As a new puppy parent, we understand that you want to do everything right, and it’s completely natural to have questions about your puppy’s diet. A lot of owners face anxiety when it comes to feeding their puppy, with questions surrounding what type of food they need and how often.
You might be wondering, ‘what happens if a puppy eats adult dog food?’ Well, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll tell you what happens if your puppy does encounter adult dog food, as well as tell you the key differences between puppy food and adult dog food.
Here at Green Pantry, we sell natural dry puppy food that you can trust. Made from 100% natural ingredients, your pup’s health is the driving force behind everything that we do, and we want to share the joy of helping your pet lead their best, fulfilled life!
What will happen if a puppy eats adult dog food?
So, what happens if a puppy eats adult dog food?
Well, all puppies need a finely-tuned balance of calories, minerals, and protein, which many adult dog foods don’t necessarily provide. If you do choose to feed your puppy adult dog food, don’t worry. Adult dog food won’t necessarily make your puppy seriously ill, but they may experience an upset stomach here and there.
However, there is a difference between whether you can feed your puppy adult dog food or whether you should. The main risk in feeding your puppy adult dog food is that you might not be feeding your puppy exactly what they need to give them the best start in life, especially in regards to their growth and development.
Here at Green Pantry, we offer diets that are suitable for all life stages, from pups right up to seniors. That means you can feed your adult dog the exact same food they had when they were a puppy! So, we advise switching to one of our diets to make it easier for you and your pooch.
Can puppies eat adult dog food?
As we have mentioned above, yes, your puppy can eat adult dog food without any severe consequences. However, if you continue to persistently feed your growing puppy adult dog food, you can run the risk of several negative health concerns.
These could include:
- Slower growth – most puppy food is formulated with higher levels of protein, fat, and other nutrients to support a puppy’s rapid growth. Adult dog food may not provide enough of these essential nutrients, leading to slower growth and development.
- Weak bones and teeth – puppies generally need more calcium and phosphorus than adult dogs in order to develop strong bones and teeth. Adult dog foods might not provide enough of these minerals, increasing the risk of bone and dental problems.
- Digestive issues – puppy food is easier for a puppy’s delicate digestive system to process. Adult dog foods might be harder to digest, which can lead to digestive upsets such as vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Nutritional deficiencies – most adult dog foods don’t provide all the vitamins and minerals that a growing puppy needs. Therefore, feeding your puppy adult dog food can lead to various health problems including skin problems, a poor coat, and weak immune function.
So, while a small amount of adult dog food won’t particularly cause any harm, it’s best to stick to puppy food to ensure your furry friend gets the optimal nutrition which will help with their growth and development. Remember, an investment in your puppy’s health is one of the best things you can do to give them the best start in life – I’m sure they’d thank you if they could!
For more information about feeding your puppy have a read of our blog post: How Much Dry Food Should I Feed My Puppy?
What is the difference between puppy food and adult dog food?
You might not know, but there is actually a difference between dog food targeted towards puppies and dog food targeted towards adult dogs. The biggest difference between puppy food and adult dog food is the nutritional purposes of each – that is healthy maintenance and growth for puppies versus solely healthy maintenance only for adult dogs.
To support your puppy’s rapid growth and development, their food requires some meaningful differences in formulas and recipes, including:
- More protein – protein is a key building block for a puppy’s developing muscles, organs, and tissues.
- More fat – fat is a highly concentrated source of energy which is essential for puppies’ rapid growth and high activity levels.
- More calcium – calcium is a crucial mineral for puppies because it plays a vital role in their growth and helps to support the development of strong, healthy bones and teeth.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – these are essential for the healthy development of a puppy’s brain and vision, especially during the early stages of life when the brain and eyes are rapidly developing.
Luckily for you, Green Pantry offers natural dry food that targets all life stages, so you don’t have to worry about your pup getting the wrong nutrients!
What food is best for a puppy?
Now that you know the main differences between puppy food and adult dog food, you know exactly what sort of kibble you should be giving your pup. By providing your pup with a well-balanced diet, you’ll help them to grow into a happy and healthy adult dog.
For a dry dog food that is directed solely towards puppies, check out our Freshly Prepared Salmon with Sweet Potato & Veg. This complete puppy food is a natural bowlful of goodness that helps to support your furry friend for their most crucial stages of life.
Salmon is a lean and highly digestible source of protein which is rich in nutrients and sweet potatoes and wholesome vegetables which have been handpicked for their nutritional merits. Therefore, you can sit back and relax knowing that your pup is getting the best quality ingredients available on the market.
Or, we have our Turkey with Mint & Parsley, suitable for brand new pups as well as more senior pooches. To avoid making a switch, this kibble is for dogs and puppies of all breeds and ages.
Invest in natural dog food with Green Pantry!
Hopefully, this blog post has answered your question: ‘what happens if a puppy eats adult dog food?’ Generally, nothing bad will happen, but it’s a good idea to feed them food that is specifically created for puppies just to be on the safe side.
At Green Pantry, we are genuinely passionate about your dog and their health. That’s why we provide growing dog food that will help your pup in the early stages of their life and development.
Check out our TrustPilot reviews – our 4.9/5 rating shows our unwavering commitment to customer service, a fundamental and core factor of our business. We’d be more than happy to welcome you and your furry friend on board.
For further information, please give us a call on 01553 811320 or fill out our online contact form. A member of our expert team will get back to you in no time!
