Can Puppies Eat Adult Dog Food?

There are many questions about what dogs can and cannot eat, especially when you’re looking for the right food for your new puppy. If you want to know whether your puppy can eat adult food, then yes. Adult dog food will not harm your puppy, nor is it toxic. 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 grow and develop, and is always the best food for a new puppy. In this article, we’re going to look at what puppy food is and why it’s the right choice for your new puppy. 

• Puppies should not eat adult dog food as it doesn't meet the nutritional requirements for their growth and mental development, like complete puppy food. 
• Adult dogs should not eat puppy food as it contains more fat than adult food and may lead to obesity, among other health problems. Only pregnant or nursing dogs should eat puppy food.
• You can introduce dry puppy foods to puppies as early as 4 weeks old, but this should be mixed with water or puppy milk so they can easily chew it. You can then begin the weaning process to get them accustomed to eating dry food. 

• What is the Difference Between Puppy Food and Adult Dog Food?
• When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?
• When Can Puppies Have Treats?
• Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food?

What is the Difference Between Puppy Food and Adult Dog Food?

All dog food is specifically tailored to meet specific nutritional needs, whether condition-specific or age-specific. Much like humans, puppies have different dietary requirements than full-grown dogs, and they need food to 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 will look at the key differences between adult dog food and puppy food. 

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. Puppies tend to be more active than adult dogs. Still, a lot of their energy is spent on growing and developing, with puppies completing almost all of their growth within the first year, and they need the extra energy to support both their physical growth and 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 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 adult dogs can tolerate higher protein levels, it can also lead to issues such as weight gain from the extra calories. In contrast, puppies 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, helping 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, 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 the vitamins and minerals added to the food. Puppies need more calcium (1%) and phosphorus (0.8%), whereas adults need less. 

Another aspect of puppy food is the size of the kibble. Smaller dogs need a smaller kibble size to easily bite and chew the food without choking. The same is true for puppies, as their mouths are smaller still than most small dogs' mouths, so they need a smaller kibble to accommodate this.

Puppies also don’t have their adult teeth yet, and their puppy teeth aren’t as strong as those of a full-grown adult. Puppy kibble can accommodate this, which is also why many owners add water or puppy milk to their puppy’s kibble to make it easier on their sensitive teeth.

Much like babies, puppies have very sensitive stomachs and are more prone to digestive problems like diarrhoea. Many puppy owners learn this the hard way, which 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 its breed, as some breeds are known to grow quicker than others. Some large breeds are still considered puppies well past their first year. 

That said, it is important to know what food is suitable for puppies in their earliest stages, as this is when a lot of their key development takes place. 

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, in some instances, such as the loss of the mother, rejection or special needs, 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 formula-fed puppies will also need additional supplements to help with their development, and extra care is taken regarding socialisation. 

This is often the age when puppies can 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, 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 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 grows, both in size and weight. Every puppy is different, and they may have a much bigger or smaller appetite than average. Ensuring your puppy is keeping to a healthy weight is very important for their development, as being overweight can strain their still-growing joints, whereas being underweight can mean they’re not getting all the nutrients they need to grow properly. 

During this time, most dogs (particularly small to medium breeds) will be reaching maturity. This means they should be able to eat unsoftened puppy kibble without 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 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, which is just in time for you to begin 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. 

Once your dog begins eating dry food, it’s important to take care of their dental health and ease their 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 essential to check the age recommendations for each produc,t 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 regarding 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 is pregnant or nursing dogs, 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 its diet to ensure it gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs for a healthy pregnancy. 

Finding the right food for your dog can be challenging 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 on choosing the best food for your dog or you can contact us, and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help!

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should thoroughly discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle with your vet before starting any program or treatment.