Expert: Liz Gregory - 9/10/2009

Question
My puppy just turned 4 months old.  The problem we have is that we have several dogs and when we received our puppy the breeder was feeding Puppy Chow, we stuck with it for a while and then I tried to slow introduce the Iams.  The puppy didn't tolerate it very welland my other dogs also tried to eat the puppy's food and the puppy would eat the adult dogs food and it was a mess.  All my dogs had diarrhea.  So I pulled the puppy food and all my dogs are eating the adult Iams including the puppy and no diarrhea.  I do give plain yogurt to all my dogs and a vitamin designated for puppies and adults.  Is this OK? I just don't want to hurt my puppy's grow, his coat looks better and he eats better.  I have talked to 2 Vets and get different answers.

Answer
Hi Colette,
Everyone has a different opinion on puppy food. I feed my puppies puppy food until they are 8 weeks and then they are switched over to adult. I started with German Shepherds and it is thought that puppy food makes the pups grow too quickly which in turn leads to other problems like Pano, which is the doggy version of growing pains. Pano can be debilitating in large breeds. I haven't heard of it in small breeds but I figure I have never had a problem giving a puppy adult food. I think that with the yogurt and vitamins puppy food would be too much actually.
Really, don't worry about him not getting enough nutrients. It sounds as though you are doing very well for him and your other dogs.
Good luck!