Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food? How to Simplify MealTime

If you have more than one pet, mealtime might be something of a pain. Your puppy eats this food, your other dogs eat that. But what if you could simplify it by feeding everyone the same food? We’re here to answer the question – Can adult dogs eat puppy food? Can puppies eat regular dog food?

Juggling different diets is difficult enough, but you also have to worry about your pets sampling each other's meals. So can adult dogs eat puppy food or the other way around? Technically yes, but that’s only part of the answer.

Puppies and adults have different dietary needs, so let’s start by pointing out what it is that puppies need that an adult dog doesn’t.

 The Difference Between Puppy and Adult Dog Food

Puppy food is specifically formulated to support growth and development. From the smallest purse pooch to the goofiest of soon-to-be giants, puppies require additional nutrients and calories to safely develop each system in their body.  

Puppy foods typically have a few key differences that make them more suitable for growth:

• • Calorie-Dense: Puppies need to be able to take in more calories in smaller portions.
  • Omega Fatty Acids: EPA and DHA are both fatty acids that help support cognitive health and development.
  • Animal Proteins: A meat-focused diet offers a full and adequate amount of amino acids and key minerals to support growth.

This is why puppy food should be fed through the entire growth stage for your dog. Though the rate and length of growth will vary from dog to dog, feeding a diet that is suitable for developing puppies will lead to a healthier dog and support long-term health. 

Nutrience deficiencies during puppyhood can stunt growth and even lead to issues during your dog's adult and senior years. Mobility health, immune function, digestion, and even behaviour can be affected by improper nutrition during their growth stage.

How Long to Feed Puppy Food?

When trying to determine how long to feed puppy food, you've probably heard the standard 1-year recommendation. This works for many dogs, but it's not perfectly accurate for all dogs. 

The simplest way to determine when to switch puppy to dog food is to base his growth needs on his size.

Small Breeds

Smaller dogs reach maturity faster, so at around 1 year, you can start to transition them to an adult formula. This applies to dogs that will be under 25 lbs once fully grown. Because of their fast metabolism and rapid growth, higher feeding guidelines may be required to manage frequent growth spurts and maintain a healthy weight and muscle development.

Medium Breeds

Dogs between 25 and 50 lbs are considered medium breeds and may need to stay on puppy formula for a little longer to ensure their body and systems are fully developed. On average most medium breeds are safe to switch to adult foods between 12 and 15 months. This will depend on weight, activity level, and muscle development.

Large Breeds

Dogs over 50 lbs grow slower and that's because they have a whole lot more to grow. This is why large breeds can benefit from staying on puppy food until 18 months, and giant breeds even longer. The largest giant breed dogs are considered puppies until they are over 2 years old. Some of these big beasts may look fully grown at 1 year, but more often than not, they will be working on digestive health, cognitive development and especially muscle and bone growth until they are 18-24 months old.

Every dog is different, and while these timelines for how long to feed a puppy food can be used for most dogs, there are always exceptions to the rules. Some breeds are more prone to weight gain, like bulldogs, so calories need to be more closely monitored to ensure a healthy weight.

Talk to your vet about your puppy's weight and growth, and make sure to weigh them often through the puppy stage to ensure proper feeding guidelines.

Can Adult Dogs Eat Puppy Food? 

Short answer – yes, but they probably shouldn’t. Puppy foods are specifically designed to accommodate growth. Once your dog has reached adulthood, the only way puppy food will help them grow is out.  

Obesity is already a big problem for pets, so feeding a high-calorie food, like puppy food, to a dog that doesn’t use those calories will lead to unwanted weight gain.  

Is puppy food bad for adult dogs? This is not to say that puppy food is never recommended for adult dogs. Under special circumstances and with a vet's recommendation, puppy foods can be fed to adult dogs temporarily. Here are a few situations that might warrant feeding puppy food: 

• • Pregnancy/weaning: Pregnant and nursing dogs are giving most of their calories and nutrients to their pups. Puppy food is a great way to ensure that mom is getting enough of the right nutrients until the pups are done being weaned.  
  • Underweight: In some cases of severe weight loss caused by starvation or illness, your vet might recommend feeding a calorie-dense diet like puppy food to help get more calories in smaller portions. This will allow your skinny dog to build muscle faster.
  • High energy: Some breeds have a need for speed, and a typical diet just can’t meet their energy needs. To maintain muscle and energy, a puppy formula might help to keep them energized and strong. 

Outside of the above special cases, feeding puppy food vs adult food for an adult dog full-time isn’t recommended. Feeding puppy food inappropriately to an adult dog that doesn't need it can lead to unwanted weight gain, digestive issues, and even serious health concerns like pancreatitis.

All Life Stage Foods for Puppies 

One possible alternative to puppy food is an all-life-stage diet. These diets are designed to meet the needs of puppies through senior pets so long as they are fed in appropriate quantities.  

Key nutrients needed by puppies, like omega fatty acids, are something that both puppies and adults need in different quantities. In an all-life-stage formula, these nutrients are elevated to levels that are safe for adults, but also suitable for puppies when fed enough throughout the day. 

They are preferred for multi-pet households and for puppies that have certain sensitivities or allergies, as there is more variety of also foods than for puppies.  

Can a Puppy Eat Adult Dog Food? 

Though there are some possible reasons that adult dogs might eat puppy food, feeding adult dog food to a puppy is rarely recommended. 

Reasons like weight concerns or digestive issues can be solved by reducing portions or by supplementing with a digestive aid, rather than switching the puppy to a diet that may be lacking in key vitamins, minerals, and calories.

Unlike an all-life-stage diet, foods that are only crafted for the needs of adult dogs are very likely to be missing some essential nutrition that a growing puppy needs.

Puppy food, or all-life-stage foods need to be the bulk of your pet's diet until they reach maturity. Foods and treats made for adult dogs can be used as occasional snacks, or as training incentives, but they should never be more than 10% of your puppy's diet. 

Simplifying Meal Time for Multiple Dogs

If you have more than one dog in your house, you might find it challenging to balance their diets when they're eating different foods. Puppy food being higher in calories, protein, and fat is likely going to be more appealing to your adult dog, so it's not uncommon for them to try to sneak in and steal some puppy food.

For young puppies, the grass is always greener on the other side. Whether their older canine siblings are their best buddies or their arch nemesis, they are bound to get curious about what's in the other bowl. 

This may seem harmless at first, but eating an inappropriate diet can lead to weight concerns and digestive issues in both adult dogs and puppies.

Feeding your dogs in separate rooms can help prevent them from eating from both bowls, but a simpler solution is to switch to an all-life-stage diet. Whether it's a premium dog kibble or a natural raw dog diet, feeding the same diet to both pets can make meal prep easier, and meal time less stressful and competitive.

Can Dogs Eat Puppy Food FAQs 

Can adult dogs eat puppy food?

Yes, adult dogs can eat puppy food, but it's not recommended for long-term feeding. Puppy food is specifically formulated to meet the high energy and nutritional needs of growing puppies, which can lead to excessive calorie consumption and weight gain in adult dogs.

Is there any benefit to feeding adult dogs puppy food?

Feeding adult dogs puppy food on occasion or temporarily might provide a higher protein and nutrient boost. However, adult dogs' extended consumption of puppy food can lead to weight gain and digestive issues. 

Can switching to puppy food cause health problems in adult dogs? 

Switching to puppy food for a short period is unlikely to cause significant health problems in most adult dogs. However, if an adult dog consistently consumes puppy food over a long time, it could lead to weight gain, digestive issues, and an imbalance of nutrients.

Are there circumstances when adult dogs might benefit from puppy food? 

In some cases, such as recovering from illness or surgery, underweight dogs, or those needing a temporary nutrient boost, a veterinarian might recommend feeding a small amount of puppy food.

How does puppy food differ from adult dog food?

Puppy food typically has higher levels of protein, fat, and calories to support puppies' rapid growth and development. On the other hand, adult dog food is formulated to meet fully grown dogs' maintenance needs without the risk of overnutrition.

What is the right way to transition from puppy food to adult dog food? 

Around the age of 12 to 18 months, most puppies can transition to adult dog food. Gradually mix increasing amounts of adult dog food with the remaining puppy food over 7 to 10 days to make the transition smoother on your dog's digestive system.