How to Know When It's the Right Time to Switch Dog Food

The right dog food plays a very important part in supporting a long, healthy life for your furry friend. However, there are times that your dog food of choice may not be the right fit for your best friend. When that happens, it’s important to be able to identify that your dog is ready for a new type of food. Here are three cues it might be time to switch to a new dog food.

When Your Dog is No Longer a Puppy

Your fur baby is fully grown in a short period of time. It’s important to start your puppy off with a super premium puppy food, but it’s also important to switch him to an appropriate adult dog food for his size and breed when he is done growing. He may still act like a puppy until he’s a few years old, but when it comes to nutrition; his needs will change once he’s full grown. We suggest the following age ranges:

• Smaller breeds (up to 20 pounds) can switch around 9 months to 1 year of age
• Medium breeds (20-50 pounds) can switch around 1 year of age
• Large and giant breeds (more than 50 pounds) can switch anywhere from 1-2 years old

Dog foods formulated for adult dogs will have an age appropriate combination of protein and fat. Start by using the suggested feeding amounts on the bag and be sure to measure what you are feeding daily. Monitor your dog’s weight and adjust the amount of food you feed up or down based on if your dog is maintaining or changing weight. If your dog is active, they may need a little more food each day. If they are a couch potato, they will need a little less to help them stay at a healthy weight.

When Your Dog is Mature

The shift from being a puppy to an adult isn’t the only time that your best friend will need to shift his diet. As dogs mature, their nutritional needs change. Based on your dog’s size, he will be considered mature around the following ages:

• Large and giant breeds—age 5-6
• Medium-size breeds—age 8-10
• Small and toy breeds—age 10-12

When your faithful friend gains senior status, you can feed him a food designed for his aging dietary needs. Transitioning your furry friend to a dog food like Bil-Jac Senior Select Formula will help you support his healthy, active lifestyle during his mature years.

When You See Warning Signs That Your Dog’s Food May Not Agree with Him

Age isn’t the only reason why you may switch your best friend to a new dog food. Particularly picky pooches may require you to make the switch to a dog food specially designed for the fussiest of furry friends, like Bil-Jac Picky No More. If your dog has a food sensitivity involving grain or some other ingredient, that could precipitate a food change. Allergies are rare but in those specific cases, it could be time to consider switching to a food for sensitive dogs. Bil-Jac Sensitive Solutions, is a great formula for dogs with sensitive stomachs or sensitive skin.

There’s also a chance that your furry friend just isn’t getting the right nutrition from his food. Look out for these signs to see if your dog food of choice isn’t fulfilling the needs of your furry friend:

• Dull, flaky coat
• Lack of energy and enthusiasm
• Soft or loose stool
• Itching

No matter the reason for a switch, it’s important to find the right type of food for your fur baby with our Bil-Jac Food Finder. We are dedicated to making the most nutritious, best-tasting dog food for your furry family member to help support a happy, healthy lifestyle at all ages. Take a look at our line of super premium dog food and dog treats to find the right dog food formula for your pup and sign up for the Best Friends Club to receive Bil-Jac discounts, dog care tips, training videos, and more.