Even though your canine might grow older in age, to you, he or she might just feel like he or she’s just a few days old. Your affection and bond make you feel like that. By the time your puppy turns one, he or she would have grown and developed into an adult for the most part. However, this totally depends on the breed. Large breeds do not reach full physical growth till the age of about two years.
Fellow canines might begin treating your one-year-old furry baby as though it is already a fully grown adult and seeming less tolerant of puppy-like behaviour. Even if your furry one seems energetic, playful and mischievous as he or she was when it was a pup, his or her needs are keep changing as he grows. You too will have to transition along with him or her to maintain their health and well-being.
Your cuddly puppy requires a diet high in fat, protein and calories to help him or her grow into a healthy adult. When he reaches adulthood, he may need a well-balanced diet between nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Adult dogs do not burn as much energy as young puppies do and so if you continue to feed him or her at odd times, he or she is definitely going to gain weight, become obese and add strain to his or her joints.
It is considered ideal to have a transition period of new food or a new diet over the course of at least seven days. This should be done so that your furry one gets used to the gradual yet eventual change instead of a sudden shift in gear. Slowly increase the adult food diet and reduce the puppy diet in his or her daily proportions. This gentle change will help him or her get used to the change in the taste and texture without resulting in an upset tummy.
If you think you can move your furry one’s diet around, you should consult your vet about it. Some parents think of reducing calorie intake when the furry one is about six to eight months old. During this stage of his or her development, taking away the proportion of calories may lead to slow growth. Your furry one is still undergoing change and growth. Switching to less energy-dense food could result in bone development problems.
Until he or she is a puppy, you will have to take him or her to the vet for the required vaccinations, deworming, and tick prevention. Once he develops into an adult, your visits to the vet might become a lot less. Although he or she may need to take a booster at 14 months of age. This booster will help keep him or her away from rabies, parvovirus, distemper and influenza. This time is also significant to ask your vet about the changes in your furry one’s lifestyle. This can range from a new exercise routine, toys, treats, and other changes to note once he reaches adulthood.
