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Your puppy’s nutritional needs will change as they grow into adulthood, but how do you know when your puppy is ready for adult dog food?
Plan to reexamine your puppy’s nutritional needs between 12 and 24 months of age (depending on breed size). Learn when to switch your puppy from their current food to an adult formula — and how to easily make the transition.
Your puppy’s transition to adult food should begin when they approach adult height. Their breed type will also help determine when to switch, as will their size. For instance, small-breed dogs tend to mature physically much sooner than large-breed dogs.
Follow these guidelines to help you decide when to switch formulas:
To avoid upsetting your dog’s intestinal tract or causing diarrhea, gradually make the change from a puppy formula to an adult diet over a period of four days by mixing the two foods in your dog’s bowl. Follow these guidelines:
You know that quality counts, so you feed your puppy a premium food that provides balanced nutrition. What food should you choose when they grow into an adult?
Feeding them a high-quality adult food like IAMS™ Adult Minichunks will help them maintain the same superb nutrition they received as a puppy. In contrast, switching to a lower-quality brand at this stage of your dog’s life may upset their digestive system and won’t provide them with the same level of nutritional excellence they were raised on. Check out our Dog Food Selector to find the right food for your all-grown-up pup!
Premium adult dog foods like the ones we make at IAMS™ are specifically designed to provide your dog with:
What does it all add up to? A happy, healthy dog.
Bloat is a life-threatening condition that acts rapidly and can lead to death within hours if not recognized and treated immediately. Unfortunately, the cause of bloat remains unknown at this time.
The scientific term for bloat is gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV. Bloat is characterized by rapid and abnormal expansion of the stomach with gas (dilatation). This can be followed by rotation of the stomach (volvulus). This rotation closes both the entry to and exit from the stomach. The blood vessels also are closed down, and blood flow is restricted.
What follows is an increase in pressure inside the stomach and compression of the surrounding organs. Eventually, shock will occur as a result of the restricted blood flow. Here are a few key facts about bloat:
Bloat is a true medical emergency, and early identification and treatment is critical to survival.
In the early stages of bloat, the dog will be very uncomfortable. You might see him pacing and whining or trying unsuccessfully to get into a comfortable position. He might seem anxious, might lick or keep staring at his stomach, and might attempt to vomit, without success.
Other indications of bloat can include weakness, swelling of the abdomen, and even signs of shock. Signs of shock are increased heart rate and abnormally rapid breathing.
If you notice these signs, call your veterinarian immediately!
These suggestions could help you prevent bloat in your dog. However, they are based on suspected risk factors and are not guaranteed to prevent the onset of bloat.
Another way you might help prevent bloat is to feed a high-quality, highly digestible food with normal fiber levels.
Feeding management offers the best method available for reducing risk until the exact cause of bloat can be identified. Although not 100% effective, these measures can reduce the number of dogs that face this serious, life-threatening condition.