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A thread about a thread - but I am sure the op won't mind!

21 replies

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 19:02

Thinking about the "What Do You Feed Your Dog Thread" I was wondering how long you have all kept your puppies on puppy food? I have heard/read sooo many different opinions!

Royal Canin (the food I use) say 15 months
I have read 1 year
A friend said 7 months
I has also heard 5 months...

How on earth are you supposed to make sense of that???

He is a GSD so a large breed, I want to be careful of his joints, obviously. The food costs basically the same for puppy and adult so I don't see that the manufacturer gains anything by keeping you on the puppy food longer than necessary. I do know that changing to adult food too early can cause hyperactive behaviour.

So, what do you recommend,
what did you do,
what food did you use and
what kind of dog do you have?
(sorry for the inquisition!)

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bella39 · 02/06/2009 19:21

Hello KC.

Nice to meet you.

The idea of puppy food is high calories packed into a small quantity for small tummies and (somewhat paradoxically) for large breeds it is designed to give slow controlled growth and minimise strain on joints.

Go with the advice of the Royal Canin nutritionist, and if in doubt keep on puppy food for slightly longer. 15 months is about when you would expect a GSD's growth plates to fuse.

Never heard of them going hyper on adult food, but your puppy, I am sure, is very calm...

FWIW my lab's breeder advised switching to adult at 6 months but my vet nearly keeled over and Royal Canin answered in the negative. It may have been the case when puppy food was less advanced than it is now.

My pup's brother is winning lots of shows now but when I google him he does look decidedly porky next to mine.

fruitshootsandheaves · 02/06/2009 19:24

I intend to put my springer on adult stuff when he is 1. I will probably then read the packet and find I've done it all wrong.

EvenBetaDad · 02/06/2009 19:29

Not strictly on topic - but if anyne has an older dog struggling to get enough nutrition my Mum advises putting them on Puppy Food.

As for how long to keep a puppy on Puppy Food my feeling is that after 6 months if a dog is growing well and just needs 'bulk' in the stomach to stop it being hungry the quality of that food needs to be dowgraded to Adult Dog Food' otherwise the dog wil get fat.

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 19:30

Lol fruitshoots - that sounds like the kind of thing I usually do!

Hi Bella, thank you for taking the time to reply, it is very nice to meet you, do you come on the Pets board often?

I think you are probably right, I just wondered if anyone knew of a reason why the manufacturer would suggest staying on longer than required really - as I say it is not cost and I couldn't think of anything else!

I have heard lots of people saying between 5 and 7 months but it is quite possible they are working on outdated ideas!

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bella39 · 02/06/2009 19:33

Good point re older dogs BetaDad, although one could argue that high protein content in puppy food not good for old dog's kidneys...

It is a minefield

My 13 month lab is still on puppy food and is lean, lovely and muscular

Fruitshoots - yeah, just as you get used to all the angst of parenting, you find pet owning is jsut as fraught

bella39 · 02/06/2009 19:34

x post KC - manufacturer are not recommending longer than required - as I said, his growth plates won't fuse until about 15 months.

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 19:38

My previous elderly dog had massive problems with protein I went through an entire food distribution warehouse with a rep to find the lowest protein on the market for her, it was a nightmare but the rep was fab and would not give up. In the end we found it was the cheapest nastiest dog food there was, it cost £5 for a 15kg bag however she was happy and healthy on it for the rest of her life so I suppose it is a case of finding what fits best!

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bella39 · 02/06/2009 19:39

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 19:40

Lol Bella, that is what I meant silly, people were telling me that the manufacturer were on some kind of make and it was not necessary. I just could not see where they were making anything - given the fact that they don't make any more money!

Basically I was questioning the advice I had already been given - really I should just stop listening to people and stay with the instincts (and the internet )

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bella39 · 02/06/2009 19:46

Sorry - blame sleep deprivation...

tbh I get totally and utterly hacked off with people thinking they are so smart just cos they say 'the vet's trying to make more money' or the 'food manufacturer's trying to make more money.'

It's as if cynical = smart. Not always, Durr.

Oh wait - maybe my GP only prescribed them so he could make more money

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 19:51

I agree - mind you I am not so sure about vets and insurance though...

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EvenBetaDad · 02/06/2009 19:52

bella/KingCanute - yes it is a minefield.

It is a case of working out by trial and error and careful observation if the dog is getting too little, the right amount or too much nutrition in terms of fat, carbohydrate, and protein (vitamins and minerals as well). How much bulk they need to stop them barking out of sheer hunger is another factor.

Some dogs cannot apparently digest some brands of very high quality food and yet can be quite happy on 'sawdust'.

Like children.

bella39 · 02/06/2009 19:55

Ah...but you can't see what it's doing to their kidneys, can you?

Don't let me chase you away, Betadad - you don't come here often enough, and you know lots about dogs.

If you stay we will give you hobnobs...

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 20:01

Share

No, seriously, it is nice to get some new blood different opinions Beta

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bella39 · 02/06/2009 20:09

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 20:14

Bella, this is my thread, so I say who monopolises it, thank you!

Ouch

Back to monopolising please

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EvenBetaDad · 02/06/2009 20:16

bella/KingCanute - you are not chasing me away or monopolising. The kidney comment on protein is entirely correct. Too much or too litle of any nutritional element is not good. Always requires judgement and balance.

Coming back to the original problem - I think the problem here is that manufacturers have to put guidance on the bag/tin but in reality its not as simple as Feed Puppy Food up to 12 months and Adult Food after 12 months. It is only ever approximate guidance.

bella39 · 02/06/2009 20:18

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 20:30

Hah - tricked you beta, I have hobnob creams so you can have the plain old hobnobs

I know it is approximate, I just found the full year difference between one piece of advice and another a bit too much of a discrepancy for my tiny brain

Bella, that will be £7 please!

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bella39 · 02/06/2009 20:52

Full year? Honey, there are 12 months in a year...

..you are tired.

Is £7 the going rate for a wax then? Blondie - can you adjudicate here, please?

KingCanuteIAm · 02/06/2009 21:02

Yes I atually thought that, was going to write 10 months and then thought, no a year is right...

I have no idea what the going rate is for a wax, I am a hairy mutha razor gal

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