How Long Should Puppies Eat Puppy Food?

TL;DR: Puppies have specific nutritional needs for their rapid growth and development.

Here’s a quick summary of the blog's main points:

• Nutritional Content: Puppy food contains higher levels of protein, calcium, essential fatty acids, and other nutrients crucial for development.
• Switching Time: Transition from puppy food to adult food varies by breed size — small breeds around 9-12 months, medium breeds around 12-15 months, and large breeds up to 24 months.
• Risks of Switching Early: Premature switching can lead to nutritional imbalance, poor bone development, growth disruptions, developmental delays, digestive issues, and weakened immune systems.
• Signs of Readiness: Indicators include physical maturity, slower growth rate, complete dental development, and stable energy levels.
• Transition Method: Gradually mix adult food with puppy food over 10 days to avoid digestive upset.

From the smallest Shih Tzu to a stocky Great Dane, every pup is sure to grow leaps and bounds in their first year of life. What you feed them now lays the groundwork for a lifetime of health and happiness.

So, how long should your furry friend stick with puppy food? Is it really necessary, or can they jump straight to adult dog food? What are the risks if they switch too early?

Consider this your guide to the essentials of puppy nutrition. Not only will you learn how long a puppy should eat puppy food, but you’ll also get some helpful tips for making the transition to adult food a walk in the park.

The Importance of Puppy Food for Growth and Development

As we recently covered, puppies have unique nutritional requirements. This specialized nutrition is essential to support their rapid growth and development.

Complete and balanced puppy food should contain:

1. More Protein: Puppy food contains about 22%-32% protein, which is vital for their growth.
2. More Calcium than Phosphorus: The ideal ratio ranges from 1.2:1 to 1.8:1. This balance helps them strong teeth and bones.
3. Essential Fatty Acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6 are essential for brain and vision development. They also enhance skin and coat health while reducing inflammation.
4. Vitamins and Minerals: Essential nutrients like Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Folic Acid, Boron, Vitamin D, and Choline support growth.
5. Crude Fiber: A moderate amount of fiber helps maintain gut health and promotes nutrient absorption.

When Should I Switch My Puppy to Adult Food?

So, how long do dogs eat puppy food? Well, it depends.

How long a puppy eats puppy food ultimately depends on their breed. As PetMD explains, smaller breeds simply have a faster growth rate than larger breeds. Here is a helpful breakdown of when you should consider making the switch:

• Small Breeds (under 25 lbs fully grown): Since small breeds like Jack Russell Terriers or Pugs reach maturity quicker, they can usually switch to adult dog food at about 9-10 months old. By a year old they are fully grown.
• Medium Breeds (25-50 lbs fully grown): These include breeds like English Springer Spaniels, Australian Shepherds, and Border Collies. They reach adult size between 12-15 months and transition to adult dog food around 12-14 months.
• Large Breeds (over 50 lbs fully grown): Large breed dogs, like Great Danes, grow more slowly and reach maturity between 15-24 months. They should continue on puppy food until about 14-24 months to meet their nutritional needs for skeletal development and overall growth.

If your dog is more active, they may also benefit from staying on puppy food. The additional protein can help them remain active while supporting muscle growth. When in doubt, consult your vet to learn more about the best time to switch your furry friend from puppy to adult dog food.

What Are the Risks of Switching Too Early?

The American Kennel Club emphasizes that it’s better to be on puppy food a little too long than for not long enough. Making the switch too soon runs the risk of:

• Nutritional Imbalance: There is the potential for your puppy to have nutrient deficiencies if they switch to adult food too soon.
• Poor Bone Development: Puppies need the right balance of calcium and phosphorus to develop strong bones. Adult dog food typically has lower levels of these minerals, which can result in weak bones and skeletal problems. These problems are especially common in larger dog breeds.
• Growth Disruptions: The nutritional imbalance can also impact your puppy’s growth.
• Developmental Delays: Essential fatty acids and higher protein content in puppy food aid in brain and vision development. Lack of these can lead to developmental delays.
• Digestive Issues: Puppy food is designed to be highly digestible. Switching to adult food too soon may lead to an upset stomach.
• Immune System Impact: Puppies' immune systems are still developing, and the nutrients in puppy food help support this critical growth phase. Prematurely switching to adult food may compromise their immune defense.

Signs Your Puppy Is Ready for Adult Food

Your puppy can’t tell you when they’re ready for adult food, but they can show you. Some of the signs that they’re ready for the next step include:

1. Physical Maturity: Your puppy has reached or is very close to their expected adult size and weight.
2. Slower Growth Rate: Growth has slowed down significantly. You will see less noticeable changes in size and weight over time.
3. Dental Development: Your puppy has lost all their baby teeth and their adult teeth are fully developed.
4. Stable Energy Levels: Energy levels have become more consistent, without the extreme spikes (AKA zoomies) typical of younger puppies.

Your vet can also confirm that, based on health, breed size, and age, your puppy is ready for adult dog food.

How to Transition Your Puppy to Adult Food

Making the transition from puppy to adult dog food can feel daunting. Especially if your furry friend is already a big fan of their puppy food.

That’s why it’s important to make the change gradually. Most experts recommend gradually mixing amounts of adult food with puppy food during the transition. This helps prevent digestive upset that can happen when switching from puppy food to adult food.

You could also look for dog food that is suitable for all life stages, like our Wild Select Seafood Dinner for Dogs. This complete and balanced fish-based recipe has all the nutrients both puppies and adults need. That’s right – there’s no need to transition your puppy to new adult food if they like this recipe!

At Simply Naked, we recommend a 10-day transition plan to help your dog adjust to their new diet.

• Day 1 through 3: 25% Simply Naked & 75% Puppy Food
• Day 4 through 7: 50% Simply Naked & 50% Puppy Food
• Days 8 through 10: 75% Simply Naked & 25% Puppy Food
• Day 11: 100% Simply Naked

Every dog is different. How long one puppy eats puppy food can differ between breed and activity level. No matter what, it’s important to ensure your pup has complete and balanced puppy food to support their growth.

And when it’s time to make the switch to high-quality adult dog food, choose Simply Naked. Our recipes are packed with the proteins and essential nutrients your dog needs.