My 5.5 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy eats twice per day -- 2.25 cups of lamb with rice and vegetable kibble plus either a scrambled egg or 1T of 100% pumpkin mixed in. As recommended by the breeder, he is eating adult food not puppy. He goes to the vet regularly and seems to be developing well, but I just wanted to know others thoughts on an adult diet vs a puppy diet. How does he look?
Because I work in a Rescue Home in the UK we always recommend feeding puppy food first then move onto junior food & only feed adult food once pup is 18 month old, the puppy food does help build strong bones/teeth, but so does feeding raw food. As long as your pup is healthy & correct high/weight for pups age & his poo is semi moist, also if pup is not having any problem with digesting the adult food then continue feeding pup with it.
I have never fed puppy/junior food to any of my pups as its to rich and promotes rapid growth. A good high quality adult food is all that is needed and promotes steady, healthy growth rates. Your boy looks in lovely condition.
Most large and giant breed dogs do not need puppy stage food. The calcium and phosphorus ratios are generally to high in them and may cause to quick of grown, which can be hard on the bones and joints.
Thank you, I love this guy so much, just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing for him. Thanks for your vote of confidence.
Thanks for the confirmation. That's what my breeder advised but sometimes the things I read on posts advise differently. My intent is to move him to a more natural, grain free diet and increase the protein but am doing it appropriately. While I have you, I walk him twice a day he is not big on running yet, but loves rough-housing with his other friend dogs. I read somewhere that I should be careful not to overdue him so you as his bones are not quite developed. Is that your experience as well? Right now he loves sleeping and plays ball with me, but is not a big runner.
Great, thanks, that is the advisement my breeder gave as well. He 5.5 months, is 59.2 lbs, but has a nice lean shape. He looks very good to me and I am very conscious of what I feed him. What's your feeling on the 4.5 cups per day?
Great, thanks. He has a very good disposition --- has a tendency to be a bit mischievous, but is really a good, smart, loving pup!!!
I agree, adult food is fine, you do not want your puppy to grow to fast , hes about the right age to start feeding adult, some people don`t even bother with puppy food, never mind puppy , junior then adult !
the rule of thumb is 5 mins per month of age, so at 5/6 mths the guide will be 25/30 mins a time, remember this is only a guide, I would carry on dong what you do now, allow him to play with his friends and if you have to walk him anywhere take that into consideration. I would guess a ridgeback would not be fully mature (bone density) till around 12 /15 mths or so, a good guide to his growth plates closing is to look at his knuckle (knee joint) when they are laying flat it will mean they have closed, But to be honest just be sensible, don`t be taking him on 2/3 mil walks, allow him to play and tire himself out with his pals, and just up the amount gradually .
Thanks Jackie. You're right. He's gonna get big enough --- his parents were 80 and 95 lbs. So I want to ensure that his bones will be healthy to carry what he is going to grown into.
Perfect, this helps me tremendously. I was concerned that I was not giving him enough. He is very playful, will do a ball for a little while, loves walking but thank you for the guidance on bone density and growth plates. That helps me be over anxious that I am giving him enough.
