Feeding for Different Life Stages
It might not seem possible now, but your pup will soon be an adolescent, then an adult, and before you know it, a senior. As he grows up, his nutritional needs change, and there are foods that are targeted to meet the requirements of those different life stages. This is an overview of those foods.
Puppy Food
You may think so, but in fact not all dog foods are the same. Puppy foods are specially formulated to help develop strong bones and good muscle mass. If you read the ingredients, you'll see that puppy foods tend to offer more protein and vitamins than maintenance-formula dog foods, and are formulated for excellent health at this very important developmental stage.
Maintenance Diet
When your puppy reaches about eighteen months of age, you'll want to switch him over to an adult (or maintenance) diet. At this stage his body needs less protein, and certainly less fat. In this category, though, there are a multitude of choices from high-protein formulas for working dogs; natural formulas; formulas based on certain protein and carb sources, like lamb and rice or sweet potato and rice; and more. Talk to your veterinarian if you have concerns about switching your puppy to one of these foods. Staying with a brand you have come to trust makes the most sense, but if you've become a student of the ingredient list, you may find a food that seems even better for your growing pup. Give it a try!
Lite Diet Formula
If you and your veterinarian agree that your pup could stand to lose a few pounds, invest in a lite-formula diet. You can keep his helping size relatively the same, but instead of calorie-laden proteins and fats, these foods contain more fiber and less fatty carbs. These can fill your dog's tummy while keeping off the extra pounds.
Please note that a lite-formula diet is not a substitute for the exercise your dog needs to stay in shape. Part of his diet should include longer walks, more play time, and a reduction in the number of treats you feed, as well.
Senior Formulas
When does your dog become a senior? That question is sometimes difficult to answer. It ranges from breed to breed and from dog to dog, though there is a general understanding that dogs aged seven or older are considered seniors. Some breeds, however, don't even reach that age, and are considered senior before then. Your dog's breeder, your veterinarian, and other owners of your breed can help you determine when switching to a senior food would be right for your dog.
Aging means the loss of vigor and ability to perform feats once thought normal during the adult years. Seniors can't run or walk as fast. They sleep more. Their systems begin to deteriorate just as humans systems do. Senior dogs need a food that gives them as much energy as possible without making them heavier and slower. Many senior formulas contain the extra nutrition older dogs need, like glucosamine and chondroitin or extra vitamin C.
Hypoallergenic or Therapeutic Diets
Hypoallergenic foods fill a need for owners of dogs with allergies. Your veterinarian can determine if your dog might be allergic to any ingredients in his maintenance diet. A switch to a fish-based food, for example, or supplementing with flax oil, may do wonders for your itchy dog. A particular, recurring health concern may lead your veterinarian to prescribe a therapeutic diet for your dog. Several manufacturers now make these diets, which are prescribed by veterinarians to assist in the treatment of problems associated with particular organs or body systems and conditions, like the kidneys, heart, metabolism, diabetes, obesity, and so on.
