Watching your puppy grow and change can be such a delight. Every milestone — from losing baby teeth to socialization and training — is important. One of those big milestones is transitioning to adult dog food. But how do you know when to switch your puppy to dog food? This guide will help you know how to successfully navigate your puppy through that big transition in his adorable life.
What is the difference between puppy and adult dog food?
Puppies have different nutritional needs from adult dogs. Since they’re using up a lot of energy to grow their little bodies, they need more calories and nutrients in every bite. According to standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) — which regulates dog food manufacturing — the minimum amount of crude protein in dry puppy food is 22%, compared to 18% for adult diets. Puppy food also has more amino acids, fat, and minerals than adult dog food. Some brands even add extra omega-3 fatty acids to puppy food to help with brain and eye development.
On top of all of this, large-breed puppies have additional special needs. Their food might have a bit less calcium, phosphorus, and fat than other puppy foods, in order to help them grow at a healthier rate and avoid orthopedic issues. Your veterinarian can help you decide which food is best for your puppy — especially when it’s time to consider puppy versus adult dog food.
How long should a puppy eat puppy food?
There’s no “one size fits all” age for exactly when it’s time to switch your puppy to adult dog food. The decision is largely based on your puppy’s growth rate rather than age.
Typically, you’ll switch your puppy to adult dog food once she’s grown to about 80% of her full adult size. Of course, this varies depending on how large her breed is. Small dogs like Chihuahuas may reach this point around nine or 10 months, while medium-sized dogs won’t until they’re around 12 months old and larger breeds may not until they’re somewhere between 12 and 16 months of age. Most of the time, 10 to 12 months of age is a safe time frame.
If you’re unsure it’s better to err on the side of caution and keep your pup on puppy food a little longer than needed. But don’t overdo it: all those extra calories can lead to obesity if an adult dog eats puppy food for too long. Overall, it’s best to have regular appointments with your veterinarian, so they can help you determine the best age to make the switch.
How do you transition your puppy to dog food?
Switching to dog food too fast can upset your puppy’s stomach, even causing vomiting or diarrhea. So, take the transition slowly by mixing the new food with your puppy’s regular food. Start with a mix of about 75% old food and 25% new food. Every day, add a little more of the new adult food into the mix. By the end of about a week, you should have transitioned to 100% adult food.
As your puppy grows, you’ll also slowly be transitioning to fewer mealtimes each day. Puppies up to 12 weeks of age eat about four times a day. Around three to six months, you’ll decrease that to three times a day. Switch to twice a day around the age of six to 12 months. This is also when your puppy is spayed or neutered and transitions to adult food. So, there are a lot of big milestones happening around this age!
The bottom line
Raising a puppy is so much fun and full of so many major life milestones. With a dog insurance policy from Pets Best, you can be ready for any unexpected moments. Policyholders also get access to a 24/7 pet helpline if they have any questions about their puppy’s health or dietary needs.
FAQs
Small dogs like Chihuahuas may reach this point around nine or 10 months, while medium-sized dogs won't until they're around 12 months old and larger breeds may not until they're somewhere between 12 and 16 months of age. Most of the time, 10 to 12 months of age is a safe time frame.
When should I switch from puppy food to dog food? ›
Once you know when your puppy will reach maturity, you can decide when to switch to adult food. If your puppy will be full grown at 12 months, you can start transitioning him to an adult formula around his first birthday. It can take 7 to 10 days to make the switch, so you'll want to plan for that before you start.
How do I know if I'm feeding my puppy enough food? ›
How do I know if I am feeding my puppy enough? Puppies need to eat a lot- and not too much. You should be able to feel but not see their ribs, and they should have a visible waist when you look down at them. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes.
When to switch puppies to solid food? ›
At four weeks, all the puppies should be able to walk, run, and play. Puppies should begin eating solid food about 3.5 to 4.5 weeks of age. Initially, make gruel by mixing a milk replacer with a small amount of puppy food soaked in water; place this mixture in a flat saucer.
When to stop mixing wet and dry puppy food? ›
Typically, by the age of 8-12 weeks, puppies can start transitioning to dry kibble without water. However, always monitor your puppy to ensure they're comfortable and eating properly.
When can puppies drink water? ›
When should you give puppies water? Start introducing water and food around 3 to 4 weeks of age. This is the best time to start slowly wean your puppy from their mother's milk and care, so they learn to become more independent.
When can puppies eat wet food? ›
As part of the weaning process, a puppy's introduction to solid food, in the form of a wet food mixture, begins at about four weeks of age. Puppies are usually fully weaned, and transitioned to solid food, by eight weeks of age.
How many cups of food should a puppy eat? ›
Feeding Guidelines for a Puppy
| Puppy | Meals per day | Cups per day |
|---|
| up to 12 lbs | 4 to 6 | 1/3-1.5 |
| up to 40 lbs | 3 | 1-1.5 |
| up to 75 lbs | 3 to 4 | 1.5-3 |
| up to 100 lbs | 4 to 6 | 2-5 (1/3 cup for every 10lbs over 100) |
May 10, 2024
PUPPY FEEDING CHART
| Weight of Dog | 6-12 Weeks | 3-4 Months |
|---|
| 3 – 5 lbs | 1 – 1 1/3 cup | 3/4 – 1 cups |
| 5 – 10 lbs | 1 1/3 – 2 1/2 cups | 1 – 2 cups |
| 10 – 20 lbs | 2 1/2 – 4 cups | 2 – 3 1/2 cups |
| 20 – 30 lbs | 4 – 5 3/4 cups | 3 1/3 – 4 1/2 cups |
1 more rowSep 18, 2022
How often should my puppy eat? Puppies should eat three times a day from weaning through four to six months, if possible. After six months, twice-a-day feedings are fine. But if you're not able to feed your pup three times a day, don't worry.
𝐢 Puppies' dietary needs vary with age, but they generally should not go without food for more than 3-10 hours. Always ensure regular feeding to support their rapid growth and development.
When should puppies be dewormed? ›
The guidelines recommend deworming puppies at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. If the breeder has not already completed this, we will recommend deworming the puppy every 2 weeks for a total of 4 treatments.
Is it better to give puppies wet or dry food? ›
Is dry food better than wet dog food or vice versa? First of all, the type of dog food isn't decisive, but rather the content. This means that both wet and dry food can provide your dog with all important nutrients, vitamins and minerals, as long as the ingredients are of a high quality and the composition is right.
When can puppies go outside? ›
Generally, puppies can go outside to public spaces around 2 weeks after their second puppy vaccinations. At this time, their immune response to the vaccinations kicks in and reduces the changed of them catching a disease they've been vaccinated against.
What happens if a puppy eats adult dog food? ›
Puppies need a finely-tuned balance, which many adult dog foods don't necessarily provide. If you do choose to feed your pup adult dog food, then that's okay. Adult food won't necessarily make your puppy seriously ill – it's dog food, after all. They may, however, experience an upset stomach here and there.
Can puppies go straight to dry food? ›
If dry food is softened with water, you can start to introduce it to your puppy at around four weeks of age, just like wet food. Once your puppy is eating the softened dry food successfully, if you want to eventually feed a dry-food-only diet, now is the time to start that transition.
How long is a dog considered a puppy? ›
A dog is no longer a puppy between 12 to 18 months with some variation based on breed, size and personality. Smaller breeds tend to develop and reach maturity sooner, both physically and emotionally versus large to giant breeds that can take up to almost 24 months before reaching adulthood.
Can 6 week old puppies eat dry food? ›
Can 6-Week Old Puppies Eat Dry Food? As outlined in the weaning guide above, by about 6 weeks old your puppy will be in the first or second week of weaning; that means that dry food will still only comprise a relatively small part of your dog's diet.
Can I feed my 1 month old puppy dog food? ›
They should start eating a diet of specially made puppy food that is heavy in protein and fat when they are one month old. Additionally, the food must be simple to digest. Instead of one or two large meals a day, puppies should be fed three or four smaller meals.
Turning Points 3 min read