Is large breed dog food safe for my small adult dog temporarily?

Yes, puppy food is a "hotter" diet higher in protein and carbs. It is formulated for a growing puppy that needs the extra nutrition. An adult dog may gain excessive weight if fed a puppy formula regularly. The higher protein content may also put undue stress on the older dog's kidneys. If possible, feed then separately or take up the puppy food if you free feed.

I would not recommend feeding this food exclusively to a 6 month old dog - it is formulated for adult dogs and not for growth. It is best to feed dogs puppy food until they reach 1 to 2 years of age depending on the breed. Foods formulated for growth have different protein and mineral levels that ensure bones and joints are growing properly. If you feed an adult food it can result in nutritional deficiencies and poor growth.

Puppy food certainly won't hurt Iggy if he only eats it for a week. The differences between puppy food and adult food are mainly in the calcium/phosphorus balance to help promote proper bone growth, as well as being a bit more calorically dense. As Jessica explained so well, it's important to mix the old and new foods together for about a week whenever possible to minimize the chance of developing stomach upset. I would also look at the caloric density (kcal per can) listed to see if you need to adjust the amount of canned puppy food that he's getting relative to the number of calories he was getting from adult food. I hope that everything goes well!

Growing puppies have specific nutritional requirements that differ from adult dogs, particularly with respect to their calcium and phosphorus balance, and an overall increased calorie demand. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies for a growing puppy can result in a variety of problems, so as a result, a puppy should not eat adult dog food on a regular basis. An occasional bite from their older housemate’s bowl should not pose any problems, but stick with puppy food as their dietary staple.

The young puppy should be on puppy food in order to provide the balanced nutrition she requires for healthy growth and development, a large breed puppy food is recommended for optimal joint health. It is not ideal for adult dogs to be on puppy food as they may continue to 'grow' and become overwieght so you will have to monitor very closely if he has access to puppy food that he does not become obese

If it is your only option, I think you are fine feeding the Maxi adult food. I am not as concerned with large breed vs medium breed vs small breed in adult dogs as I am in puppies. The biggest difference in these adult diets are the size of the kibble (the bigger the better, in my opinion!) and possibly the fat content. You may need to adjust how much you are feeding Heisenberg (use the guidelines on the bag) and his body condition.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Junior dog food has a different calcium to phosphorus ratio, as well as having higher energy/fat amounts in the food. This is designed for growing animals. Adult dogs should have adult food as the majority of their diet so that they don't gain weight, and the higher fiber is good for their gut. If you give Sharon junior food once and a while, that is not a problem, but in general feed him adult food. Best of luck with Sharon!