When Should You Switch Your Puppy TO Adult Food?

[ZdogZ]

Where did Cheryl's other post go? POOF!

[Michael Romanos]

Puppies neeed and deserve puppy food and adult dogs need and deserve adult dog food and apart from assessing when the moments for change actually occur, this is the way it is and Corgis are absolutely no different to other breeds in this respect. The dwarf thing does not really apply in this instance. Overfeeding does apply and I wouldn't think it necessary to feed Corgis puppy food beyond 12 months.

[darci]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

over the last dozen years or so there has been the realisation that senior dogs also have and need different requirements. This is accepted by AAFCO and all the leading international dog food manufacturers and so AAFCO put out standards for all three stages of a dog's life. .

This statement indicates how the food was tested (feeding versus laboratory analysis or formulation) and for which life stage the food is intended. AAFCO recognizes only 4 life stages: growth, maintenance, gestation, and lactation. The term “all life stages” is frequently used on a label and indicates that the product has been either formulated or tested for growth. By default, it is anticipated that such a food would also pass a maintenance protocol because testing a food for growth generally includes gestation and lactation. There are no AAFCO-approved nutrient profiles for geriatric, senior, or weight loss stages.

Here is the link
Merck Veterinary Manual

[darci]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Puppies neeed and deserve puppy food and adult dogs need and deserve adult dog food .

The term “all life stages” is frequently used on a label and indicates that the product has been either formulated or tested for growth. By default, it is anticipated that such a food would also pass a maintenance protocol because testing a food for growth generally includes gestation and lactation.

Aagin here is the link the info was taken from.
Merck Veterinary Manual

I dont agree Michael with your above quote, if you read on a bag of all life stages foods it covers all requirements for the 4 stages of life including puppy, so if you are using an all life stages food there is no need for puppy foods.

[glencorgi]

To further illustrate Cindy's points here is a direct quote from a bag of Premium Edge Senior Dog Formula.

"Association of American Feed Control Officials
Animal feeding tests using Association of American Feed Control Officials procedures substantiate that Premium Edge Senior Dog Formula provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs."

Emphasis in bold letters mine, but NO age is specified.

This brand also includes Glucosamine hydrochloride and Chondrotin sulfate marked with asteriks and the disclaimer, *Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profile.

Debbie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Puppies neeed and deserve puppy food and adult dogs need and deserve adult dog food and apart from assessing when the moments for change actually occur, this is the way it is and Corgis are absolutely no different to other breeds in this respect. The dwarf thing does not really apply in this instance. Overfeeding does apply and I wouldn't think it necessary to feed Corgis puppy food beyond 12 months.

Deserve? Need? Michael did you look at the links to my dogs photos? Do they look like they've been deprived in the food department? The two litters there are the two that never got any puppy formula food. The "British Invasion" litter will be 7 years old next week. The "Money" litter will be 4 in June.

As I've said repeatedly there is more than one right way to feed a dog. Your opinion is not the only way. And yes, it's just an opinion. Again, you need to allow others to have a differing opinion and not just keep saying things like "need" and "deserve", which IMO, both imply if we don't feed puppy or senior formula then we are not feeding our dogs right. And I take offense to that. My dogs are healthy and fine and have never had a health problem due to the way they are being fed.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by darci

The term “all life stages” is frequently used on a label and indicates that the product has been either formulated or tested for growth..

Which then means that it's just fine for puppies and a puppy formula is not needed or necessary. An adult maintence food will meet a growing puppy's requirements.

Which is what I've been saying all along.

Thank you Cindy!

Peggy

[Dillydoodle]

deleted post

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by ZdogZ

Where did Cheryl's other post go? POOF!

Kristi,

you're the teacher, you must hear it all the time - "the Dog ate it"

[ZdogZ]

Linda ~ twice this year I had to tell some of my students that Zia ate their homework! One time was this week! How awful is that?

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by ZdogZ

Linda ~ twice this year I had to tell some of my students that Zia ate their homework! One time was this week! How awful is that?

I forgot about how much she likes paper

[ZdogZ]

Linda ~ She just chewed the bottom off of some math papers. My kids love Zia so they laughed and thought it was funny. Some were actually disappointed that their paper hadn't been chewed on. Aw, the innocence of 1st graders!

[Chip's Mom]

Kristi:

How do you grade their papers with a hole in it. LOL

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

You'll find that there is a universal acceptance to feed puppy food to puppies and adult food to adults and over the last dozen years or so there has been the realisation that senior dogs also have and need different requirements. This is accepted by AAFCO and all the leading international dog food manufacturers and so AAFCO put out standards for all three stages of a dog's life.

Pet Food Labels - General

"Occasionally a product may be labeled for a more specific use or life stage, such as "senior" or for a specific size or breed. However, there is little information as to the true dietary needs of these more specific uses, and no rules governing these types of statements have been established. Thus, a "senior" diet must meet the requirements for adult maintenance, but no more. A product that does not meet either of these methods must state that "this product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding," except if it is conspicuously identified as a snack or treat."



"an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement is one of the most important aspects of a dog or cat food label. A "complete and balanced" pet food must be substantiated for nutritional adequacy by one of two means."...



The first method is for the pet food to contain ingredients formulated to provide levels of nutrients that meet an established profile. Presently, the AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profiles are used. Products substantiated by this method should include the words, "(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO (Dog/Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles." This means the product contains the proper amount of protein, calcium, and other recognized essential nutrients needed to meet the needs of the healthy animal. The recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC) were once used as the basis for nutritional adequacy, but they are no longer considered valid for this purpose."



"The alternative means of substantiating nutritional adequacy is for the product to be tested following the AAFCO Feeding Trial Protocols. This means that the product, or "lead" member of a "family" of products, has been fed to dogs or cats under strict guidelines and found to provide proper nutrition. These products should bear the nutritional adequacy statement "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition."

"Regardless of the method used, the nutritional adequacy statement will also state for which life stage(s) the product is suitable, such as "for maintenance," or "for growth."


"A product intended "for all life stages" meets the more stringent nutritional needs for growth and reproduction."


"A maintenance ration will meet the needs of an adult, non-reproducing dog or cat of normal activity, but may not be sufficient for a growing, reproducing, or hard-working animal. On the other hand, an all life stages ration can be fed for maintenance. Although the higher levels of nutrients would not be harmful to the healthy adult animal, they are not really necessary"

[yonae12]

It would be interesting to see hard evidence supporting the theory that a dog's life is extended because they are fed puppy then adult food as opposed to straight adult food.

In looking at alot of the dog food labels, the conclusion I came to is that the food differences in general are that the puppy foods are higher in protein and fat for growth. But the basic ingredients in the same line of product is the same.

With this info, I could see perhaps a lab or a great dane taking advantage of the extra protein and fat as they grow several times their body weight in a comparitively very quick time. Corgi's however don't grow as big compared to their original birth weight.