[afauth]

Sorry if this is duplicated, I didn't have time to go through the 51 pages of food threads! This is a hot topic.

I am currently feeding our 5 1/2 month old male, 3c of Blue Buffalo LBP food. He gobbles it down, loves it! We switched recently to the BB from a lesser quality brand. First thing I noticed was his coat; less shedding, more shiny!

Anyway, two questions, when do we switch to adult formula? How do I know if he needs more food? The package says for his age & weight 3 1/2 c-4 1/2 c a day but I read somewhere on here that the package is more than what they need. He only acts like he's starving when we give him treats and eats our fists with it too! He usually gets a stuffed kong and other treats throughout the day when we're at work, etc. He looks good, not to skinny. I just remember when he was younger and hit a growth spurt he laid down in front of his dish after eating and barked at it for more. He hasn't done that for a long time.

Thanks for the help! :wavey:

 

[Bock]

The general rule is you should not be able to see the ribs, but should be able to easily feel them.

3 cups doesn't sound like too much at all. Especially with all his treats.

And yes, don't listen to the package. Sometimes it's right, often times it's wrong.

 

[Maya's Mom]

My pup is just a couple weeks older and I've been wondering the same thing. She just hit 6 months and is on Fromm large breed puppy food, which is working well. I've just started wondering when I am supposed to switch her to adult food.

 

[MyBentley]

There are many opinions on when to switch to adult food; or if puppy food should be fed at all.

Vets suggest switching from puppy to adult anywhere from 4 months to 12 months. My vets usually said at 7 months.

Many people feed an "all life stages" food from the beginning and simply adjust the amounts fed.

As long as the adult formulas don't have a high calcium/phosphorus ratio, many people feel fine with "adult" foods by 7 months.

Don't get too caught up with labels. All "puppy" qualified formulas are also appropriate for any age. Decide what protein, fat, calcium/phosphorus percentages you and your vet think are best for your dog and choose a food based on that - no matter what the label says.

 

[jwemt81]

We make the transition to adult food between 7 and 8 months of age.

 

[esSJay]

Thanks to the OP for posting this question as I was wondering the same thing for Molson. He will be 8 months in 2 days and I think I'm going to start switching him over now. Now to decide which brand to start with! hmmmmm!

 

[MyCodyBoy]

we switched at 11 months. and never follow the bags feeding guidlines it is always way too much then you should feed them.
Some brands will have diffrent amounts. Like for an active dog feed 5cups, an inactive dog 3 cups.
Always feed them the less amount that is suggested and go by your dogs hunger signs.

 

[Bock]

Always feed them the less amount that is suggested and go by your dogs hunger signs.

I wouldn't say ALWAYS, but a large majority of the time. Tysen, for awhile, was eating exactly what the bag guidelines said. This was purely coincidence as I go by how well I can feel his ribs.

Just wanted to point this out for those who are new at figuring out how much to feed to their dog.