Large breed puppy food: When to switch & calcium levels?

Question

At what age are American Staffordshire terrier considered an adult? I've heard that any dog with an adult weight of 50 lbs is a large breed and should be on puppy food. Should I feed him puppy food until two years? Also what is the recommended calcium level for them? Because I know my lab puppy needs a low calcium diet for his bone growth and was wondering if it was the same for all large breeds. I currently feed Otis Victor hi pro and it has 1.72 calcium and 30% protein. Pet's info: Dog | American Staffordshire Terrier | Male | neutered | 11 months and 23 days old | 74 lbs

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

Most larger breed dogs physically mature between 12 and 16 months of age. It will take up to 2 years for him to mature mentally and socially. Giant breeds take even longer, smaller breeds mature sooner. It is generally recommended to transition to an adult diet at around 1 year of age since a majority of dogs will be at or very near adult size by this age. Feeding a puppy diet beyond may predispose a dog to obesity and orthopedic issues. The calcium level in the current diet is fine for Otis. As he nears adulthood, it can be decreased to 1.5%. As long as he is getting a balanced diet, he should be fine. Studies have shown that a low calcium diet have no effect on the incidence of hip dysplasia and other orthopedic abnormalities in growing dogs. A balanced diet and one with an appropriate calcium:phosphorous ratio is much more important and beneficial. You can read more here: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=652

Large breed puppy food: When to switch & calcium levels?

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