When can a golden retriever switch to adult dog food?

Generally speaking, it is recommended to switch a golden retriever to adult dog food after 12 months of age. This is because dogs are considered adults after one year, and during the period before 12 months, their bodies are still in a period of development, with higher nutritional requirements. In addition, dogs over 8 months old can eat all-stage dog food, and do not need to eat puppy food.

Differences between adult dog food and puppy food

The ingredients of adult dog food and puppy food differ. Puppy food: The nutrition content is higher than that of adult dog food, with higher calcium, fat, and calorie content. This helps the puppies develop and grow, and the particles are much smaller than those of adult dog food, making them easier for dogs to digest. Adult dog food: The fiber content is relatively higher than that of puppy food, and the particles are larger. The moisture content is also different. If an adult dog eats puppy food, it is easy to cause nutritional imbalance, coupled with insufficient exercise, it is easy to become overweight or even trigger heart disease.

Can puppies eat adult dog food?

No. The nutritional components needed during different stages of a puppy's development are different. This is because the key periods of development for various systems are different, and the crucial nutrients needed for each system are naturally different. For example, the early lactation period is a critical period for the development of the nervous and intellectual systems. The key nutrients needed for the development of these two systems are lipids, phosphorus, immunoglobulins, and lactoferrin. Therefore, it is recommended not to feed puppies with adult dog food. Long-term use of adult dog food can lead to indigestion, intestinal dysfunction, and diarrhea, affecting the growth and development of the puppy.

How to switch dog food

The choice of dog food should be based on the dog's developmental stage, and stage-specific dog food produced by reputable manufacturers should be selected. When switching dog food, a gradual transition is necessary instead of a sudden change. It usually takes 5-7 days to switch to new dog food. Specifically, the amount of old dog food gradually decreases, while the amount of new dog food gradually increases, until the dog is fully transitioned to the new dog food.