The short answer is we wouldn’t recommend it. But here’s a more detailed explanation as to why we wouldn’t advise it to our pet parents.

Would you take a baby to McDonalds to feast on a Big Mac or a double cheeseburger? We highly doubt it. In the same sense, you should probably think twice about moving your fur baby on to adult dog food prematurely.

Don’t rush the process. Just ‘paws’ for thought and take a breath, because good things really do come to those who wait. Your happy-go-lucky hound is a member of your extended family, so treat them like a child when it comes to their dietary needs.

 

 

Why can’t puppies just eat normal adult dog food?

 

Nourishing and nutritious meals, specially formulated to meet the needs of a rapidly developing body, are just what your precious little pup requires at this stage of their life.

Puppy food is perfectly packed with tummy-tickling, tail-wagging goodness that aids growth, health and strength, ensuring that your four-legged friend is in fine-fettle.

Mealtimes are generally enriched with protein, fat and a body-popping party of vitamins that support brain functionality and eyes. They’re also filled with calcium and phosphorus, a bone-enhancing match made in heaven.

Protein is at the top-of-the-table when it comes to the biggest primary differences between puppy food and adult dog meals. Almost a quarter (22.5%) of calories in puppy nutriments should derive from protein sources, in comparison to the suggested 18% necessary in adult foods.

 

What are the benefits of puppy-specific food?

 

Your cute and cuddly canine requires a complete and well-balanced diet in order to hit their true potential. Providing near-perfect portion sizes and the correct kibble will help them grow big and strong.

Our furry friends need all the essential nutrients they can get before making the transition to adulthood. Their delicate little frames, and everything within it, need building and strengthening.

Puppies and adult dogs have different calorie and nutritional requirements, hence why they have cuisines specifically tailored to meet their needs.

 

It usually requires greater resources to build something than to maintain it, which is why making the switch too soon could compromise all the progress you have made with your beautiful little barker.

This is a key stage of development, which will ultimately set your pets up for a lifetime. Bones are still building, teeth still growing, organs are adapting and evolving, while physiques are ever-changing.

Do everything you can to enrich their lives via their tummy, otherwise pet parents might be inadvertently denying their little ones the goodness they crave at this crucial stage.

 

The importance of diet for a puppy (or growing dog)

 

Remember that no two dogs are the same. Every single one of your precious family members are wonderfully unique. Diets are dependable on a range of variables, from the breed of your hound, whether they’re male or female, their age, their weight, body condition and how much exercise they’re getting.

Any suggestion that a one-size-fits-all feeding plan exists is merely a fairytale. If you were to feed a toy breed and a giant breed the same portion sizes, irrespective of whether both puppies were at the same stage of development, you would quite clearly be overfeeding one or under-feeding the other, which may have detrimental consequences to their health and fitness later in life.

In terms of what’s on the menu, well, that hinges on the needs of your playful puppy. Do they require sustenance to support growth or have they reached a stage, leading into adulthood, where they desire food formulated for ‘maintenance’?

As previously mentioned, your curious bundles of fur need more calories during the developmental phase, powered with a myriad of minerals and multivitamins to help engineer healthy immune systems and strong bone structures.

They need this until they reach maturity, around the 12-month mark, having taken in extra portions of protein, fat, calcium and carbohydrates, though larger breeds may not reach this stage until between 18 and 24 months.

Once again, speak with your vet for guidance!

 

Applaws is with you every step of the way

 

Providing your playful pup with the right nutrients in precise portions is part of an effective and efficient evolutionary process. Every step of your dog’s diet plays a crucial role in their future health, happiness and wellbeing.

This is their avenue to adulthood so tread with care and consideration. Be observant, without being overwhelmed, and just take the time to set your puppy up for success.

The right methods and measures will give your little pups a spring in their step, it’ll get their tails wagging, their hearts beating healthily and will add a super-shiny sheen to their coats.

We at Applaws cannot wait to support the development of your four-legged friends, from delicate and inquisitive canines to big, strong adults. Check out our products to see how we can help to add an extra zing to your dog’s diet.

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