Puppies and adult dogs require proper diets as part of their care. Puppies require special food designed to encourage their growth and development, as most owners are aware. Various breeds of dogs mature at different speeds. You and your veterinarian can decide when the optimum moment is to modify your puppy’s food.
Puppy Food Feeding
To maintain their growth, development, and high activity levels, puppies require more calories than adult dogs. As your puppy grows older, his development slows and his caloric requirements decrease. Obesity may quickly develop from excess weight, resulting in a slew of health issues.
When Should You Start Eating Adult Food?
Puppies are considered puppies until they reach the age of one year. Various breeds, on the other hand, age at different rates. When it comes to your dog’s nutrition, your veterinarian is the finest source of knowledge, therefore seek guidance before switching to adult food.
Whether it comes to selecting when to transfer to adult dog food, the idea is to do so around the time the puppy stops growing but before he starts accumulating weight. Keep track of your puppy’s weight and height, and check for statistics that are increasing more slowly. Most dogs hit a growth plateau around the age of one year, although you may notice a slowdown in growth as early as eight or nine months.
Getting a Glimpse of Your Dog’s Weight
Keep in mind that weight increase does not always imply development. Your dog may be overweight if he is gaining weight but not becoming taller or more muscular. In a few easy actions, you can improve your dog’s physical health at home:
- Run your hands down the ribs of your dog. You should be able to feel a thin layer of fat covering the ribs. If you can’t feel your dog’s ribs, he’s probably overweight.
- Take a sidelong look at your dog. The upward tuck of the tummy should be visible. A dog that is overweight will have little or no tuck.
- From above, take a look at your dog. At the waist, just past the ribs, there should be some narrowing. An overweight dog has a straight or a bulging line of the ribs to the hips.
- If your dog has noticeable ribs and a tiny waist, he may be underweight. To be sure, get your dog or cat examined by your veterinarian.
How to Change Your Puppy’s Diet
To minimize gastrointestinal distress, every diet modification should be made gradually. Depending on how you do it, this procedure might take a week or two.
Choosing the perfect food for your now-adult dog may require some effort and study. You might keep the same brand of food, but switch to an adult formula. Of course, your veterinarian may assist you in selecting a proper diet.
Keep an eye on your dog’s appetite and bowel motions during the transition. If your dog has diarrhea or vomiting, ease up on the changeover. If GI distress persists, you may need to switch to an adult diet and restart the transition. If your dog has been vomiting or has diarrhea for more than a day, contact your veterinarian.
In the next months, keep an eye on your dog’s weight to make sure you don’t need to modify portions sizes. Also, as indicated by your veterinarian, maintain up with yearly or biannual veterinary wellness checkups.
Your pet’s diet is important and monitoring them regularly is required. As well your pet’s hygiene, poor hygiene can affect your pet’s wellness a proper pet grooming can make a big different. A proper exercise should not be excluded in your pet’s daily lives.
Helpful video (Pet Grooming Tips):
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