Can I give dog chow to my puppy?

Question

I accidentaly bought purina dog chow instead of purina puppy chow. Does it make a difference if i give my puppy dog chow?

Answer 1

Puppy food is higher in calories than regular food. I would go back to the store and get the puppy chow and save the dog chow for later.

Answer 2

It wont make much difference, as BOTH are terrible foods that you shouldn't be feeding to any animal. Purina doesn't make a decent food. Try going to a pet supply store, and look for EVO, California Natural, Innova, Canidae, or Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover, or Wellness.

Read the ingredients of your dog chow and puppy chow, and then read the ingredients of these other brands, posted as links below. You will see a big difference. Corn is a cheap filler product in pet foods, it has almost no nutritional purpose in the food. The first ingredient should always be a meat, there shouldn't be any corn. Ingredients on pet food labels are listed in the order of the first main ingredient, then the next least thing in the food, and so on, so the last thing on the label it has the LEAST of. That means that at least the first FOUR ingredients in any pet food should be good, high quality products, including meats, and healthy grains in dog foods, like brown rice or oatmeal (cat foods shouldn't contain any grains, or at least very little).

Oh, and I accidentally rated the "cardboard" answer low, I meant to give it a thumbs up. Here's why:

AAFCO's testing is very minimal, and doesn't really count for anything:
http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/04.html
http://www.petfoodcrusade.com/

Interpreting pet Food Label, by the FDA:
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petlabel.htm

What's really IN pet food (at least cheaper ones, like Purina):
http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
http://www.preciouspets.org/rendering.htm

Answer 3

A puppy needs to eat puppy food, its higher in fats and protien and other things that puppies need to grow at a proper rate. If you cant exchange it donate the dog chow to a shelter and go get some puppy food.

Answer 4

Yes it does matter. Puppy food has higher calories e.t.c. But, Purina is a really bad dog food. (see DP's answer) to make it more clear, pretty much purina is pure garbage. I reccomend Nutro Max and my rescue that i got my chi from also recomends it. It is really high quality stuff. It also firms and makes stool smaller.

Answer 5

of course it makes a difference. puppy chow has the exact nutrients that a puppy needs to grow properly. you have to think of the puppy as a baby. babies take formula not reg milk. good luck.

Answer 6

yes it does.
puppy chow is made especially for puppies with extra vitamins and minerals for growing pups, and healthy systems.

I suggest you take it back to the store with the receipt.
or if you have a friend with a dog, see if they will take the dog chow off your hands, for say, a discount price or price you bought it for?

good luck

Answer 7

Purina dog food has been food-trial tested for all life stages: look for the AAFCO statement on the side of the bag. It's fine.

Answer 8

Yes it does because puppies are still developing and need more calories than a grown dog.

Answer 9

Both have no nutritional value, and have questionable ingredients.. So it really doesn't matter one way or another.. It's sort of like feeding Puppy Cardboard, or Adult Cardboard..