Just like puppies require the right puppy food to help support the rapid development of their muscles, bones, cognitive abilities and immune system, dogs also require food specific to their age group. Dogs have three life stages — puppy, dog, and senior dog. As they transition through each step, they will require the appropriate food to support their specific nutritional needs at this stage of development.

If it’s about that time you’re considering transitioning your puppy to a new food, you might be concerned about whether changing puppy food could cause your furry family member stomach pain. Not to worry — this blog will talk you through how to change from puppy food to dog food and avoid the nasty side effects. But first, let’s answer when to change from puppy to adult food.

What age do I change from puppy food to adult food?

If you’re asking yourself, “What age do I change from puppy food to dog food?” the times to consider changing puppy food include:

• Your dog’s age — A dog is considered a puppy until it reaches 12 months of age, at which point it is considered an adult..
• Your dog is pregnant — A lactating dog requires energy and requires a different diet well suited to their nutritional needs.
• An illness or condition — Just like humans can experience an upset stomach from certain foods, so can dogs. Dogs may have underlying illnesses or conditions which require further nutritional support, from skin sensitivity to gastrointestinal upset caused by certain foods.
  
• Upgrading your puppy’s food — When bringing a new puppy home, they can be quite the handful, and you may find yourself grabbing the first puppy food you see on the shelf. At a later stage, you may further research your puppy food choices and realise there’s a preferable brand you want to wean them on to. Rest assured, it’s never too late to do so — you just need to follow the proper process.

Consult your veterinarian for further advice on when to change from puppy to adult food.

Can changing a puppy’s food cause diarrhoea?

It’s normal for dogs to experience side effects from changing puppy food to new food. Unlike humans, dogs don’t crave variety in their diet. That’s why high-quality dog food has all the right ingredients in the correct proportions to address their nutritional requirements. If you’re asking yourself, “how long does puppy diarrhoea last after changing food?” the answer is usually to allow one to three days for your pet to recover from diarrhoea and around 7-10 days to transition from old to new food. If their diarrhoea doesn’t subside after a few days or they’re experiencing vomiting or not taking to their new food, consult your vet for further advice. 

While minor symptoms of an upset stomach may occur during this transition, gradually weaning them onto new food is a must to avoid a total shock to their digestive system.

How to change from puppy food to dog food

Once you’ve decided it’s time to transition your puppy to a new food, it’s best to do so gradually. Slowly weaning your pet onto their new food will help avoid side effects from changing puppy food too quickly. This will take about a week, and you should monitor your pet throughout. 

Introduce their new diet as a low portion of their old diet, then gradually increase the ratio of new food to old food over a week until the transition is complete. For a few days, work with a ratio of 25% new food to 75% old food and monitor their intake and overall behaviour throughout this period. 

If this goes smoothly after a couple of days, alter the old and new food proportion to 50/50 on days three and four. On days five and six, serve them 75% new food to 25% old food and transition them completely onto their new food from day seven onwards. 

Throughout this process, do your best to keep your pup on its regular food routine. Contact your vet for further advice if you have any concerns when transitioning your puppy to a new food. 

Signs your pet is responding well to their changing puppy food 

Once your dog has transitioned to their new food, continue their new diet for at least two months, so they have ample time to experience the benefits of the new nutritional intake — and you can figure out how well they respond to it. 

Positive signs they are taking well to their new food include a healthy body weight at their next vet check-up, a shiny coat and good stool quality. You should book your furry friend for a check-in with your vet to monitor their progress. 

Shop our premium dog food today and discover the MfM difference

MfM’s in-house nutrition and science team have over 40 years of experience with animal nutrition and hypoallergenic all-natural holistic diets. We pride ourselves on our contribution toward making pet nutrition a cornerstone in the pet industry. After all, pet nutrition is the single most significant contributor to good health and happiness. 

The benefit of choosing MfM is that our ingredients are locally sourced from Aussie farmers and manufacturers. Our final product is backed by rigorous testing to ensure your pet’s well-being, safety and happiness. 

Explore our range of puppy food, dog food, and natural dog treats to give your pet the nutritionally balanced diet they need. Contact us if you have any questions; our team would be happy to assist.