Can you feed a puppy regular dog food?

Puppy food is different from adult dog food. You can see this especially in premium dog foods where they add up to 30% more protein to aid in the growing puppy's needs. Another significant difference, if you are feeding dry kibble, is its size and texture. read more

Although puppy formulas may be tailored for young dogs, many dog foods are appropriate for multiple life stages. I generally recommend that large breed puppies (such as Labrador Retrievers) stay on large breed puppy food until they are 12 – 18 months old. read more

Large-breed puppy foods are designed for controlled growth and may be lower in calcium and phosphorus than other puppy foods. Excess levels of calcium and phosphorus can contribute to skeletal problems. Large-breed puppy food also may contain more fiber to add bulk to the diet without calories. read more

If you feed your puppy a traditional puppy food formulated for growth and reproduction (typically higher in calories), you’ll want to switch your puppy to an adult maintenance dog food when he reaches maturity so as to avoid unintentional weight gain. read more