6 April 2023
Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food?
There are a lot of questions when it comes to what dogs can and cannot eat, especially when you’re looking for the right food for your new puppy. If you want to know the answer to whether your puppy can eat adult food, then the answer is yes. Adult dog food will not harm your puppy, nor is it toxic in any way. If you want to know if adult food is the best choice for your puppy, then the answer is no.
Puppy food is made specifically to help them with their growth and development and is always the best choice for a new puppy. In this article, we’re going to take a look at what puppy food actually is and why it’s the right choice for your new puppy.
Contents:
What is the Difference Between Puppy Food and Adult Dog Food?
All dog food is specifically tailored to meet certain nutritional needs, whether that’s condition-specific dog food or age-specific. Much like humans, puppies have different nutritional requirements than full-grown dogs, and they need food that can fulfil these needs. Those little bundles of joy still have a lot of growing to do and the food they eat plays a big part in how well they grow and develop into healthy adult dogs.
Here we’re going to take a look at the key differences between adult dog food and puppy food.
Nutrition
Puppy food tends to be much higher in calories and is more nutritionally dense than adult dog food. This is because puppies need more calories per pound of body weight than a non-pregnant or non-lactating adult dog would. This isn't just because puppies tend to be more active than adult dogs, but also because a lot of their energy is spent by them growing. Puppies do almost all of their growth within the first three years of their life and need the extra energy to support both that physical growth and also their brain development.
This is why puppy food has double the amount of amino acids in their formula, including:
- Argine
- Histidine
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Phenylalanine
- Ohenylalaline-tyrosine
- Thereorine
Puppies also require a higher protein content in their food as a whole since they should derive 22% of their calories from protein as opposed to the adult need of only 18%, and each type of food reflects this accordingly. While higher protein levels can be tolerated by adult dogs, it can also lead to issues such as weight gain from the extra calories, while puppies who are fed adult food can suffer from developmental issues as they’re not consuming enough.
Puppies also need to derive 8.5% of their calories from fat to ensure that their food is energy dense to help them regulate their body temperatures and keep their bodies functioning as they should. Adult dogs, however, only need to derive 5.5% of their calories from fat and so adult dog food is formulated to help them maintain lean muscle mass.
The final key nutritional difference between puppy and adult food is focused on what vitamins and minerals are added to the food. Puppies need a higher percentage of calcium (1%) and phosphorus (0.8%) in their food, whereas adults need less.
Kibble size
Another aspect of puppy food is the size of the kibble. As we discussed in our guide to the difference between breed-specific dog foods, smaller dogs need a smaller kibble size so they can easily bite and chew the food without the risk of choking. The same is true for puppies, and their mouths are smaller still than most small dogs' mouths, so they need a smaller kibble to accommodate this. Puppies also haven’t got their adult teeth yet, and their puppy teeth aren’t as strong as a full-grown adult would be. Puppy kibble is able to accommodate this and this is also why many owners add water or puppy milk to their puppy’s kibble to make it easier on their sensitive teeth.
Sensitive Ingredients
Much like babies, puppies have very sensitive stomachs and are more prone to digestive problems like diarrhoea. This is something that many puppy owners learn the hard way and is why puppy foods are made using ingredients that are much easier for their little bellies to digest.
When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?
When a puppy can move onto solid food usually depends on the breed of a puppy as some of them are known to grow quicker than others, with some large breeds still being considered puppies well past their first year.
That said, it is important to know what kind of food is suitable for puppies in their earliest stages as this is when a lot of their key development takes place.
0-8 Weeks
From birth, puppies should be fed solely on their mother’s milk, which is rich in all the nutrients they need in their earliest weeks. Nature knows best, after all. However, there are some instances such as the loss of the mother, rejection or special needs that mean puppies can’t feed on their mother’s milk. In this case, puppies need to be fed on a puppy formula, like this Royal Canin Baby Dog Milk, which is the next best thing. It is important to note that puppies who are being formula-fed will also need additional supplements to help with their development as well as extra care is taken when it comes to socialisation.
3-6 Months
This is often the age when puppies are able to leave their mothers and go to their new homes, although some breeders will keep them with their mothers for up to 12 weeks or more, depending on their breed and size.
Within these few months is also when puppies tend to go through teething, meaning their puppy teeth are coming through in full force. This means you can begin introducing them to dry food, although to start it should still be softened with water or puppy milk to make it easier on their new teeth. Now is the time to introduce chew toys to puppies as well to help relieve the teething pains, but make sure you are only using puppy-safe products as some hard chews can break or damage their young jaws.
At this age, you also need to watch the rate at which your puppy is growing, both in size and weight. Every puppy is different and they may have a much bigger or smaller appetite than average. Making sure your puppy is keeping to a healthy weight is very important for their development as being overweight can put a strain on their still-growing joints, whereas being underweight can mean they’re not getting all the nutrients they need to grow properly.
6-12 Months
During this time is when most dogs (particularly small to medium breeds) will be reaching maturity. This means they should be able to eat unsoftened puppy kibble without any issues and may even be ready to move on to adult or junior dog food.
For small breeds in particular, which tend to be fully grown by 7-9 months, you can even switch them from their puppy food to an adult or “all life stages” general food. Larger breeds should be kept on puppy food for a little longer, at least until they are fully grown.
When Can Puppies Have Treats?
As soon as your puppy is happily eating dry, unmoistened dog food, you can start giving them puppy treats as well, which is just in time for you to start their training routine! As with their food, it’s best to stick with puppy-specific treats as they tend to be smaller and are gentler on their teeth.
That said, once your dog begins eating dry food, it’s important to begin taking care of their dental health as well as easing teething pains. Dental chews are a great way to help maintain your dog’s oral health and as they’re usually harder to chew, they can also offer a great teething option for young puppies. When it comes to dental chews, it’s important to check the age recommendations for each product as some may be too hard for puppy teeth and can cause damage to your puppy’s teeth and/or jaw.
Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food ?
Another common question people ask when it comes to puppy food is whether or not it’s alright for an adult dog to eat. While there are no immediate dangers to your adult dog eating puppy food, it isn’t the healthiest option for your dog. As we’ve mentioned, puppy food far exceeds the nutritional needs for a healthy adult dog and is much higher in calories and fat which can lead to obesity and other health issues down the road.
The only exception to this is dogs that are pregnant or nursing, as these dogs also require extra energy, calories, and vitamins to help support them both during and after their pregnancy.
If your dog is pregnant or lactating, you can also consider adding appropriate dog supplements to their diet to ensure they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need for a healthy pregnancy.
Finding the right food for your dog can be a challenge and may require a lot of trial and error, especially for new puppies, or if you have a specific dog breed that may be more prone to certain conditions in later life. If you’d like some help finding the right food for your dog, check out our guide below on how to choose the best food for your dog or get in touch with a member of our friendly team who will be happy to help!
