RE: Feeding puppies/adults

emma sime — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:36:08 GMT

RE: Feeding puppies/adults

PJ Zurawel — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:20:07 GMT

Thanks that's really helpful but what would you suggest doing if a medium breed is castrated at 6 months? Would you keep them on the junior/puppy food or switch them onto an adult/neutered?

RE: Feeding puppies/adults

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:32:34 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"] c) large breed d) giant breed as appropriate) until a) 10 months b) 12 months c) 15 months and d) 18/24 [/quote]

Hey Arlo, I selected 'd)' and it changed to a doggy icon!

Plus, cannot get into post to edit it...

Ali h

RE: Feeding puppies/adults

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 15:14:32 GMT

Hi,It really depends on the product I've found, some say 12 months (or more), some say 10...

It's best, I think, if you don't want to generalise, to look at the individual dog, adjudge it's eventual adult size and calorie requirements and select a diet accordingly... I think is the best way to do it as it's specific, particularly with crossbreeds. A nutritional assessment.

Generally: I think it's understood that the smaller the dog the sooner they are considered 'adult' size and it's acceptable to switch onto an adult diet at, say 9-10 months. Though it depends on the nutritional makeup of what's being fed of course! Some manufacturers simply produce diets that are 'puppy, 'adult' and 'senior' so, to my way of thinking, as there is no transition through a 'junior' range (or neutered) it would be best to do a nutritional assessment of the dog and the diet before making the decision to switch... (back to being specific again!)

So, then back to generally: I think if feeding a commercially produced diet, I think I'd advise a switch to a Paediatric junior complete (e.g. RCW) at 2 months and then after neutering a junior neutered (a) small breed, b) medium breed, c) large breed d) giant breed as appropriate) until a) 10 months b) 12 months c) 15 months and d) 18/24 months of age when they switch onto to an adult version (small, medium, large, giant).

http://about.royalcanin.co.uk/product-category/vet-dog/canine-veterinary-care-nutrition/

Other diets will differ of course... but I think what I've said is generally accepted as the 'norm' nowadays... (I haven't included info re BARF/RAW as I'm not well versed in these diets - anyone?)

Anyone else got ideas/suggestions?

Ali h