,fish or eggs.....Your dog will thank you with bright eyes, shiny coat and good health.

[mcnasty]

Excellent info guys and thanks!!

[Jeffstally]

I usually keep them on a puppy food until 6 months and then with over to a high quality adult food that the rest of my dogs are on.

[BLACKJACK]

I just bought two bags of Diamond dog food yesterday, $28 for the puppy chow for my six month old lab pup, $22 for the maintenance adult dog food for my 9 year old lab. I figure for that small difference in price I'll keep feeding the puppy chow until she’s a year old. Compared to the hundreds of dollars I've already invested in the pup and vet bills, that’s small change.

Plus how many of you have seen your older hunting dog gimping along after a hard day in the field??? Hunting is hard on them, I want them to get every advantage they can to grow strong bones, ligaments, etc.

The obvious difference between the adult and puppy foods is the percentage of protein and fat, but what other additional minerals, vitamins, etc. are in puppy food to helps in a pups development??? I want my pup to thrive, not just grow. You could feed them cobs of corn and they’d grow.