When to stop feeding puppy food?

[wolfsoul]

I was reading a site, and it said that although most puppy foods will say not to stop feeding until 12 months, that it should actually stop being fed at 8-10 months.

But, I was just reading a breeder's site, and it said that the bones don't stop forming until 18 months and that the puppy food should be fed puppy food until 18 months old.

What do you think?

[RobiLee]

Good question! I was wondering about this also.

[wolf_Q]

I've heard different things about this too. I stopped feeding Nebo puppy food at 12 months.

[clara4457]

It depends on the size of the breed.

Large breed dogs need to be switched to adult food sooner to limit the protein and calcium intake. You want to prevent bones from growing too fast, thus causing joint problems often associated with larger dogs. Most breeders of large dogs - especially those with a breed history of joint problems (such as Great Danes, GSD's and Labs) - will stop feeding puppy food as early as 3 months.

Smaller breeds can stay on puppy food for longer, although you do want to think about the activity level of the pup. Puppy food is higher in calories, so if your pup is more of the couch potato they should be switched earlier than the pup you are training in agility or other sports.

Personally I think the dog food companies would like dogs to stay on puppy food longer because they charge more for it. I think most dogs can switch to adult food at 6 months and if they have high activity levels, you can supplement their kibble with other means.

Here is a good article on why it is better to switch to adult food:
http://www.golden-retriever.com/pupp...adult_food.htm

Hope this helps.

[tatsxxx11]

My Star is a Lab, which is considered a large but not especially fast growing breed. She was fed puppy formula till age 6 months. For the next 3 months, she was given 1/2 puppy, 1/2 adult formula. From 9 months to 1 yr, 3/4adult, 1/4 puppy. After 1 yr. she was fed only adult. That was what was recommended by the breeder and by my vet, so I stuck with it. Unlike many other large and giant breed dogs, such as Great Danes, St. Bernards, Mastiffs and GSD's, Labs, especially as puppies, are EXTREMELY high energy, maintaining that high energy level well into adulthood and require the extra calories needed to sustain their activity level. Whether this can be achieved by increased amts. of adult food or sticking with the richer puppy formula, I understand is currently up for debate. Star was a puppy 5 years ago, so I'm sure the thinking might be different now. Still, no untoward effects I guess as she topped off at a whopping 55 lbs. She'll be 5 soon and still has that puppy energy and happily, absolutely no joint/hip problems. As with all food changes, whenever you do switch from puppy food, I would do it gradually. At any age, their stomachs can be sensitive to changes

[Christiansmommy]

Yes, my breeder (of a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog)...does not suggest feeding puppy food even after 8 weeks. Since Swissies bones grow at such a rapid pace...they suggest just feeding adult food...although in the same quanities that you would if it were puppy food (puppies get more quanity than an adult dog, depending on their weight at a certain month). Dale being a 31 lb puppy at 16 weeks old, would get more than a 7 lb. toy poodle puppy at 16 weeks (which is obvious) Large breed dogs grow up healthier if they grow at a slower pace...

I am also doing part raw diet, so Dale also gets added vitamins each day...a 1/4 of a centrum and 1 vit. C.

Smaller breed dogs, i would think, could stay on puppy food longer.

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by Christiansmommy

a 1/4 of a centrum and 1 vit. C.

You mean vitamin C? Dogs don't need extra vitamin C. Their bodies produce it. The only animals that don't produce their own vitamin C are humans, some apes, and guinea pigs. Too much vitamin C could potentially harm a dog.

The site that said puppy food should be given until 18 months was a GSD breeder site. So I guess they are wrong? I just figured since they are reputable breeders ( atleast it sounds like they are) that they would know alot about diet..Maybe it is because their dogs are used for herding and other high-energy uses and need the extra calories?

[Christiansmommy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wolfsoul
[B]You mean vitamin C? Dogs don't need extra vitamin C. Their bodies produce it. The only animals that don't produce their own vitamin C are humans, some apes, and guinea pigs. Too much vitamin C could potentially harm a dog.

All i know is that our breeder has been breeding Swissies for 20 years and stands firm on his feeding and vitamin intake for his dogs...so we trust him...he has had dogs in Westminster (so he seems like a reputable breeder to us), but i will research what you said. I know a human couldnt get too much Vit. C....

I do know that you can over suppliment a dog with Vitamins, but i was not aware that Vit. C was one of them...i will have to look it up.

[wolfsoul]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Christiansmommy

I do know that you can over suppliment a dog with Vitamins, but i was not aware that Vit. C was one of them...i will have to look it up.

I could be wrong about that. I just know that dogs can produce it themselves, plus they usually get a small amount from dog food if the dog food uses vitamin preservatives (usually C and E). There aren't any adverse affects that are known of, but scientists think that too much can alter the pH balance of the kidneys and a recent study in people indicated that high dose vitamin C supplementation is associated with an increased risk for heart disease. But there is also thought that vitamin C supplemetation can prevent epilepsy. I guess it's just a personal preference of what you think is best.

[Christiansmommy]

We are doing a Raw Diet as well, so that is also where the need for vit. supplments stem from too. Thanks for the info.