Puppies need more
Just as our human babies have different food requirements than adults, so too does a pup have different food requirements than an adult dog. In the first year of a pup’s life it is critical to make sure he is getting the right start.
Appropriate food for puppies tends to be more dense in calories and contain a higher representation of minerals and amino acids. Puppies which will grow into larger breeds may have a different requirement to those of smaller breeds due to their large skeleton and development of joints.
There is conflicting information about when to transition your dog from a puppy to an adult diet. Smaller breeds tend to mature earlier than larger breeds and may need to change over sooner. Ask your veterinarian on their advice for your puppy as breed and size will determine the answer. When changing your pup onto adult dog food the idea is to gradually increasing one while decreasing the other. You can start with 10% of the new food and increase 10% new food each day. Consider 10 days the minimum change over time. This will help avoid tummy upsets.
Leah & Angela OMeara
Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)