Dog Community

Puppy food for adult dogs

Posted : 9/4/2012 5:45:16 PM

Is there any reason to not feed a puppy food to an adult dog? I ask because I just recently switched brands to Taste of the Wild, and the closest formula they had to what Zeke had been eating (bison based) is the Prairie. However, this formula also has chicken in it, which Zeke does not tolerate well. The puppy version of prairie is almost the same formula, only without the chicken and with DHA (salmon oil) added that the adult version does not have. I could not find any other differences except the price (puppy is more expensive).

By the way, I do know that TOTW is Diamond, I chose it anyway for a variety of reasons. I will keep my eyes open for recalls.

If anyone has any reasons to not feed a puppy food, I welcome your opinions. I was happy with my previous food, which was Merrick wilderness, but Merrick just changed recipes, and now does not have a bison based food, and on top of that, it also got really expensive. Sigh.

glenmar

Posted : 9/4/2012 6:44:38 PM

I think that the calcium is higher in puppy food, or lower. Or, maybe not the calcium, but some mineral is at a different level.

Freedom

Posted : 9/4/2012 6:58:15 PM

Here is the link to their website, you can compare the differences in protein and calories. The puppy formula doesn't even list it's calcium content!

http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/products/

High Prairie:

Protein: 32% Minimum, Fat: 18% Minimum
Calcium: 2.1%, as-fed; Phosphorus: 1.4%, as-fed
Calories: 3,719 kcal/kg (370 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy
Available in 5lb, 15lb and 30lb bags.

Puppy:

Protein: 28% Minimum, Fat: 17% Minimum
Calories: 3,656 kcal/kg (364 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy
Available in 5lb, 15lb, and 30lb bags

RawFedDogs

Posted : 9/4/2012 11:26:21 PM

There is no meaningful difference between puppy food and adult food. All these different foods like puppy, adult, senior, mantience are just marketing gimics to make you think that particular food was formulated just for your dog. You will not be able to tell the difference in your dog regardless of which you feed him.

Nikole Fairview

Posted : 9/10/2012 8:03:12 PM

Yes, I've heard that there were some issues here. Like with my son, his doctors told me that it was perfectly fine to put straight butter in his food so that he kept his weight up, and that kids his age need double the fat that we need. I can't imagine what damage putting butter in adult food would do over the course of a few months. I wouldn't risk it.

I've read or heard somewhere that puppy food is designed for puppies because of the minerals (like was stated above) and other important reasons. I would just find another brand of adult holistic food that has the ingredients that you're looking for.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/10/2012 9:11:05 PM

I would call Nature's Variety, and ask THEM. They have good customer service, in my experience, and should know their foods.

I have fed Bean puppy food for quite some time, to keep her weight up, and I think that ALS foods are formulated for puppies, too.

RawFedDogs

Posted : 9/10/2012 10:52:41 PM

Nikole Fairview
I would just find another brand of adult holistic food that has the ingredients that you're looking for.

This is not directed particularly to Nikole but just for general information. The word "holistic" when it pertains to dog food means nothing. There are no requirements to use that word either in the name or description of any dog food. Walmart could call Ol' Roy holistic if they wanted to. There is nothing special about any food that calls itself holistic. It's a marketing gimick.