How Long Should I Feed My Puppy a Puppy Recipe?

We all wish that our furry friends could stay puppies forever; however, they eventually grow into adults, and as a result, will have to switch from a puppy-specific recipe to an adult recipe. But how do you know when to begin this transition? Keep reading to find out how to support your pup’s nutritional needs throughout these different life stages!

Why choose a puppy specific recipe?

Have you ever wondered why there are puppy foods and adult dog foods? Or why you can’t feed a puppy like an adult dog? The nutritional requirements of growing puppies are actually different from those of adult dogs, so their diets should be too!

A puppy’s diet plays a key role in supporting their growth and development. Because of this, a puppy diet must consider several important factors, including their immature immunity, digestion, and teeth development, along with their growth and development requirements. Here at Go! Solutions, we have perfectly tailored and balanced nutritional solutions to support your pup.

Our Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Puppy Recipe is a great diet for most puppies. It’s perfect for small puppy teeth, packed full of animal protein to support muscle growth, and has fatty acids DHA and EPA to support brain and eye development, and healthy immune function!

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A Protein Rich Recipe for Growing Dogs

Our Carnivore Chicken, Turkey + Duck Recipe is perfect for puppies that need all the minerals and protein to grow big and strong.

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How much do I feed my puppy? How often?

Pick a puppy diet? Check! Next? How much do I feed my pup, and how often?

The amount of food you feed will vary depending on your pet’s breed, activity level, age, and climate. Use the feeding guidelines on the back of the food bag as a guide, adjusting the quantity fed to achieve your dog’s ideal weight as they grow.

In addition, puppies do not know how to regulate their food intake, so it’s up to you to control their portions to help avoid them becoming overweight. It's usually recommended to feed 3 to 4 meals per day. Once your pup is 6 months of age, switching to two feedings a day is recommended.

Remember that the quantity stated on the feeding guidelines is a daily recommended amount, so you’ll need to split this across your puppy’s meals.

Taylor RichardsMSc Student - Companion Animal Nutrition

Any treats you give your puppy should also be included in their daily amount too. It is easy to overfeed with rewards, so adjusting their food intake is crucial to maintaining a healthy body weight. You can even use one of their meals as training time and using the kibble pieces as a reward.

When to switch to an adult recipe?

After your puppy is approximately one year old you can make the switch to an adult recipe. However, this can vary based on breed size – large breed puppies typically consume a puppy diet for a bit longer due to their increased length of growth stage, around 15-24 months before making the switch.

Making the switch to an adult dog food is important because puppy foods are generally higher in calories to accommodate all that puppy energy and development.

Taylor RichardsMSc Student - Companion Animal Nutrition

But as an adult, these excess calories can cause weight gain when fed longer than intended. Check with your veterinarian to help determine when your puppy is ready to move onto adult food.

When your puppy is ready to transition to their new adult dog food, it is important to make the switch gradually to avoid any digestive upset. Check out our blog on how to transition your dog to a new food.

An awesome option for this transition is our Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey +Duck Adult Recipe. This formulation is loaded with premium animal sources, antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies to support immune function, and probiotic and prebiotic fibre to support health gut bacteria and good digestion!

Mix it up with combination feeding

Do you still have mixed feelings on how to feed your pup? Try mixed feeding! Mixed feeding or combination feeding is when you give your puppy a combination of wet and dry food – either at the same time or at separate meals. They both offer important benefits:

HYDRATION: In dry foods, the moisture significantly lower than that of wet food. This is an easy way to ensure your pup is staying hydrated and healthy!

PALATABILITY: Wet food formulas are often highly appealing to even the pickiest of pets!

A great wet food option to mix it up is our Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey +Duck Stew Recipe for all life stages. Packed with drool-inducing animal proteins to support strong, lean muscles, this tasty Go! Solutions recipe provides natural antioxidants from fruits and veggies, while the delicious stew texture and tasty gravy create a meaty flavor that will make your dog go MUTTS!

Don’t FUR-get to ensure that you are feeding your pup the right amount of wet food – use the instructions on the package as a guide and adjust accordingly. You can also consult your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is receiving the proper portions of both wet and dry food.

Conclusion

Deciding the best way to feed your pet can be ruff, especially through these important life-stages; but follow these steps to support your dog’s growth and development and watch them grow into a strong and healthy adult dog!