This is Bugging Me, but...

CelticGlory · 08-31-2011, 10:58 PM

In a discussion over kibble (on another forum) it was discussed that (there are two sides to this so please bare with me) that puppies at the age of four months could be started on adult kibble, that the puppy food is the same thing as the adult except for the %'s. The other side is that a puppy should stay on puppy food until they are 12 months old. My question is which one is it? The discussion started because of a lot of new members came on asking because their puppies were growing too fast. A lot of the breeders told a lot of them to switch to adult food when they are four months, but would that really make a difference? They also said to avoid a lot of calcium in the diet. I'm also asking because I've noticed that a lot of the options that are available for adults aren't for the puppies. What if the puppy developed allergies at a young age before the age of 12 months?

ETA: I would like to start the puppy on something other than lamb or chicken. I liked the duck and fish that I saw in a lot of the adult foods.

doggiedad · 08-31-2011, 11:08 PM

i've never fed puppy food to my
dogs.

Whiteshepherds · 08-31-2011, 11:40 PM

Our pups each got one 20lb (or 25lb, whatever that size is) bag of puppy food and then switched to adult food. Now we're not using dog food at all so I have no idea what I'll do for the next pup.

Franksmom · 09-01-2011, 08:16 AM

The same thing confused me when Frank was a pup too, he made the switch to totally Adult at 8 mos, from 4 mos on he had been on adult/puppy half and half anyway because if he ate the amount in puppy foods he needed, he developed runny stools.
The calcium always confused me too because I would hear on here to becareful about how much calcium the pup got, then a friend of mine who has dobie's would talk about how her vet perscribed all this extra calcium because it helped their bones and made their ears stand better, I worried because I didn't supplement my pup because my vet said it wasn't needed, My pup is 16 mos and doing great, but it sure is confusing for new puppy owners.

LaRen616 · 09-01-2011, 08:19 AM

I fed Solid Gold Wolf Cub (puppy food) to my male until he turned 1 year old.

I feed him TOTW (adult) now.

kiya · 09-01-2011, 08:37 AM

I was told to stop the puppy food by my new vet because of the calcium. I think Lakota was about 5 months old then. I had met this vet a few times before I finally made the switch to her, she specializes in orthopedics. It was actually one of the reasons I found this website. I have been going to her since January and have come to trust her recommendations.
Next pup will not get puppy food.

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 09-01-2011, 08:54 AM

Feeding Puppies

Mary&Stella · 09-01-2011, 09:10 AM

Our vet told us to feed Stella adult food from the get go !

BlackPuppy · 09-01-2011, 09:45 AM

I've never feed puppy food, either.

martemchik · 09-01-2011, 10:01 AM

I had this question too a few months ago when I was thinking about switching from puppy to adult, all I got out of it was every single person has their own opinion and does it their own way. I feed Fromms LBP and my pup is 13 months old. We're probably going to switch in a few months (once I get my free bag). The dog is doing great, he didn't grow too fast, or too slow. I should mention that he eats raw one of the meals of the day but in either case you're going to get different opinions from everyone. Some people never stop feeding puppy!

08-31-2011, 10:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
CelticGlory Master Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fl Posts: 623	This is Bugging Me, but... In a discussion over kibble (on another forum) it was discussed that (there are two sides to this so please bare with me) that puppies at the age of four months could be started on adult kibble, that the puppy food is the same thing as the adult except for the %'s. The other side is that a puppy should stay on puppy food until they are 12 months old. My question is which one is it? The discussion started because of a lot of new members came on asking because their puppies were growing too fast. A lot of the breeders told a lot of them to switch to adult food when they are four months, but would that really make a difference? They also said to avoid a lot of calcium in the diet. I'm also asking because I've noticed that a lot of the options that are available for adults aren't for the puppies. What if the puppy developed allergies at a young age before the age of 12 months? ETA: I would like to start the puppy on something other than lamb or chicken. I liked the duck and fish that I saw in a lot of the adult foods. __________________ # "Breed not a savage dog, nor permit a loose stairway." - Talmud # "In my day, we didn't have dogs or cats. All I had was Silver Beauty, my beloved paper clip." - Jennifer Hart, Arlington

08-31-2011, 11:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	i've never fed puppy food to my dogs. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

08-31-2011, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Whiteshepherds Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Northeastern Connecticut Posts: 2,771	Our pups each got one 20lb (or 25lb, whatever that size is) bag of puppy food and then switched to adult food. Now we're not using dog food at all so I have no idea what I'll do for the next pup. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Harley-WS 4-23-07 Annie-WS 10-18-07 RIP Dakota - WGSD 1995-2007

09-01-2011, 08:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Franksmom Master Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern, Indiana, USA Posts: 773	The same thing confused me when Frank was a pup too, he made the switch to totally Adult at 8 mos, from 4 mos on he had been on adult/puppy half and half anyway because if he ate the amount in puppy foods he needed, he developed runny stools. The calcium always confused me too because I would hear on here to becareful about how much calcium the pup got, then a friend of mine who has dobie's would talk about how her vet perscribed all this extra calcium because it helped their bones and made their ears stand better, I worried because I didn't supplement my pup because my vet said it wasn't needed, My pup is 16 mos and doing great, but it sure is confusing for new puppy owners. __________________ Franksmom frank(Rosehall's Duke of Hearts CD, BN, RN) gsd 4/10 indy (Indy Bluestorm CD, GN, RN,CGC) BC 4/06 king bc mix 9/03

09-01-2011, 08:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
LaRen616 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 10,582	I fed Solid Gold Wolf Cub (puppy food) to my male until he turned 1 year old. I feed him TOTW (adult) now. __________________ ~ Sinister 3 yr old black male GSD 3.11.09 ~ Malice 9 mth old black female GSD 6.19.11 Cats: Chaos, Monster, Wicked

09-01-2011, 08:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
kiya Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,910	I was told to stop the puppy food by my new vet because of the calcium. I think Lakota was about 5 months old then. I had met this vet a few times before I finally made the switch to her, she specializes in orthopedics. It was actually one of the reasons I found this website. I have been going to her since January and have come to trust her recommendations. Next pup will not get puppy food. __________________ Carolyn Apache - Shiloh Shepherd 12/15/02 Kiya - Shiloh Shepherd 5/15/04 Lakota - WGSD 1/13/10

09-01-2011, 08:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,697	Feeding Puppies __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org You can help Anna help IMOM help people help pets help people win...

09-01-2011, 09:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mary&Stella Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 336	Our vet told us to feed Stella adult food from the get go !

09-01-2011, 09:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	I've never feed puppy food, either.

09-01-2011, 10:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
martemchik Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,043	I had this question too a few months ago when I was thinking about switching from puppy to adult, all I got out of it was every single person has their own opinion and does it their own way. I feed Fromms LBP and my pup is 13 months old. We're probably going to switch in a few months (once I get my free bag). The dog is doing great, he didn't grow too fast, or too slow. I should mention that he eats raw one of the meals of the day but in either case you're going to get different opinions from everyone. Some people never stop feeding puppy!

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