Puppy food: regular or large breed?

[Rott-C]

I'm curious, I was told by my vet that I should switch Schatzi over to a large-breed puppy formula. Rott-Wiley shared a little concern and suggested that I might open this up for insight. Also, I know what by-product meal is, but is lamb, turkey, chicken, etc., meal ok? Thanks.

[BostonRott]

There have been many discussions on feeding puppy foods at all, if you search through the archives I'm sure you'll find plenty of discussion. I personally don't feed puppy foods at all.

[sable375]

I don't feed puppy food either. I feel it has too much protein for a growing large breed puppy.

[rotts and roses]

I fed the puppies one bag of puppy food from the time they were weaned until it was gone.( about a month) They are now on adult chicken and rice and are doing great! They are growing at a steady rate , not too fast not to slow, their stools are consistently firm and they have not had any upset stomachs on adult food.I agree that puppy food is formulated for growth and large breeds dogs grow fast enough on their own:D

[Rott-C]

Rotts n Roses, you mentioned consistent stools and no stomach upset. I've been surprise by the fact that Schatzi's stools are no where near consistent. She eats the same food day in and day out but one day her stools might be very, very loose, then the next perfect firm "logs." Out of curiosity, could the puppy food be doing this to her?

[samanthac]

Personally I do not believe in puppy food either based on the research I saw during my four years working in the petfood industry.

There ia absolutely no scientific proof that puppy food is better (or even necessary) for puppies than an 'adult' or what I call 'all-life stage' food. There are no hard-core studies out to prove that puppy food is more beneficial, simply because puppy food has not been one the market long enough to have any kind of meaningful results. Puppy food is only a phenomena of the last 6 to 8 years. Large breed foods have only been out for the last three to four years, with the biggest flood to the market over the last two.

There is, however, some independent studies that have come out indicating that instances of pano, dysplasia, OCD, ACL, and spondylosis, and other structural problems, etc, have gone up in larger breeds with the introduction of these specific life stage foods on the market. Now, that could also have something to do with the fact that larger breeds are now more popular than ever and breeding is not quite as discriminate as it was previously, but there is some initial evidence that is tying these diseases to specific life-stage foods. I will try to find those studies if I have time.

Most manufacturers that I had contact with inidcated that the ONLY reason they even had puppy/senior/reduced fat/large breed/small breed or other 'specialty foods' on the market was because consumers DEMANDED them, not really because they were necessary....with the exception of allergy foods, which is a WHOLE other ball of wax.

For years before all these specialty foods came out, dogs ate adult foods because that was all that was available. And they did just fine!