Transitioning from Puppy Food to Adult Dog Food

Authored by Robbyn Spinelli, LVT

Over the last year, we’ve been thrilled to welcome so many puppies to the Hudson Valley and watching them grow up has been a silver lining during a difficult year. We know you’ve been working hard behind the scenes to keep up with all these new family members!

For many of us, choosing a diet can be one of the most overwhelming tasks. 52% of dog owners surveyed felt their dog’s nutrition was more confusing than their own. I would be lying if I said picking food for my own picky puppies was easy, and I’m a professional! Flash forward a few months as my puppies were reaching adulthood, and I found myself back at square one in research mode, looking for an adult diet to meet their evolving needs.

Luckily for you, making the transition is easier than you think, and our Companion Pet Hospital team has the tools you need to find the right food. We’ve laid out the critical pieces of information below, and are available for customized nutrition consults to help you make a choice if needed.

Puppy vs. Adult

Puppy diets are calorie–and nutrient–rich to support rapid growth. This is exactly what our pets need when they are small, but as they mature their growth needs change.

Adult diets have lower calorie densities and different vitamin and mineral balances, supporting long term health joint health.

Timing: When to make the switch to adult food

Dogs should be transitioned to adult diets by the time they reach maturity.

The timing is not universal between all breeds, because larger breeds mature more slowly than smaller breeds:

• Small and medium breeds (Chihuahuas, Beagles, Pugs) reach maturity around 9-12 months of age
• Large breeds (e.g. Labradors, Retrievers) around 12-15 months
• Giant breeds (e.g. Great Danes, Mastiffs) around 18-24 months.

Note: Puppies who have been spayed or neutered earlier than 6 months old may reach maturity sooner than those who have not.

For breeds prone to joint issues, e.g. hip or elbow dysplasia, an earlier transition (around 6-7 months old) may be beneficial, slowing the rate of joint maturity and lowering the risk of problems.

Choosing a formula

• Keeping it simple
  • If you are happy with the quality of the food you were originally feeding your puppy, we recommend purchasing the adult version of that diet.
  • Try to keep the flavor and formula as similar as possible; if you were feeding a chicken-based diet, stick with chicken, and so on.
  • If you feel strongly that you would like to choose another type or brand of food, it’s ok to do so! You can always schedule an in person or tele consult with one of our veterinarians to review your specific concerns and make a selection.
• Appropriate kibble size
  • You may see “small breed” or “large breed” listed on some foods; while there are important nutrient differences between them, one of the biggest differences is kibble size.
  • For miniature and small breed dogs, be sure to select a diet with small kibble pieces — they can have a hard time swallowing and digesting larger kibble and sometimes will even just try to eat it whole.
  • On the opposite side of the spectrum, large breed dogs can easily inhale smaller kibble, and then give you sad, hungry puppy eyes until you fill their bowl again.
• Breed-specific formulas
  • Brands such as Royal Canin have their own line of dog food that is tailored for purebred dogs. These diets are based on their research of breed-specific traits and nutritional influence.
  • These foods feature high-quality protein sources, unique nutrients, and are designed with specific shapes, sizes, and textures for each dog’s facial and jaw structure, as well as biting patterns.
  • For example, Royal Canin’s Labrador Retriever dry food kibbles are shaped in a way to slow down eating speed and encourage chewing, rather than inhaling, the entire bowl!
  • While these diets may not be a fix for all health issues, they are certainly the cutting edge of tailored nutrition, and many of our patients are doing well on their own breed diet.
• Transition slowly
  • No matter the timing or reason for making a switch, remember that the canine digestive system can be sensitive to rapid changes in food. Puppies can be especially sensitive to change, so switching “cold turkey” can often lead to digestive upset such as gas, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • We recommended taking 7-10 days to slowly transition over to the adult diet.
  • Start by mixing the two foods together, with ~90% the current diet and 10% the new formula on Day 1. Each day, increase the proportion of the new formula until you reach entirely new food. This is a good strategy anytime you switch diets for any pet, even if you are just changing between flavors of the same brand.
• Local options for purchasing in the Hudson Valley
  • Independently-owned: Beacon Barkery (Beacon, NY) specializes in fresh-baked treats. They also carry quality brand foods and accessories for your furry friends!
  • Home-delivery: We have an online pharmacy carrying all the special diets your pet may need (link at www.companionpethospital.com). You’ll get free shipping when you sign up for auto shipments.

If at any time you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed making nutritional decisions for your pet, please reach out to your veterinarian, so we can help make the best recommendation for your family.