Since your puppy is growing, he needs more nutrients and calories than an adult dog. This is why puppy foods have a higher level of protein and fat to support growth, as well as nutrients like DHA, an omega fatty acid found in mother's milk. Once your puppy reaches adulthood, he doesn't need as many calories.
Is it OK to give a puppy regular dog food?
Feeding Your Puppy: A First-Year Timeline. 6–12 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands.
How is puppy and adult dog food different?
Puppies need to eat more in the way of protein (including higher concentrations of specific amino acids), fat, and certain minerals than do adult dogs. Additionally, many manufacturers provide higher amounts of nutrients that are not regulated by AAFCO in their puppy foods.
Why should you not feed puppies adult food?
It's important to not rush to feed a puppy adult food since he is building the bones, teeth, organs, etc. This early growth is something he'll need for a lifetime, so you want them to be the best they can be. As with anything else, it usually requires greater resources to build something than to maintain it.
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