When to switch a puppy to dog food. And can puppies eat adult dog food?

It can be a confusing business being a pet parent. You know you want to do the best for your puppy, but this can raise all kinds of questions. You might wonder if a puppy can eat adult dog food, for example (spoiler alert: no) or how long a puppy should eat puppy food.

Here we’ll answer those questions and look into when to switch from puppy to dog food and how to make sure that transition goes smoothly.

When to switch from puppy food to adult dog food?

You can start giving your puppy adult food as soon as they’re physically mature. Your dog’s size and breed type will affect how old they are when this happens, and they could be anywhere between 9 -24 months of age. 

Small-breed dogs mature much faster than large-breed ones (with medium breed dogs being somewhere in the middle). Neutering will speed up this process, which causes their metabolism to slow down. This means a neutered puppy should be fed slightly less than a puppy that hasn’t been neutered, as they could put on weight. 

Below is a guide that will give you a rough idea of when you can expect to switch from puppy to adult dog food. Do remember though, guide is the key word. Every dog is a unique individual and will hit physical maturity in their own time. So, if you’re not 100% sure, just have a chat with your vet. This can be especially helpful if your dog is a mixed breed and you’re not sure how big they’ll be to be considered fully grown.

How to transition from puppy food to adult dog food

It’s best to take things slowly when you’re swapping from puppy to adult dog food. This gives your dog’s digestive system a chance to adjust and helps to prevent them getting an upset stomach.

To do this, simply add in a little more of the new food next to the old every day for about 7-10 days. Along these lines:

• Day 1 -3 – 10% new food, 90% old food
• Day 3 -5 – 25% new food, 75% old food
• Day 5 -7 – 50% new food, 50% old food
• Day 7 -10– 75% new food, 25% old food
• Day 10 onwards - 100% new food

As well as adjusting what food you give your furry friend, you’ll need to think about changing how often you feed them. Puppies have very small tummies and use up lots of energy which means they need several small meals a day. Adult dogs, by contrast, can be given just a couple of meals a day. Check out our other puppy feeding articles for more guidance.

Can you give puppies adult dog food?

It’s best not to give a puppy adult dog food because their nutritional needs are very different to those of a fully grown dog and the amount they can eat is limited. A puppy has lots of growing and developing to do so they need a nutrient and calorie rich diet that supports that. 

Is there a difference between puppy food and adult dog food?

Puppy food and adult dog food are very different things. For a start, puppy food is much higher in calories (you need a lot of energy for all that growing and developing!). It also contains the nutrients a puppy needs for everything from healthy eyesight to strong bones and teeth.

Feeding your puppy adult dog food is robbing them of important nutrients and could adversely affect their development. Feeding them a specially formulated puppy food means you can be confident they’re getting everything they need to grow into healthy, happy adult dogs. With Pedigree puppy food, you have the added reassurance of knowing that 50 years of research has gone into creating food with the ideal ratio of protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. We’ve also made sure it’s easy for young tummies to digest.

Want to know more about feeding your growing bundle of loveliness? Check out a balanced diet for growing puppies.

Should I use different treats for puppies?

If you’ve got a puppy, you’ll no doubt be training them, and that will almost certainly involve a few treats! Pedigree Puppy Tasty Minis are specially created for puppies. Do remember to factor treats into your puppy’s daily calorie allowance though. It’s all too easy to dish out too many treats, especially when you have a ‘very good boy’. 

How long should puppies be on puppy food?

Puppies should be on puppy food until they reach physical maturity. This can be anytime between 9 -24 months of age and will vary according to your dog’s size and breed type. Small-breed dogs mature more quickly than their larger cousins.

To find out when your puppy is likely to have done all their growing and be ready to make the switch from puppy to adult dog food, you can check out the handy guide above. Do remember this is just designed to offer general guidance though, and, if you’re at all unsure, it’s always best to have a chat with your vet. This is especially important if you have a mixed breed dog, and you don’t know what size they’ll be when they’re fully grown.

Now you’ve got the lowdown on what you feed your puppy and when to switch them to adult dog food, why not check out the different puppy milestones and what they mean for your puppy’s eating habits.