When is your puppy considered an adult?

With so many products and foods targeted at “puppies” or “adult dogs” do you really know what you should be feeding your pet? 

Making the change from puppy to adult food is as important for dogs as it is for babies, as there is a big change in regards to the nutritional requirements of your puppy as they approach maturity. Feeding a dog puppy food can cause issues later on in life, as puppy food is high in calories causing your adult dog to put on a lot of unnecessary weight, which may be problematic to tackle further on in their life.

There are so many articles out there which provide conflicting information when it comes to making the transition from puppy to adult food, but the important thing to bear in mind that different breeds mature at different rates. Smaller breeds often mature much quicker than larger breeds. It is said that smaller breeds (13kg) mature around 10 to 12 months, whereas larger dogs (35kg) mature at 13 to 16 months.

It’s important to remember that these are only guidelines, and the best guideline to follow is your pets’! If they are already rejecting their puppy food, it may be time to move them along, and if they are having trouble adapting to the new flavours of adult food, try mixing it at first to help them adjust. Add a little more adult food as time goes on and soon enough, you should only be feeding the adult food. This also helps reduce the risk of upset stomachs!

If you would like to seek further advice about switching your pet’s food, contact your pet insurance provider, who will be able to put you in touch with their preferred vet for confirmation of when is best to make the change.