A Vets View On When To Stop Feeding Puppy Food To Your Dog
How to know when its the right time to start feeding your dog adult food
If you have a new puppy, youll probably have many questions about how to care for them. One of the most common questions about caring for puppies is when to stop feeding puppy food. As your puppy grows into adulthood, youll probably begin to notice many changes in their behavior, appearance, energy levels, and appetite. The best puppy foods provide essential nutrients to help your puppy grow, so its important not to make this transition too early. In general, its recommended that your dog reaches musculoskeletal maturity before transitioning to an adult diet. Read on to learn more about the ins and outs of transitioning your dog onto an adult diet.
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Transitioning Your Pets Food
Nutrition needs are highly individual and evolving. Many pet parents find that they need to make diet changes. Whether its a long-term switch to a new food, or rotating in different types of proteins or diets, making changes too quickly can cause digestive upset. Here are some steps for a successful transition.
Gradually Mix in New Food.
Unlike us, our pets often eat the same diet for months or years and are not used to sudden changes.
Switching foods abruptly can cause vomiting, diarrhea or excess gas. So its important to change diets gradually.
The Ratio Method.
Keep the ratio of old to new food the same for several days. If at any time during transition your pet experiences gastro-intestinal upset, increase transition time at the previous ratio to allow them time to adjust.
High-quality, high-meat content foods are nutrient dense and usually higher calorie-per-cup than cheap alternatives. Feeding the same amount of a nutrient dense food can cause diarrhea or weight gain from over-feeding. Use the guidelines on the packaging for feeding recommendations. But remember, its just a guideline. Your pet may need less to maintain their ideal body weight. So, its a good idea to cut down on the amount you feed when you switch to a better food.
Measure Appropriately.
The Cold Turkey Switch.
Fast Your Pet. Skip one meal so their stomach is empty of old food contents. Dont skip more than one meal though, especially with cats.
Use Digestive Aids.
Why Is My Dog Having Digestive Issues
Your dogs health is influenced by his microbiome . Switching food can cause a temporary destruction to that microbiome, even if youre switching to a food that will be much better for your dog in the long run.
We recommend making the shift to new food slowly, rather than having your dog go off his old food cold turkey. After your dog has had time to adjust, you should begin to see positive changes.
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Why Should You Change Your Dogs Protein Source
Experts recommend protein rotation for a variety of reasons.
Some believe prolonged feeding of the same food for long periods of time can lead to allergic reactions manifesting in a variety of symptoms, including itchy skin, hot spots, upset stomach and more.
Many dog parents also believe it adds variety to their pups lives and keeps them from getting bored with the same old food day after day.
Whatever your reasons for rotating your pets protein source, weve got a few tips for doing so safely.
Is It Okay To Rotate My Dogs Food
The short answer is yes! Rotational feeding means your dog will have an opportunity to take in a much wider variety of nutrients including amino acids, EFAs, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A varied diet also more closely mimics the way their wild counterparts eat in nature, dogs and other predators consume different meats throughout the week, a rabbit for one meal and a bird or squirrel the next, interspersed with grasses, berries and other foodstuffs based on season and availability.
The other big benefit of rotational feeding is that it can help to eliminate dietary boredom. Just as wed get fed up with eating the exact same meal day after day , dogs can start to get bored and finicky when mealtimes never vary.
Rotational feeding has another potential advantage, too. Its believed that eating a wide array of foods can actually reduce the risk of developing food sensitivities in later life. Eating nothing but lamb and rice for years on end is not only boring but increases the risk that your dog will start to become intolerant of lamb, or rice, or both.
While some conventional vets recommend feeding only one type of food for years on end to help keep the options open when an allergy develops, this doesnt conform to a holistic approach to health pets who enjoy variety are less likely to develop allergies, because their systems are more robust and resilient.
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Why Do Dogs Circle Before Lying Down
Many dogs will circle around a spot before they settle down to rest. Your dogs ancestors had to sleep outside, in the elements, without much warmth or safety. Walking around a spot was a way to stamp down grass, leaves or snow and create a soft, level surface something akin to carving out a nest.
Video Answer: How To Transition Your Pet To A New Food
You should switch to an adult dog food when your puppy is anywhere from 18 months to 24 months old. Large or giant breed puppies take a little longer to reach maturity, and many of them are still growing until they turn two years old.
You should switch to an adult dog food when your puppy is anywhere from 18 months to 24 months old.
Large or giant breed puppies take a little longer to reach maturity, and many of them are still growing until they turn two years old.
It it not necessary to change your dog’s food on a daily or even weekly basis, although it is recommended that you rotate your dog’s food every three months or fewer.
The new food can be the same brand and a different flavor or you can elect to choose a whole new brand.
It it not necessary to change your dog’s food on a daily or even weekly basis, although it is recommended that you rotate your dog’s food every three months or fewer.
The new food can be the same brand and a different flavor or you can elect to choose a whole new brand.
Minimally, at least every three months.
But you can change more frequently than that.
If your dog does not suffer from digestive upsets when his food is changed, then you might even consider changing foods every time the bag runs out.
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How To Choose A Dog Food
Choosing an appropriate diet for your dog is a complicated process. The sheer number of dog food options available is overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is no one diet that is best for every dog. Just like humans, dogs are individuals and their dietary needs vary depending on factors such as age, health, and personal preferences.
To make the process even more complicated, there are also a lot of myths about dog food on the internet. Many people fall victim to advertising campaigns or scare tactics warning them away from commercial dog foods. Fortunately, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association has published a guide entitled The Savvy Dog Owners Guide: Nutrition on the Internet to help pet owners decipher fact from fiction when doing their own research about dog food.
Learning how to read a pet food label can also help demystify the process of choosing a dog food. The information on a pet food label is guided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . AAFCO is responsible for establishing definitions for many of the terms you will find on a bag of dog food. Understanding these labeling requirements can make it easier to identify which products are best for your dog. Look for the words complete and balanced diet on the label.
Timeline For Medium/large Breeds
The first portion of the timeline for small breeds applies to larger breeds, but the difference is that large breed pups have to stay on puppy food for a longer amount of time. You can begin to switch your large or giant breed puppy adult food at around one year of age, or a little longer if yours does not seem ready to make the switch to adult formula yet. Each dogs diet is a bit subjective, so pay attention to when the puppy formula doesnt seem to quite be having the same effects on your dog as it once had. If youre unsure, simply ask the dogtor as they know best!
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Identify When They’re Not Ready
Your dog may not seem to tolerate the new food, no matter how slowly you go, and that’s OK too. Slowly shift them back to the old food and start again with something else after giving his tummy a break. It could be that the new dog food contains ingredients to which your dog has an intolerance or allergy. If you continue to have trouble changing dog food, or if his stools contain blood or an unusual color, you should consult a veterinarian.
While Many People Are Apprehensive About The Idea Rotational Feeding Has Many Wonderful Benefits For Dogs
Eating the exact same food day after day can lead to food boredom, limit the spectrum of nutrients that your dogs body could benefit from, and even increase the risk of food sensitivities. The fact is that pets can benefit from a diet with variety just as humans and most wild animals do! Just because our canine animal companions have been domesticated to live in houses, doesnt mean they should consume a monotonous diet without any variation.
Switching up your pups menu with a range of different foods can broaden their palate and allow them to benefit from a wider spectrum of nutrients and ingredients. This type of diet is most commonly called rotational feeding. It can take many different forms and may involve varying their menu on a daily, weekly, or other routine basis. Variety might come in the form of alternating proteins, switching between whole grain and grain free recipes, varying food formats or simply mixing in a few dog-safe people foods into your dogs bowl from time to time.
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Should Your Dog Be Eating The Same Food Everyday
by targetmarket | Sep 1, 2017 | Dog Food |
When it comes to your dog you want to make sure that you are doing the most you can to make sure it consumes a healthful diet and lives a happy life!
Like humans, dogs most likely would not want to eat the same thing every day for the rest of their life, but compared to humans, dogs only have 1700 taste receptors while humans have 9000. Because of dogs number of taste receptors, dogs do not get bored eating the same food as often as humans. So, it is not mandatory to drastically change the dogs food frequently. There can be an equal balance of diversifying the dogs food while limiting extreme changes.
Also, changing up your dogs diet to often could risk the dogs health. It is important to observe how new food affects the dogs digestive system and behavior. When changing up a dogs diet it is important to get the dog adjusted to the new food by incorporating the old food with the new food over a few days to insure the dogs well-being and easy transition.
If the dog food is effective in maintaining the dogs health but you still want to diversify the menu, you might want to consider just changing the flavor or adding some treats to the dog food. Stick with items that are low in sodium and fat. For example, treats can include carrots, peas, rice, or pieces of chicken. Your dog will get excited and appreciate the extra goodies.
An Itch That Wont Quit
Allergies are common in pets, and food is just one of several possible causes. Regardless of the cause, though, allergic pets may benefit from a low-allergen diet that reduces the amount of potential allergens they are exposed to. Your veterinarian can recommend either a prescription diet or an over the counter sensitive skin diet, depending on your pets particular needs.
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Which Is The Best Pet Food For My Pet
There is a bewildering number of pet foods available on the market today, and it can be hard to find the right one for your pet. Overall, the best dog or cat food is determined by the health and nutritional needs for your specific pet, which is why your vet is best resource when it comes to your fur kids diet.
But there is a difference between premium pet food and grocery store brandsand it has to do with more than just price. In general, premium pet food brands, such as Orijen and Acana, contain no fillers, synthetic colors, preservatives, artificial flavors, growth hormones or antibiotics.
Pets are similar to us in that they are what they eat. Feeding a premium pet food that meets guidelines for a complete and balanced diet as set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials a voluntary membership association of local, state and federal agencies to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remediesand that contains nutrients sourced from minimally and carefully processed high-quality ingredients positively impacts the health of your pet the same way eating whole, fresh foods instead of McDonalds french fries impacts your body. For instance, Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is made with 85% quality animal ingredients including fresh chicken and turkey and cage-free eggs, while Acana Free-Run Poultry Recipe + Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food features free-run poultry and wholesome, high-in-fiber grains.
$25.99
Doesnt Your Dog Need To Encounter Other Proteins To Build His Immune System
No. Thats not how the immune system works. When a puppy or dog eats proteins he wont have an allergic reaction to the protein the first time he eats it. His body wont react to it as an allergen at that time. If he is allergic to it, he has to encounter it again. At that time his body will have made antibodies to fight the allergen and release histamines and other chemicals which cause the allergic reaction. A dog can have this kind of reaction to lots of different things, including food ingredients. The wider the variety of ingredients you introduce to your dog, the more likely you are to encounter something he might be allergic to. Even if he is not allergic to some of the common allergens, he might be allergic to some of the less common food allergens. Any kind of protein can become an allergen. You cant prevent allergies or immunize your dog from getting an allergy by feeding him different kinds of food. You can keep your dog healthy and try to support his immune system. A stressed or weakened immune system is more likely to show a reaction if your dog is prone to allergies. Some dogs have immune systems that are overactive or which react inappropriately.
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Is It Good To Change My Dogs Food
It actually is a good idea to periodically change your dogs food. We dont mean every day, and it may only be small changes, but there may be some benefits:
- May help prevent food allergies
- Provides a variety and change of essential nutrients
- Offers your dog variety of flavor
- May make your dog less fussy
Offering your dog a diet with only chicken or only beef for the rest of his life, sounds pretty boring, right?! All mammals, like dogs, have evolved to eat a range of different foods in order to get all their necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Changing your dogs food, or offering some variety every so often, means that your dog will be receiving a varied diet like they were designed to eat.
Many veterinary nutritionists now advise to feed your dog a variation of different foods from a young age, to help avoid the development of food allergies. This is often the advice given to humans too! Changing the source of protein in your dogs diet every so often could help reduce the likelihood of your dog developing allergies or food intolerances. Did you know that dogs often develop an allergy to a food that they have been eating for YEARS?
How Long Should I Leave My Dogs Food Out
You should feed your dog at the same time each day. Dont free feed. Leaving food out for them all the time is just not a good idea, as it can cause weight problems. Plus, it can lead to your dog simply becoming finicky.
Put out your dogs food, and leave it out for around 15-20 minutes. Then, take the food up until the next mealtime. Feeding on a regular schedule will also help you plan your dogs bathroom trips, as they usually need to go around a half-hour after a meal.
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