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  1. #1
    House Broken sandyut's Avatar
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    Switching puppy food early

    Hi all, our breeder feeds Purina Pro Plan which I know many do. I would kidna like to switch to Fromm puppy with our next pup. should i just mix over time till its all the new food? I read somewhere you should not switch puppy foods...any truth to that? seems silly on the surface.

    thanks

  2. #2
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    I am by no means an expert on dog nutrition, however, I would have to say keeping the puppy on the breeder recommended food is probably a good idea. Especially if the breeder has been doing it for a long time, they will know their lines, and what they do best on. If you trust your breeder, I'd stick with the Pro Plan.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Especially after arriving at home with so many new things, I'd leave him on the puppy food. I personally left mine on the breeder recommended puppy food until their teeth were done falling out/growing in (6 months give or take) then switched them to adult food. It's such a short amount of time that to me, the breeder recommended food was easier.

  4. #4
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    There is a lot of stressful stuff going on when pup comes home. Buy the middle sized back of Pro Plan and feed that and as it starts to finish, start mixing in your choice of dog food. But that point, the pup will be fully settled and OK with the change in food.

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  6. #5
    House Broken sandyut's Avatar
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    hi Jen! That seems like a good plan. many thanks!

  7. #6
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Why the rush to switch foods?

    I read an article about canine nutrition (that I have since lost and cannot find it again), regarding calcium/phosphorus ratios, (extreme - 8 weeks to 6+ months) growth and development, teething, etc... The article said to keep puppies on the food they were weaned to until all of their adult teeth are in, to keep growth as even as possible. They draw so many nutrients and calcium in the rapid growth period, that Panosteitis and HOD has been linked to a change in diet during this sensitive time.

    Over the lifetime of the puppy, 6 or 7 months or even up to 12 months, is a such a small amount of time, and just a few bags of dog food, I would call it an investment in the future of your puppy.

  8. #7
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Shelley does make a point about the calcium/phosphorus ratio. Honestly, I always forget what's ideal for our lab puppies. I've always raised the pups on Pro Plan (either puppy or sport) because I never remember what's correct and what's not. If someone can remember and post it, you can look at the Fromm's variety you want and see how it compares. If it's 1:1, Puppy Gold might be a little high. The Large Breed is better. You have to do a little poking around.

    But the method of change still applies!

  9. #8
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    The correct Calcium to Phosphorus ratio for growing Labrador puppies is 1.2:1

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  11. #9
    House Broken sandyut's Avatar
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    looks like both Fromm puppy formulas are both 1.3:1. Heartland grain free and Gold puppy.

  12. #10
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    My math is horrible but did you look at the Puppy Gold in the blue bag? Vs. the one in the pink bag?

 



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