When to Switch Your Dog’s Diet to Professional Dog Food

A nutritionally balanced diet is crucial for your pooch's healthy growth and development to prepare them for a healthy, active, and happy life. While a home-cooked meal gives you control of the ingredients, it proves to be inadequate on the nutritional scale. Some human foods are even toxic to dogs which can cause adverse effects on their health. Packaged dog food contains all the required nutrients in the right proportions and thus makes for a complete and balanced diet for dogs. However, just like you, your furball will go through various stages in life during which they will have special needs. In such instances, it is advisable to switch to professional dog food. Made with superior ingredients, high protein, and an adapted kibble size, Pedigree® PRO helps meet the special needs of dogs depending on their breed size and life stage.

To find out if your pooch requires professional dog food, learn about the unique needs of dogs as listed below…

Pregnancy, lactation, and weaning pups

A pregnant or lactating mother requires a lot of energy to sustain herself and provide milk to her puppies. Puppies are delicate and need food that will strengthen their immunity. Professional dog food like Pedigree® PRO Mother & Pup Starter delivers expert nutrition to pregnant or lactating mothers and puppies that are 3 to 12 weeks old. Pedigree® PRO Mother & Pup Starter contains Prebiotics (MOS) to support digestive health for the mother and pup. It also contains extra protein and fat to provide energy for pregnant and lactating mothers, colostrum to support natural defense in puppies, and 37 essential nutrients for healthy puppy development. 

And since requirements for both small breeds and large breeds are different, Mother & Pup Starter comes in two variants—one for small breeds and one for large breeds.

Active adult dogs

Adult large breeds need adequate energy and nutrition to support their physical activity requirements and promote their peak life condition. Breeds like Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Labradors, Dobermanns & St.Bernards require energy to remain active all day long. That's why Pedigree® PRO Adult Large Breed is formulated with omega fatty acids and quality proteins to support alertness and agility. It also contains vital nutrients like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, vitamins, and fatty acids to support healthy heart function. Large breeds need special care to ensure

digestive health as their digestive physiology is different as compared to small breeds. Therefore, Pedigree® PRO also contains Prebiotic (MOS) to promote digestive health.

Pedigree® PRO also offers food for large-breed puppies. Large breed puppies grow slowly as bigger bones and joints need more time to grow and develop. This tends to cause a strain on their bones and joints. Pedigree® PRO Large Breed Puppy is formulated with an adequate calcium-to-phosphorous ratio for strong bone development and glucosamine and omega fatty acids to support joint health. It also contains Prebiotic (MOS) to promote digestive health.

Small breed dogs

Small breed puppies such as Cocker Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, German Spitz, and Beagles grow faster and achieve adulthood earlier. They also have a high metabolism, which means they need more protein than adult dogs to keep up with their fast growth. Pedigree® PRO Small Breed Puppy is formulated with quality proteins and essential nutrients to support their growth to their genetic potential. Puppies start with milk teeth, which are then replaced by adult teeth, and hence, providing them with appropriate nutrition helps them develop strong bones and teeth. Pedigree® PRO thus contains calcium and Vitamin D to support strong bones and teeth. To maintain healthy skin and coat, this formula also contains zinc and omega fatty acids.

Small breeds have a different metabolic rate than large breeds and hence their energy requirements are also different. Pedigree® PRO Adult Small Breed is formulated with omega fatty acids and quality protein in the right quantities to support alertness and agility. Small-breed dogs are prone to oral health problems. That's why Pedigree® PRO comes with added STPP (sodium tripolyphosphate) to support dental health.

Ageing dogs

It’s no secret that metabolism and activity levels slow down for senior dogs as they age, They are also prone to bone and joint problems as well as loss of muscle mass. Pedigree® PRO Senior dog food takes all of this into consideration with special ingredients like L- carnitine to support a healthy metabolism, glucosamine to support joint health, and quality protein sources to support muscle health.
All variants from the Pedigree® PRO range provide expert nutrition with the science developed by veterinarians and nutritionists at WALTHAM—the world’s leading authority on pet care and nutrition. If you are considering starting or switching to professional dog food, consult your vet and check the back of the package for feeding guidelines.