Goldendoodle puppies are a bundle of joy and energy…
They are busy, clever dogs that seem to grow in leaps and bounds quite quickly…
Now most owners will have been given detailed instructions on feeding their Goldendoodle puppy by the breeder…
But one fact often omitted from informational packages is when to switch from puppy food to dog food for a Goldendoodle…
And in this article, I’ll be giving you a detailed answer to that question…
And by the end, you’ll have all the information you need to make sure that your little Goldendoodle is well taken care of…
Let’s get started!
When To Switch From Puppy Food To Dog Food For A Goldendoodle?
Goldendoodles vary in size and should stay on puppy food until they are eight to fifteen months old. A Goldendoodle can be changed from puppy food to adult dog food at this age. A Goldendoodle’s nutritional needs will change as his or her energy needs alter when he or she reaches maturity…
Below, I’ll give you more detailed information regarding when you should switch your Goldendoodle’s dog food based on your dog’s size and maturity…
And if you’re uncertain about which dog food if going to offer your Goldendoodle the best nutrition, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you check out the table below…
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When Should Goldendoodles Change From Puppy To Dog Food?
Goldendoodle puppies should be changed to adult dog food when they reach maturity and stop growing…
The age this occurs largely depends on the size of the Goldendoodle. It can be anywhere from eight months to fifteen months…
Goldendoodles vary quite extensively in size depending on the size of the poodle that was used in the mating…
Poodles come in three sizes, standards, miniatures, and toys. A toy poodle mated to a Golden retriever will produce smaller dogs than if a standard poodle is used in the mating…
If the Goldendoodle is a product of first generation (F1) mating, it may be difficult to predict the ultimate size reliably…
This is especially true if a toy or miniature poodle is used. In this case, it will be advisable to ask your veterinarian when the dog has reached maturity and can be changed to adult food…
Smaller dogs reach maturity earlier than big dogs.
- Toy Goldendoodles under twenty pounds can mature at eight to nine months.
- Medium Goldendoodles of thirty to forty pounds reach maturity at ten to twelve months.
- Standard Goldendoodles of forty to sixty pounds mature at twelve to fifteen months.
Signs That A Goldendoodle Puppy Is Ready To Change Foods…
You can monitor your Goldendoodle puppy to look for signs that it is maturing and ready to change to adult food…
- The Goldendoodle puppy will have lost his puppy teeth and will have a full set of adult teeth. This milestone usually occurs around six months, but the Goldendoodle is still classed as a puppy and probably has more growing to do.
- The puppy will have stopped growing. This is a critical sign.
- The puppy coat will have changed and become an adult coat.
- Your Goldendoodle will not need as many meals per day. The dog may be disinterested in meals if they are offered too often.
- Your Goldendoodle will become sexually mature. Males begin to lift their legs when urinating and will show an interest in unspayed females. Female Goldendoodles will experience their first heat or season.
- You Goldendoodle’s bark will change and deepen as they become adults.
- The Goldendoodle will act like a more mature dog. They may be more territorial, confident, and less playful.
Effects Of Changing A Goldendoodle Puppy’s Food Too Early…
Changing a Goldendoodle puppy to adult food too early can have serious health consequences…
Growing takes a lot of energy, and Goldendoodle puppies need high-calorie food to provide the necessary energy…
Growth depends on the generation of cells that can form new tissues, which require more proteins than adult foods contain…
If you feed your Goldendoodle adult food too early, you will stunt its growth and development…
Inappropriate nutrition for a puppy can cause brain and nerve abnormalities…
The Goldendoodle puppy’s leg bones may be soft and unable to support its weight if its nutritional needs are unmet…
This condition would need intensive dietary management and physical rehabilitation to correct…
Golden retrievers are prone to joint problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Feeding the puppy adult food may trigger these conditions, causing the dog to experience early onset arthritis and a life of discomfort…
Is It Bad To Feed Puppy Food To My Adult Goldendoodle?
Some dog owners regard their Goldendoodle as a puppy, even after the dog has matured…
Owners of toy Goldendoodles seem to fall into this way of thinking more often than those that own large Goldendoodles…
The owners may argue that their Goldendoodle loves their puppy food, and they do not want to make the change…
Feeding puppy food to an adult dog provides too many calories, and the dog will put on excess weight…
Excess fat is not benign inactive tissue. It increases inflammation by secreting hormones and increasing oxidative stress in the body, resulting in a host of health complications…
Researchers have shown that obese Goldendoodles are prone to metabolic diseases such as diabetes and are more likely to develop cancers…
In addition, the added pressure on the dog’s joints causes arthritis and difficulty walking…
Heart disease and bladder stones are more common in overweight Goldendoodles…
There is a much greater anesthetic risk with chubby dogs if they need surgery…
All these health problems are a good reason to change your Goldendoodle to adult dog food when it is no longer a puppy.
How Often Should I Feed My Adult Goldendoodle?
Goldendoodle puppies require frequent feeding, and most puppies under six months are fed three meals a day…
This is because puppies have small stomachs and can only absorb small quantities of food at one time. They have fast metabolisms and burn through energy quickly…
As Goldendoodles mature, their metabolism slows down and they do not have such high-calorie needs. Their stomachs are larger and can hold more from one meal…
Some people like to feed on demand and leave the food out for their adult Goldendoodle to eat whenever it wants. There are some problems with this approach…
- The Goldendoodle may eat too much and become overweight.
- It is difficult to detect illness when your dog does not eat at regular times. Early detection allows for early veterinary intervention, which could save you Goldendoodle’s life.
Other dog owners subscribe to the theory of only feeding their dogs a big meal once a day…
This practice has been implicated in bloat and torsion, a deadly condition where the stomach fills with gas and twists…
Goldendoodles with torsion will die within an hour or two if they do not get veterinary attention…
It is best to feed your adult Goldendoodle two meals a day, making the portion size smaller than if you fed once a day…
It allows the Goldendoodle owner to notice health problems more quickly if the dog does not eat.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED DOG FOOD BRANDS!
Final Thoughts…
Goldendoodle owners should monitor their dog’s maturity to assess the correct time to change the puppy to adult food…
This will largely depend on the dog’s size as this affects the maturing process…
Also, you should ensure that the dog food you’re providing for you Goldendoodle is high quality and will meet all their nutritional needs…
And if you’re uncertain about which dog food brands are best, click here to see my Top 8 list!