Wondering so I can figure out when to stop feedng him puppy food. It smells horrible! I know he loves it but it makes his breath stink his poop stink and even his hair, even though i wipe him after. But anyway i need to know anyway so when people ask i'm no still saying puppy when hes nt. He was born 9/13/06.
2006-12-30 02:05:59 · 10 answers · asked by beautybabe 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
If you love your dog, then he will always be a "puppy" to you!
But realistically, and in general, a dog is considered an adult at "approximately" 1 year old. I say "approximately" because the time at which a puppy matures is based on its breed. Most puppies do mature at around 1 year but some large breed puppies may not mature until 2 years old.
Knowing when your puppy becomes an adult is very important. So feeding it the right food (puppy vs adult) will certainly make a difference in proper development. The best person to determine when your dog has matured would be the dog's "doctor".
But please be aware that, regardless of when you change foods from puppy to adult formulas, the quality of food he gets plays a major role in his overall health and well-being, including how his breath and stools smell.
So many dog foods claim to be the best for your pet, with some even being "recommended by veterinarians and top breeders". But ignore the hype and become educated and informed about any product you feed your dog.
Most foods on the market contain low quality, less-than healthy ingredients, with some foods actually containing harmful ingredients (such as BHA/BHT, Vitamin K3, "animal" digest, etc).
But thank goodness there are still a handful of companies that produce quality foods without adding the junk that goes into most others.
Naturapet, makers of Innova, California Natural, Healthwise and Karma Organic foods, are considered to be one of the top manufacturers of healthy foods for pets. But there are others who are also pretty good.
Canidae Canine, Eagle Pack Holistic Select, Solid Gold, are just a few high quality foods to feed your dog.
And some of the better known "top selling" foods are actually poor choices to feed any pet. Science Diet, Iams, Nutro, Pro Plan, Pedigree and many others are not as good as many are led to believe.
And don't expect a 20 pound bag of dog food that you paid $10 for is going to have good, wholesome ingredients. Though some ultra premium foods do cost alittle more, the investment you are making in your dog's health is alot cheaper than making multiple visits to the vet's office. Better foods lead to better health.
Whatever food you choose, before purchasing it read the ingredient label on the bag/can. Know what these ingredients are and know what to avoid. There are plenty of great websites that can educate you on this.
Start your puppy's life off right by feeding it well. Your pet can live a long and healthy life, but only with your help. He is counting on you!
Check out the following websites!
2006-12-30 03:27:37 · answer #1 · answered by Ray Ray 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A puppy is a puppy, no matter what breed til 2 years old. It has been suggested that puppies be switched from puppy food to normal good quality food between 6 and 8 months old. this seems to work well.
2006-12-30 02:17:08 · answer #2 · answered by myparentskid 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Supposedly they become an adult dog after 1 year old but I have a 3 year old Sheltie that still has a lot of puppy left in him. As far as the food goes you should start feeding him regular dog food after one year of age. Good Luck to you and your puppy.
2006-12-30 02:09:33 · answer #3 · answered by Maggie 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the breed or size: small dogs are no longer pups at about 1, large breeds at about 2.
I suggest you buy a diffferent brand of puppy food...be sure to switch it over gradually by mixing the new & old together, lessening the old brand over 3 -5 days. Good luck!
p.s. If you are feeding wet food, stop! Dry is better for his health (& teeth) & smells much better, also.
2006-12-30 02:45:35 · answer #4 · answered by mustanglynnie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A good time to stop feeding them puppy food is 18 months old. A high quality food is very important too.
2006-12-30 02:10:47 · answer #5 · answered by Just Me 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Generally after 1 year they are dogs not puppies. Talk to your vet about changing the food.
2006-12-30 02:14:25 · answer #6 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Small to medium dogs.1 year. Large to giant breeds at least 2 years.
2006-12-30 02:08:40 · answer #7 · answered by st.lady (1 of GitEm's gang) 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
depends on the breed
ALL dogs are considered adult at one year but for feeding purposes its different
large breed dogs mature at 18 months so should be on LARGE BREED PUPPY forumla up til them
small/toy breeds mature younger so unless they are thin... they can be switched to adult food at 8 months
the stinky breath and poop and hair is probably becuase you are not feeding a good food.... if your food is one from grocery store or Wal Mart - its loaded with unneccessary filler - the dog needs to eat more to get nutrition... a better food - they eat less... digest better.. poop less and there is LITTLE TO NO ODOR....
2006-12-30 02:10:06 · answer #8 · answered by CF_ 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You need to change food. We use Iams dry, at the suggestion of various vets. The things you are describing are symptoms of something wrong.
Get to your vet, and say what he or she says!
2006-12-30 02:11:31 · answer #9 · answered by snide76258 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
after 2 or 3 years and the food will always smell pretty bad.
2006-12-30 02:07:24 · answer #10 · answered by r u 18???? 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋