Should a puppy be fed adult food??

Question

My aunt was told by the breeder to feed her mini australian shepherd adult food (nutro) or the warranty would be void. I think that's bullcrap... advice on the matter?

Answer 1

This is actually quite common. Many puppy foods cause the dog to grow too rapidly which can stress young joints. Others are too rich for some breeds, and many of the most popular puppy foods are so full of crummy ingredients that they're essentially a worthless food source. Probably 40% of all dog breeders who raise puppies for show or working where the ultimate health and structure of the dog are of vital importance will not feed puppy food once the puppy is past 8 - 12 weeks old. In many breeds, usually larger ones, a quality adult food (Canidae, Innova, Merrick, etc.) is required to keep the health guarantee valid. At our vet clinic, most puppies fed an adult diet look better physically than those fed puppy foods.

I don't agree with specifying a specific brand of food on a warranty, but most good breeders will specify that a premium or raw diet be fed, not something like Pedigree or Alpo to ensure that the puppy is getting proper nutrition. Health problems caused by improper feeding by the pup's new owners are not the breeders' fault. Breeders have the best health of that puppy in mind and most have far more experience with what their pups do best on than the new owner does. If you chose your breeder well and trust that person (or you shouldn't have purchased a puppy from them in the first place) it usually pays to follow their instructions.

Answer 2

WHAT?!? no no no...Nutro does make a puppy food. Adult food doesn't have the right amount of protein or fats for proper growth of a puppy. I would suggest that your Aunt talks to this breeder again....adult food makes no sense at all. Mini Aussie huh? I wonder if they aren't really minis....if she's having people feed the pups the wrong stuff to stunt their growth (I know they do that with other kinds of animals to produce dwarf or minis). I would talk to some Aussie people if I were you and get proper info on the Minis (I think mini aussies are a new thing? First time I've heard of them).

Answer 3

You can if you have nothing else and it's not for an extended period of time. Puppy food has more of the nutrients, and is balanced for their young developing internal systems - adult food can cause problems with digestive.

Same goes for pet snacks - try to get the puppy ones if possible.

Answer 4

Is it possible that yourr aunt understood wrong and the breeder said exactly the opposite? That the warranty would be void if she did feed the puppy adult food? Makes more sense. I mean, puppy food is best for puppies, sure they can have some adult food, but puppy food is best, so why would a breeder tell her not to give puppy food?

Answer 5

NO, It should eat puppy food mix puppy Nutro with adult Nutro so it don't get diarrhea. Not enough Nutrients and hard to digest .Puppy will be happier . You don't feed a baby adult food so why would you want to feed a puppy adult food .GO FIGURE !!

Answer 6

ALL 'puppies' (any dog under one year of age) should be fed ONLY PUPPY FOOD and occasional treats. What 'warranty' on a dog could 'dictate' which food to feed it, and especially food that is for 'adult dogs' and not puppies if the 'dog' is, in fact, a puppy? There is generally NO WARRANTY given on any animal ... and if your aunt has one then she should 'see an attorney' and possibly SUE the breeder for 'extortion' because a 'warranty' is for something MECHANICAL, or a THING, and not for something 'alive' ...

Answer 7

I get the nutro, but the ADULT food, for puppies? That makes NO sense! While it wouldn't hurt him, it also wouldn't be the most nutrition, because puppy and adult dogs' needs are both different! Poor thing.There IS a nutro puppy food. Why can't she give him that?

Answer 8

I don't think so. Think of a human baby and adult. Both the baby and the adult have to eat different food in order to get his/her proper nutrients, right? Well, the same is for puppies and adult dogs. The puppy needs different amount of nutrients in order to maintain their health. It's also the same for the adult dog.

Answer 9

if that's all you got but puppy food has more nutrients for them as they grow. I used to feed my dogs pedigree but now I get sports mix from a pet store there food has less fillers and they poop less cause there getting more nutrition in there bodies and the other food go right through them. I didnt belive the guy at first but it was true.I get a hugh bag for 20.00 and last two dogs two months

Answer 10

Nitro does make puppy food. It will give her everything her growing body needs. Don't pay any attention to megan 145. I also raise mini aussies, and I'm very proud of my babies. Aussies also come in toy sizes.