How to switch from puppy food to dog food
By ravinskye
@ravinskye (8237)
United States
February 7, 2011 8:34am CST
My dogs are just about ready to switch from puppy food to regular dog food. I was wondering how to switch from one to the other. I know when you switch from one brand of dog food to another you have to slowly make the change mixing the new dog food in with the old one. Do you have to do the same thing when moving from puppy food to dog food? I would be using the same brand, just moving up from puppy to dog.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Well, I'm not expert, and I've never had dogs.. but I've never heard of doing this. I often switched brands with my cats and they never had an issues with that. I would probably just make the switch and if the dog seems to have trouble with the regular dog food then you can mix it half and half and see if that makes it easier.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
I'm not sure if it is the same with cats as with dogs. My friend is a vet tech and she is the one who told me about it. Dogs have sensitive stomachs and switching between brands can cause stomach issues unless you do it gradually.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Well, a vet tech would certainly know better than me!
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
7 Feb 11
Do it gradually. Start by adding a small amount of regular dog food to the puppy food and see the dog reacts. Then you gradually increase the amount. Just like in the example you mentioned! If you notice anything funny during this time, you simply contact your vet for advice. Good luck!
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Even using the same brand of dog food, switching from puppy food to adult dog food, it is best to slowly transition over to the new food. Just the same as switching brands. How old are the pups? And just so you know, I have raised many dogs and several litters lol
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Thanks :) We have two, one turned a year in august and the other will be a year at the end of march. our puppy food has directions to feed up to 2 years of age so we figured we'd keep them both on the puppy food till the youngest was old enough to switch over and then they'll both go to dog food.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
7 Feb 11
yeah, I would do that, just buy the new food while you still have some of the old food left, and gradually phase out the puppy food...
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
9 Feb 11
I would start with mixing the two and then gradually move to giving him adult. That is if he is a picky eater. If not..you may just be able to give him adult food straight up. I thinki that gradual changes are better though. It gives their system a chance to adjust to the difference.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
7 Feb 11
Hello ravinskye,
I've just change my dog's food from puppy to adult dog. I give her the same brand of food, too.
Here's how we performed the change:
For the first week, I gave her 3 parts junior food and 1 part adult dog food.
For the second week, I gave her half junior - half adult dog food.
The third week she ate 1 part junior food and three parts adult dog food.
On the fourth week she already ate only adult dog food.
I haven't seen any sign of derangement in her digestive, he was happy and energetic (as usual) and she didn't show neither diarrhea nor vomiting.
