16 January 2023
Guide to Dog Food by Age
When it comes to choosing dog food, there are so many options on the market that it’s easy to get confused about what is best for your dog.
As well as various flavours, brands, and even health condition-specific foods, you may have noticed that dog food is also categorised by age. In this guide, we’re going to talk you through everything you need to know about age-specific dog food, including when to switch puppies to adult dog food and how to choose the best dog food for your dog at every stage of their life.
Contents:
Why Does Age-Specific Dog Food Matter
Just like with humans, your dog has different nutritional requirements depending on their age. This is why brands split their products into age-specific dog food groups, and while some will do this by year, other brands use terms like ‘Puppy’, ‘Junior’, ‘Adult’, and ‘Senior’.
It's important for you as a dog owner to understand the differences between these age groups so you can ensure you are choosing the right dog food for your dog and ensure they're getting the optimum diet for their age.
How Important is Puppy Food?
When your dog is a puppy, there are certain nutrients that they need in their diet to help them develop properly as well as support their bones, organs, muscles, and growth. This is why most puppy food has a much higher calorie content than their adult counterparts.
Much like babies, puppies also need to be fed more frequently than adult dogs and the amount of times they eat a day (and how much) will vary depending on their age, breed, and size. Here’s a general guide to how much puppy food you should be feeding your puppies:
- 6-12 weeks — Puppies at this stage should be fed appropriate puppy food four times a day to adequately meet their nutritional demands. Most dog breeds should also start eating unmoistened dry food during this time. It is recommended that large dog breeds are introduced to this by 9-10 weeks, and small dog breeds by 12-13 weeks.
- 3-6 Months — Puppies at this stage should have their feedings gradually decreased to three feedings a day. By this time, most dogs will have passed their potbelly and puppy-pudge, but if they haven’t, you should continue feeding puppy-sized portions until their body type matures.
- 6-12 Months — It is during this time that dogs should be spayed or neutered, which will lower their energy levels slightly. Once they’ve had the procedure, you can switch from puppy food to adult food. Small dog breeds can usually switch between 7-9 months, but bigger breeds should stay on nutrient-rich puppy food between 12-14 months. You should be feeding your dog twice daily at this point.
What is Junior Dog Food?
Rather than jumping right from puppy to adult food, you can also incorporate junior food into their diet. This is considered an intermediary stage for your dog where they can still benefit from the extra nutrients of puppy food as they continue to grow. Junior dog food, like the James Wellbeloved Junior Dog Lamb & Rice Kibble, is a good choice for larger breeds, as it takes longer for their bodies to reach maturity.
What is Adult Dog Food?
The nutritional needs of adult dogs are far different to those of a puppy, so once your dog has reached full maturity, it’s time to switch them to an appropriate adult dog food for their size.
As puppy food is much higher in calories for those growing bodies, keeping an adult dog on puppy food can quickly lead to your dog becoming obese, which can cause issues with your dog’s overall health and well-being.
It is important to feed your adult dog a complete adult food, like the Arden Grange Adult Dog Lamb & Rice. Always remember to take your dog’s breed, size, and any existing health conditions into account when choosing adult dog food.
What Age Should You Transition from Puppy to Adult Dog Food?
Another important factor to know is when puppies can eat adult food. Every dog is different and you need to be cautious about when they should transition to adult dog food. Typically, a dog should be moved onto adult dog food once their body reaches maturity. However, when this should occur depends on a number of factors, particularly your dog’s breed.
Small and Medium Breeds
Dogs weighing less than 20 pounds, usually called small or toy breeds, tend to reach maturity between 9-10 months old. Small and toy dogs will include breeds like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and toy poodles.
Medium dog breeds tend to weigh between 21-50 pounds when fully grown. There is a wide range of dog breeds that can be considered ‘medium’ as it’s based on their weight over their height. For example, both Border Collies and English Bulldogs are considered medium dog breeds, as well as a few Spaniel breeds. These sized dog breeds ten to reach maturity around a year old and should be fed puppy food until they reach this point.
Large and Giant Dog Breeds
Large and giant dog breeds take the longest to mature as they have a lot more growing to do. These dogs are usually between 50-100 pounds when fully grown, which can take between 18 months to two years.
Some examples of large dog breeds include Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Dalmations, whereas giant dog breeds include breeds such as Newfoundlands, Great Danes, and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
If you’re not sure about your dog’s breed or what size they will be once fully mature, then consult with your vet on when best to transition from puppy to adult food.
If you’d like to learn more about the best dog food for your dog’s breed or size, why not read our comparison between size-specific dog food and breed-specific dog food below?
How to Make the Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Dog Food
When your dog is fully grown and ready to move on to adult food, it’s important not to change your dog's food immediately, as a quick change can quickly lead to stomach upset.
Be sure to introduce adult dog food to your dog gradually, and don’t be disheartened if there is a change in your dog's appetite or slight dietary upset. This is perfectly normal. It can take between 7-10 days for your dog to transition fully, and even more if your dog is a fussy eater.
This is also a good time to decide if you’d rather your dog have a diet of dry dog food, wet dog food, or maybe a combination of both.
What Age is Senior Dog Food For?
As with determining when a puppy becomes an adult, knowing when a dog needs senior food will vary from breed to breed.
Typically, dogs over 8 years old are considered senior, however, as smaller dogs have a longer lifespan, they may not be considered senior until they reach 11 years old. Giant dogs, who have an average lifespan of 9-10 years, can even be considered senior as early as 5 years old.
Does my Dog Need Senior Dog Food?
As your dog begins to age, they can begin to encounter a number of health problems that can vary in severity depending on breed and the individual dog’s health. This is why it is important to speak with your vet to see if changing your dog’s food would be in their best interest.
One of the biggest health concerns for older dogs is obesity. Not only does your dog’s metabolism slow down as they age, but in some cases, their overall movement might as well. This is why most senior dog foods tend to have less fat to help dogs maintain a healthy weight as they age. Depending on the brand and the type of senior dog food (condition or breed specific, etc.), it may also contain added dog supplements for joining, heart, liver, and kidney health.
At Pet Drugs Online, we want to make sure that your dog is their happiest and healthiest self. If you would like more help finding the best dog food for your dog, please get in touch and speak to a member of our expert team today.
