When can I switch to adult dog food?

SandyPuppy · 10-16-2009, 01:17 PM

Sandy is a 5 month old dachshund mutt mix. She currently weighs 18 pounds. I am feeding her Kirkland brand puppy food and am just wondering if its too early to switch to their adult small bites formula? I don't know how much calcium it has in it, or how much is too much, or if she is old enough that it doesn't even matter anymore?

Karinia · 10-16-2009, 01:41 PM

Porkchop has never been fed puppy food. Our breeder even made sure that we wouldn't be feeding him puppy food when we got him.

SandyPuppy · 10-16-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karinia

Porkchop has never been fed puppy food. Our breeder even made sure that we wouldn't be feeding him puppy food when we got him.

.......Why?

Karinia · 10-16-2009, 03:12 PM

She told me there was too much of something (sorry, I've been trying to remember what she said ever since I saw this thread) in puppy food and it's the reason why a lot of dogs limp when they walk.

I found this:
"At the heart of the controversy, many nutritionists and pet food salespersons take the stand that puppies require expensive, specially formulated high protein, calorie-dense diets to maximize skeletal development. However, clinical research on the occurrence of skeletal diseases in growing dogs have veterinarians and canine orthopedic specialists taking the opposite side that high plane nutrition increases risk of skeletal diseases in medium and large breeds predisposed to developmental bone disorders (including hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dessicans, panosteitis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, etc.). To minimize occurrence of these disorders, they recommend that foods encouraging rapid and maximized growth in puppies be avoided with the premise that a gradual, progressive growth curve obtained through restriction of high-calories and avoidance of rapid weight gain, particularly between the ages of 4-8 months, ensures less stress on developing joints and bones."
http://www.labbies.com/nutri.htm

She did say that she's been giving her dogs fish oil pills along with normal dog food. Her dogs are very healthy and beautiful, so I didn't question her.

That quote up there didn't mention smaller breeds, though.

Kina_A · 10-16-2009, 05:19 PM

I switched Kina my Cavalier/Bichon mix on to adult food at 5.5 months. The food that she is on is the California Naturals Lamb meal and rice. This formula is for all life stages though.

When I first got Kina, I did ask my vet at what age I could switch her, and she told me that 5 to 6 months would be fine to switch her. I wanted both my dogs on the same food as it makes it a lot easier for everyone!

Dog_Shrink · 10-16-2009, 05:33 PM

Small breed pups can be switched at 4-5 months old. Your vet should have informed you about her feed change on your visit for her shots.

Labsnothers · 10-16-2009, 07:43 PM

Puppy chows are formulated for fast growth. Faster growth than is good for large breed puppies joints. I wonder about Dachshunds and their backs too. An early switch to adult food is a common practice with large breed puppies. I figure at the worst, it will only slow the growth of the smaller breeds.

SandyPuppy · 10-16-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog_Shrink

Small breed pups can be switched at 4-5 months old. Your vet should have informed you about her feed change on your visit for her shots.

The vet did not say anything about food at all, they were too busy trying to talk me into getting a zillion vaccines for her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labsnothers

Puppy chows are formulated for fast growth. Faster growth than is good for large breed puppies joints. I wonder about Dachshunds and their backs too. An early switch to adult food is a common practice with large breed puppies. I figure at the worst, it will only slow the growth of the smaller breeds.

I don't understand why a puppy formula would make them grow faster? Its not filled with hormones or anything. Just has extra protein, dha for brain development, and maybe a couple other minor differences...

skelaki · 10-16-2009, 09:35 PM

Puppy and other special formulas are more advertising gimmicks than anything else. Now that doesn't mean they are necessarily bad, just not absolutely necessary. As long as you feed a decent quality food that's made for all life stages, you'll be just fine.

SandyPuppy · 10-16-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelaki

Puppy and other special formulas are more advertising gimmicks than anything else. Now that doesn't mean they are necessarily bad, just not absolutely necessary. As long as you feed a decent quality food that's made for all life stages, you'll be just fine.

They don't have an "all life stages". They have a puppy formula and an adult formula.

Labsnothers · 10-17-2009, 08:51 AM

It can be subtle. Pro Plan Adult has in the fine print ''Tested in animal feeding trials following AAFCO procedures and found suitable for all life stages.'' This is the food that a large dog guide school has recommended for years to be feed to their puppies from 4-5 months on.

I must admit that which has a very successful record for Labs may not be right for Dachshunds.

Michiyo-Fir · 10-17-2009, 12:38 PM

Well since you have a small dog, it doesn't really matter how old you switch. I switched mine at about 8 months old. It's the big dogs that need appropriate calcium

hosphorus and such.

Switching to the adult formula now would be fine. It won't do any harm to continue with the puppy formula either.

Most people suggest switching at 10 months to 1 year old for small dogs but really it doesn't matter.

SandyPuppy · 10-17-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labsnothers

It can be subtle. Pro Plan Adult has in the fine print ''Tested in animal feeding trials following AAFCO procedures and found suitable for all life stages.'' This is the food that a large dog guide school has recommended for years to be feed to their puppies from 4-5 months on.

I must admit that which has a very successful record for Labs may not be right for Dachshunds.

I have no intention of switching brands

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michiyo-Fir

Well since you have a small dog, it doesn't really matter how old you switch. I switched mine at about 8 months old. It's the big dogs that need appropriate calcium

hosphorus and such.

Switching to the adult formula now would be fine. It won't do any harm to continue with the puppy formula either.

Most people suggest switching at 10 months to 1 year old for small dogs but really it doesn't matter.

Thank you! I didn't know that the calcium/phosphorus thing didn't matter for smaller breeds. I will go ahead and switch to the adult formula in small bites. It always baffles me that puppy size kibbles are usually larger than "small bite" kibbles.

Labsnothers · 10-17-2009, 08:21 PM

I really mainly mentioned Pro plan because that is what i have on hand.

As for the calcium/phosphorus, and small dog. Large dogs are more prone to joint problems. I am not sure I would risk too much calcium for a small breed. If I get a chance, I will check with the assistance dog school. In addition to the larger dogs we have raised for them, they also breed smaller dogs. They are fine for the hearing impaired, and live longer and are cheaper to keep. Once I learned of it, it makes all the sense in the world.