Ziggy is almost 8 months old now and growing into a fine young lab. He's been on Arden Grange Junior Large Breed since 4 months but I have some concerns and want to try him on something else. He's an energetic little chap so burns plenty of calories. His size/build seems perfect - not over or under weight. But I only feed him the bottom end of the scale for his weight range. He does at least one soft, difficult to pick up stool each day. He certainly isn't being overfed so I wonder whether puppy food is now just to rich for him. What is your experience about switching from junior to adult food. I feel if I ask at the vets they will just push their expensive Hills food on me rather than answer the question. (PS here's my lad surveying the hills outside Gloucester) http://www.flickr.com/photos/138544924@N06/25122530761/in/dateposted-public/
When you say 'too rich', what do you mean, exactly? Too much protein or too much fat? The food you are feeding now contains: Crude Protein 26%, Fat Content 16%, Crude Ash 7%, Crude Fibres 2.5%, Calcium 1.4%, Phosphorous 0.95%, Omega-3 0.84%, Omega-6 2.92%. It is very easy to find adult foods with much higher Protein and Fat content than that, and without the Phosphorous which I would stick with feeding until a dog is about a year old. The adult version of what you are feeding would contain: Crude Protein 24%, Fat Content 14%, Crude Ash 7%, Crude Fibres 2.5%, Calcium 1.2%, Phosphorous 0.75%, Omega-3 0.98%, Omega-6 2.74%, L-carnitine (50mg/kg) Which is really a very modest reduction in protein and fat, a reduction in phosphorous and calcium, and a modest increase in omega 3.
How many meals a day is he getting? It could be that he's getting too much food in each meal and that's too hard work for his tummy. Maybe look at adding another meal, or, even better, taking a large chunk away from his meals and feed that throughout the day as training treats. The weight scale that is put on the bags is often very high for our Labs, who don't need anywhere near as much as they say. From what you say, he's at a good weight himself, so it sounds like you have the amount right, but don't stress that it's at the bottom limit of what they suggest.
Thanks all. I'll start gradually moving him over to something adult tomorrow. He gets 3 meals a day and a portion of his allowance as treats during training (for a bright dog he's still stupid enough to do anything for a piece of kibble though it's all sausages etc at the dog training school!) so I don't think he's getting too much in his tum in one hit. My attempts to wean him off lunch have failed. I would never get any work done early afternoon!
My two 6 & 9yrs have always had 3 meals a day, they eat at 8am, 5pm and then have supper around 9pm, works for us. I wouldn't worry about dropping a meal, do whatever suits you and your dog.
How strange. I suggested in another thread that a 9 month old could be moved to adult food and got shot down by JulieT.
I had to switch to adult food really early with mine pup due to health probems. I used the ALL about dog food website and spoke to some food manufacturers and found something suitable for him. Luckily theres lots of different types of food out there now and I was even able to get treats and chews which he could have. I use a lot of MIllies Wolf heart foods and treats now.
In days gone by, there was no such thing as puppy food and they got the same as adults, so I don't think it matters in the scheme of things!
You didn't get shot down. I disagreed with you. Then the conversation unfortunately turned into a bit of an argument. My position remains as it was - and pointing out that the differences between puppy food and adult food (as above) is consistent with that.
I think it depends on the food too. Some manufacturers recommend their puppy food for 6 months, some 12, some 18 and some 24 months I think it depends both on manufacturer and on breed of puppy/dog.
I you speak to the manufacturer they will supply the details you need and then you just work form there to get to the amount which suits your dog. I had to do it with Rory as he could tolerate an adult food, they were very helpful infact everyone I spoke to was. the food the vet supplied just made things worse so i had to sort it out myself.
