This month, Holistic Select Staff Veterinarian Dr. Al Townshend answers your questions about transitioning to life stage specific foods.

Q: My bichon turned 8 yrs old on Jan. 12th. When do I would you recommend that I switch him to a senior diet?

A: Eight years of age in smaller breeds is not really considered old age or a senior age. Many smaller breeds live into the late teens and even early twenties. It is always recommended that you consult your veterinarian to determine the health and status of your pet. Your trusted veterinarian should know your pet well enough and can do some testing to determine if a diet change to a senior food such as Holistic Select Vitalize Senior Health Recipe is the best option for your dog. If all is well you may be able to remain on the current diet.

Q: I have a Great Dane that has just turned one, she has been raised on Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health Recipe. At what point do I switch her to adult food?

A: Any time after one year of age you can slowly transition to an adult formula, such as Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Health Recipe. Keep in mind that one should always feed a dog just enough to maintain a slightly lean body mass. In order to maintain the lean mass, regular exercise is essential.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 3:55 pm and is filed under Pet Health, Pet Nutrition, Vet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.