To Puppy Food or not to Puppy Food - That is the Question

"Why are some pet food have puppies (or kittens food) and others not? Should I not my new PUP - puppy food?"
Before I answer this question - I need a little food for history. Back in the early days of commercial pet food, veterinarians found that when puppies were fed the same commercial food that the adult dogs were to eat - they do not grow and prosper, as they should. At that time, commercial dog and cat food containing very little meat quality - especially the protein from the food-grains contain. It was found that puppies and kittens need a higher-protein food in order to develop properly. This change was important, but the bad news is that the protein was not required from meat sources - came from the most inferior grain sources. The new requirements only required a higher percentage of protein to grow food - a puppy food or kitten food - there was no information about where the protein from (is still).

Today, AAFCO has set standards for puppy food for at least 22% protein (adult dog food at least 18% protein), standards for food kittens must be a minimum of 30% protein (adult cat food minimum 26% protein). Besides a few other very minor differences - the amount of protein is the only difference between an adult dog food or an adult cat food to a puppy or kitten food.
So, to answer the question above - you can feed puppy food or kitten food, but you do not need when you feeding the right food! Remember that with the exception of the proportion of protein, there are no significant differences in an adult pet food to puppy or kitten food.

Many pet food lines have protein percentages than the minimum requirements for puppies and kittens. Some PET food formulators have identified in their research that 18% of protein for adult dogs and 26% protein for adult cats is not optimal - as they formulate their food with higher protein level than the required minimum. In other words - many adult foods meet the same nutritional requirements for puppies and kittens, even if not specifically marked as a puppy food or kitten food. As an example ... ABC Chicken & Rice Puppy food has a protein percentage of 23% and ABC Chicken Kitten food has a protein percentage of 32% - but XYZ Chicken & Rice dog food has a protein content of 25% and cat food chicken XYZ as a protein percentage of 35 %. Both brands ABC and XYZ brands take the necessary protein for puppies or kittens as well as food for adult dogs and cat food for adults. So, a puppy or a kitten owner could be their new owner of XYZ baby pet food - even if it is not labeled specifically for puppies and kittens.

Before I go any further - I have to mention a little about canned pet food. ALL canned or pouched pet food (a moist pet food) contains at least 70% to 85% humidity. Protein percentages pet food in cans vary from 7% to 11% - far below the minimum requirements for adult dogs and cats and puppies and kittens. Pet owners want not only a feed canned or pouched pet food for adult dogs and cats or puppies and kittens. You simply can not provide the necessary nutrition. If you want a canned pet food, feed it with a dry food quality. Perhaps soft for breakfast and dinner kibble.
OK, back to puppies and kittens food ... a common question I hear on this subject is ... "Is it ok for my adult dog (or cat) to eat a food that is such a high proportion of protein?" Many pet owners - after hearing my explanation of puppies and kittens food, you are worried about feeding an adult dog or cat has a pet that food, a higher percentage of protein. The best way I can address these concerns simply by exchanging with the words of many pet specialists. Like a dog or cat goes by a dog or cat, a young adult, to a mature adult to a higher PET - her body continually produces new cells, new fabrics and new muscle - the whole process feeds off of protein. So that PET still need a quality protein source over the entire life. (There are exceptions for older animals and pets with diseases - this discussion is strictly for healthy animals - contact your veterinarian if you have any questions.) Science - not speculation - has found that a higher protein Advantages level young Dogs and cats as well as adult animals. I have a few dogs and cats in food Petsumer report that the protein levels as high as 50%! I'm not so confident that 50% protein in a dog food or cat food is best for pets (more for a working dog - is a working example Cattle Dog tend to flock) - the point is that the higher protein level pet are out there, and not all of them are characterized as a puppy food or kitten food.

The thing is that most PET owners choose a puppy food or kitten food is the marketing. Those television commercials that show adorable puppies and kittens indication of such food "meets the unique needs" or "special" or "extra food" or "designed to meet the increased energy needs," and so forth have lured farmers into strong belief That their dog or cat food, a puppy or kitten food. The cute little faces along with the expertly researched day lines - have helped grow the puppies and kittens food entrepreneurs in phenomenal numbers. A part of the marketing strategy is to puppy owners hook into a certain emotional commitment to the manufacturer through a puppy or kitten food. If you begin with ABC puppy food - the marketing objective is to ensure that they remain loyal, that the company later with ABC adult dog food. The pet food manufacturers have been so successful at this marketing technique - multiple manufacturers, the maintenance of a quality pet food (not for a specific puppy food or kitten food) were forced to package their food in a puppy or kitten format.
I am not saying that puppies and kittens food is bad - it still boils down to the ingredients in pet food. What I say is that it is not an obligation, a feed puppies or kittens especially a puppy food or foodstuffs kittens. Until them with a quality pet food, the proportion of protein they need - they are in order.

Always, always, always - please contact your veterinarian.
And a bit of information more quickly - I wish I could tell you that if you have a good puppy food or kitten food, with quality human grade ingredients U.S., and added bonuses such as health or chelated minerals and proteinated Probiotics - that we stick with that same manufacturer for your adult pet food and treats ... But that's not always the case. Actually, it's exactly the opposite. From reviewing many lines of pet food and pet treats from a manufacturer for Petsumer report, I have noticed that many pet food manufacturers make some pet foods, the quality of human grade ingredients, and then their pet treats are located in the vicinity of junk food. While other, perhaps one or two varieties of pet foods that are good, and have several varieties, which I would never recommend that a pet owner to feed. It is just not so easy. You must check the ingredients, ask questions and take a look at the guaranteed analysis and best by date on everything.
We wish you and your pet the best.