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As a puppy, your dog’s diet gives them the nutrition they need to support their growth, helping them to build strong bones and muscles. As they approaches adult size, however, their dietary needs for their health change. That’s when knowing when to switch over to adult dog food comes into play.
In fact, there might be a few times in your dog’s life when you’ll want to consider switching food, and knowing how and when to make a swap is key. Timing matters. Plus, there’s always the question of what to do if your pup won’t eat it, or if the new food simply isn’t working for them.
While your veterinarian is a great resource to help you address these concerns for your individual pet, this article explores the basics to get you started. Plus, we’ve included a few tips for a smoother transition to adult dog food for you and your pup.
When To Switch to Adult Dog Food
Your dog’s general breed size is a helpful indicator indicator for how long they’ll take to reach adulthood and when you can make the swap. Your best resource for knowing when your dog has stopped growing, however, is your vet. Regular vet check-ins during the puppy stage can help you understand when your particular dog is done growing, especially if they’re a mystery mix where their DNA is unknown.
By closely monitoring your dog’s rate of growth and consulting with your vet as they get older, you can time your dog’s transition well, even if their breed is a mystery.
When to switch to adult food by breed size and weight:
Breed type | Adult weight (approx) | Age of adulthood |
Toy | Up to 12 pounds | 7 months |
Small | 12-20 pounds | 10 months |
Medium | 20-50 pounds | 10-14 months |
Large | 50-80 pounds | 12-18 months |
Giant | 80+ pounds | 18-24 months |
As a general rule, dogs under 12 months of age are referred to as puppies, while dogs over 12 months are considered adults. However, just because your pup has celebrated their first birthday doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready for adult dog food. Switching too early can be detrimental to your pup’s lifelong wellbeing.
As long as your dog in grow mode—especially if that growth is rapid—sticking with puppy food is a good idea. In fact, the American Kennel Club recommends erring on the side of caution; it’s better to feed your dog puppy food for too long than to switch to adult food too early.
After your dog has reached their adult size, it’s time to move into their diet towards maintenance mode. Supporting maintenance mode means transitioning to adult dog food. The timeline for a dog’s growth varies by breed. Some dogs reach their full size in seven months—for others, it’s closer to two years.
When to Switch for Toy and Small Breeds
Around 7 to 10 months: Small breed dogs weigh less than 20 pounds when fully grown, while toy breeds typically weigh less than 12 pounds as adults. Toy and small breeds reach maturity much faster than larger breeds. You may need to switch to adult food around 7 to 10 months to maintain the optimal balance of protein, fat, and calories.
Caution: When you’re ready to make the switch to adult food for your smaller pup, keep an eye on kibble size; small breeds may struggle to chew large pieces of food. Many small-breed adult dog foods are specially formulated to address these issues while offering the optimal nutrition for petite pups.
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iStock via Eva Blanco
When Medium Breeds Can Switch to Adult Food
Between 10 to 14 months: Medium breed dogs weigh between 20 and 50 pounds at their adult weight. For the most part, these puppies reach full size around 10 to 12 months of age. Puppies at the higher end of this breed size could take as many as 14 months to finish growing.
Caution: There isn’t typically a size-specific diet for medium dogs like there is for dogs on the ends of the size spectrum. However, mid-size pups still need a healthy balance of protein and fat in their meals. As an adult, your medium breed dog’s calorie intake should primarily be determined by their body weight and activity level. This can be calculated by reading the guidelines on your dog food bag or by checking with your vet.
Guidance for Switching to Adult Food for Large and Giant Breeds
Between 12 to 24 months: Large breed dogs weigh 50 to 80 pounds at maturity and often grow well past 12 months. Giant breeds weigh over 80 pounds and may keep growing for up to 2 full years.
Because of their size, it’s easy to mistake these big puppies for a fully grown adult dogs. However, it’s important to keep your large breed pup on a puppy diet until they’ve reached maturity.
Caution: The biggest concern with large breeds is to control the rate of growth. Growing too fast can stress developing bones and joints, increasing the puppy’s risk for orthopedic problems in adulthood. Switching big puppies to adult dog food before they’re ready—or using the wrong puppy food—can contribute to these long-term musculoskeletal issues.
Large breed puppy food should contain at least 30% protein, 9% fat, and less than 1.5% calcium. You’ll also want to avoid high-calcium treats while your large-breed pup is still growing.
A large-breed adult dog food should take the special needs of big dogs into consideration, with the optimal levels of fat and protein for their ongoing health.
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iStock via alexei_tm
How Is Puppy Food Different than Adult Dog Food?
All dogs require a balance of protein, fat, and essential nutrients for optimal health and wellness. However, the percentages of each nutrient needed by your dog depends in part on their activity level and health status and in part on their age.
According to The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the protein and fat requirements for dogs differ:
- Puppies require nutrition from food with at least 22% protein and 8% fat to effectively fuel their growth and development
- Adult dogs don’t need quite as much, with a recommended minimum of 18% protein and 5% fat
- Puppy foods will typically be designated “for growth stage”
- Adult dog foods may be labeled “for maintenance”
- Dog food labeled “for all life stages” can be suitable for any age.
Puppy foods also typically include ingredients to help them grow, such as DHA, a nutrient typically found in a mother dog’s milk, and higher levels of calcium and phosphorus.
Before you look at your dog’s food label and start to worry, know that these percentages are calculated on a dry-matter basis, which means subtracting the moisture content from a given food and comparing just the nutrients. This helps to understand the food’s real nutritional value and to compare different types of dog food that might have more or less liquid (like canned versus kibble).
iStock via cmannphoto
Easing Your Dog into Their New Food
Slow and steady is the way to go when it comes to transitioning your dog to a new recipe. Making sudden changes to your dog’s diet can trigger digestive upset, which can be unpleasant for both you and your pup. Simply mix a small amount of adult dog food with your puppy’s current food, slowly increasing the ratio of new to old food over the course of a week or two.
If your puppy experiences digestive symptoms along the way, revert to a lower ratio of the new food for another day or two before moving back up. Most brands of food recommend making the transition over 7 to 10 days, though expert opinions vary. According to Merck, “New food should be introduced gradually throughout 5–7 days,” though some experts say that the transition could take up to a month.
It’s important to observe your dog closely during the transition and to work with your veterinarian to meet the individual nutritional needs of your pet.
How To Know the Switch Was Successful
How do you know your dog has successfully transitioned to adult dog food? There are a few factors to watch for.
First, does your dog like the new food? If they turn their nose up or refuse to eat, your first choice might not be the best option. Buying a small bag of the new food is always a good approach until you’re sure your dog is happy.
If they do eat, you’ll want to watch for changes in health, behavior, and weight. Gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and loose stool can indicate a problem with the food, whether it’s a need to slow down the transition or an intolerance to the ingredients.
Itchy skin and discharge in the eyes and nose are also cause for concern, as they may indicate an ingredient allergy. Sometimes you won’t notice any physical symptoms, but your dog will let you know they’re not feeling well through their behavior.
If your puppy’s rate of growth suddenly changes with the new food and they begin gaining or losing weight quickly, it might be a sign that they’re just not ready to graduate to adult food. You may want to consult with your vet and take a step back, giving them a little more time on their puppy diet before you make the switch.
Other Reasons To Change Your Puppy’s Diet
Throughout your dog’s life, you may need to change their food more than once. Besides becoming an adult, there are several other reasons to transition your dog’s food, from health issues to obesity and beyond.
Health concerns and pregnancy
Changes in your dog’s health are a common reason to update the contents of your dog’s bowl. Certain health concerns such as food allergies, kidney disease, and liver disease may require a diet specially formulated to avoid or include certain ingredients.
Dogs with liver disease, for example, may benefit from foods that are low in protein. For suspected allergies, an elimination diet or testing with your vet can help you determine the root of your pup’s discomfort.
Mama pups need significantly more calories in their diet to stay healthy and feed their pups. In fact, VCA animal hospitals estimates that nursing dogs require 2-4 times more energy on average. Once the pups are weaned (around 8 weeks after birth), your dog’s needs should return to normal.
When your puppy is overweight
Like humans, obesity is a concern for many dogs. Healthy dogs should have a visible waistline and an obvious tuck where the abdomen slants upward between the ribcage and hind legs. You should also be able to feel the ribs, pelvis, and backbone with a thin layer of fat.
Dogs should always be fed the amount recommended by the food manufacturer and their vet. If the scales start to tip in the wrong direction, though, you may need adjust your dog’s portion size. In some cases, your vet may even recommend switching to a weight-control formula.
Your dog starts refusing their current diet
If you see a dramatic change in your dog’s appetite, it’s a good idea to check in with your vet. If your pup gets a clean bill of health, you might look for other changes:
- A formula change in their existing dog food
- Newfound pickiness that sometimes appears with age
- Stress or anxiety
- Alterations in their environment
In times like these, a change to a more appealing food can help resolve the issue.