puppy food

[darthamy]

Hi everyone. I just want to say thanks for all your help!!! I have just one small question I'd love feedback on. My vet told me that my four month old puppy, Cleo should be starting to transition to adult dog food already, even though the puppy food I have says it should be fed to puppies up until one year of age. He said the added fat in puppy food usually leads to obese dogs and that making the switch to adult food now is crucial in preventing that. I went out and bought some adult food, but over the weekend I was visiting some friends, all of whom are proud dog owners and when I told them about my vet's advice they were all astonished, and told me to get a new vet! Any comments????

Amy and Cleo

[sheplovr]

I keep my pups up to at least 9 months on puppy unless I see a quick jump in weight or growth. Exercise is the trick to keep the pup on puppy food. It must have daily amounts. Not on hard surfaces of running and jumping. Adult is ok after six months, but I just feel better growing my dogs out safely on puppy food as they run all day hard and are watered in buckets sitting everywhere. Free access to water, good supplements, and exercise and the pup will be fine.

[Dobified]

4 months old is probably to young to start to transtion on to adult food.

You should probably ask another vet for a different opinion, all you have to do is call one up, tell that vet how old your dog is and then ask. Costs nothing.

[barnjess]

It also depends on what breed of dog you have

[rutylr]

It depends on the breed.Small dogs can stay on puppy food.Big dogs should be on adult.Mine are eating adult at 8 weeks.Look up what people of your breed are feeding not the Vet.or people of a different breed.

Even tho its a yorkiepoo.
I found out about feeding a yorkie
Puppies are in a growth phase during this time of life and should have food that meets the demands of this growth. There are many commercially available puppy foods that are formulated to meet the needs of growing puppies. Look for a food that has been assessed via feeding trials for the growth stage of puppies. Feeds that have undergone these trial will label their products with the fact that the feed has passed the trials. The trials are conducted by the American Association of Feed Control Officials.

Do not overfeed your Yorkie during this time period. Overfeeding can cause a variety of skeletal defects that will cause problems all of your Yorkie’s life.

Puppies may need as many as four meals a day until about 12 weeks old. Between 12 weeks and about a year, your Yorkie should be fed three times a day.

1 Year to 7 Years:

This is the adult stage in Yorkie development. The growth phase is over and one could consider the goal of your feeding program to be “maintenance". Once again, you should choose a food that has been tested in accordance with this phase of development.

There are just about as many feeding programs and philosophies as there are Yorkies! There are individuals who advocate a diet consisting solely of commercial dog food. At the other end of the spectrum, there are those who abhor commercial dog food and feel that you should cook and prepare by hand every meal for your Yorkie. (If only I ate that well) The vast majority of people probably fall somewhere in the middle and provide a mixed ration of commercial dog food occasionally supplemented with a variety of special dishes for their Yorkies.

Donna

[barnjess]

Great post rutylr, also some food companys do a junior style of food that small dogs can change on to before they go onto adult

[Aria]

well, it depends on the breed mostly. If its a small dog than 6 months ( or whenever he/she is spayed/ neutered) is the recomended time to switch to adult food, or yes they can very well gain weight( this is what we I as a techs was told to say directfrom the vet to all our clients.) However if you have a large dog then you should not, and continue feeding till they are about 1- 2 yrs old.

[barnjess]

Originally Posted by Aria

well, it depends on the breed mostly. If its a small dog than 6 months ( or whenever he/she is spayed/ neutered) is the recomended time to switch to adult food, or yes they can very well gain weight( this is what we I as a techs was told to say directfrom the vet to all our clients.) However if you have a large dog then you should not, and continue feeding till they are about 1- 2 yrs old.

sorry not sure I understand this

[rutylr]

Why would big dogs stay on until they are two?

[barnjess]

Originally Posted by rutylr

Why would big dogs stay on until they are two?

are you confused too, i hope so, I was thinking was having a blond moment lol