Puppy, Large-Breed Puppy & Kitten Nutrition
AAFCO Growth vs. All Life Stages • The 70 lb Large-Breed Puppy Rule • Adult & Senior Transitions
1. How to Match the AAFCO Statement to Your Pet's Age & Size
2. Two Ways That Work — Pick What Fits Your Home
Big-Dog Puppies: The 70 lb AAFCO Calcium Line You Must Check
AAFCO sets a lower maximum calcium limit for growth foods fed to puppies that will mature at 70 lb or more:
Look at the End of the AAFCO Sentence on Every 'Puppy' or 'All Life Stages' Bag
Many bags end with: '…including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)'—meaning it is safe for your big puppy! If it says '…except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)' (newer bags: 'except puppies >70 lb as an adult'), do not use it as a big puppy's main food.
Dedicated Large-Breed Puppy Formulas
As Hill's states on its label, large-breed puppy recipes are crafted 'with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth.' Ask our crew to walk you to our Dry Food - Large Breed puppy section!
Kittens & Nursing Moms: High-Protein, High-Moisture Growth
Kittens double their weight rapidly in the first months and have tiny stomachs:
Pair Kitten Wet Food With Kitten Dry Food
Look for an AAFCO statement covering growth or kittens. Offering both wet kitten food (for hydration and easy chewing) and dry kitten kibble introduces varied textures early so your kitten doesn't grow into a single-texture picky adult cat!
Never Feed Adult 'Urinary' Formulas to Kittens or Nursing Moms
Many adult over-the-counter urinary cat foods print a restriction on the bag stating they 'should not be fed to pregnant or nursing cats or to kittens' because acidifiers and mineral levels don't match kitten growth.
When to Switch From Puppy/Kitten to Adult — And How 'Senior' Bags Work
Every breed matures on a different timeline (toy breeds finish growing much earlier than giant breeds):
Check the Maker's Feeding Chart on the Back of Your Bag
Instead of guessing a month from memory, turn your puppy or kitten bag over—the manufacturer's age/weight chart shows exactly when their growth curve transitions to the adult formula.
What About 'Senior' Dog & Cat Foods?
AAFCO does not have an official 'senior' nutrient profile—so every senior bag carries an Adult Maintenance (or All Life Stages) AAFCO statement, tailored by the maker for older pets' calories, fiber, or joint/kidney support.
3. Puppy, Large-Breed Puppy, Kitten & Senior Lines We Stock
Portion Sizing & Growth Tips:
Use the maker's weight & age chart on the back of the bag as your starting daily portion
Young puppies and kittens digest smaller, more frequent meals better than one big bowl
Re-check the bag's weight row every few weeks as your puppy or kitten gains weight
Sudden lameness, vomiting, blood, or refusing food in a puppy/kitten goes straight to the vet
4. Four Keys from Our Pet Nutrition Team
Read the Sentence, Not the Front Photo
A bag with a cute puppy picture on the front might still exclude puppies over 70 lb—always read the AAFCO sentence on the back!
Introduce Textures Early to Kittens
Serving pâté, shreds in broth, and dry kibble during kittenhood helps prevent extreme texture pickiness later in life.
Puppy-Safe Chew & Toy Sizing
Young puppies have fragile baby teeth—choose puppy-specific rubber toys and size-matched chews from our Puppy section.
Gradual Life-Stage Switches
When it's time to graduate from puppy/kitten food to adult food, follow the new bag's gradual transition instructions.
Bring-Home Shopping Checklist
Tap items to check them off on your phone while you shop at Wilsonville Pet Supply.
1. Verify Your Life-Stage Statement
2. Hydration, Wet Food & Training
3. Bowls & Puppy/Kitten Essentials
Complete Reference Notes & Oregon Keeping Guide
How to Match the AAFCO Statement to Your Pet's Age & Size
Older Bags & Newer 2023 'Pet Nutrition Facts' Bags Word the Stages Slightly Differently — Learn Both!
Temperature & Humidity Zones
| Zone | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Growth (Puppies / Kittens) | Higher Energy/Nutrients | For growing puppies & kittens (and pregnant/nursing moms) |
| Large-Breed Puppy (70+ lb) | Check 70 lb Line! | AAFCO sets a controlled calcium limit for dogs ≥70 lb as adults |
| All Life Stages | Check 70 lb Exception | Formulated to meet AAFCO growth AND adult maintenance profiles |
| Adult Maintenance | Grown Adults Only | For fully grown adult dogs & cats — NOT built for growing babies! |
| 'Senior' Labeled Foods | Adult Maintenance | AAFCO has no separate senior profile — read the AAFCO line (Adult/All) |
Two Ways That Work (100% Stocked Store Options)
Big-Dog Puppies: The 70 lb AAFCO Calcium Line You Must Check
AAFCO sets a lower maximum calcium limit for growth foods fed to puppies that will mature at 70 lb or more:
- Look at the End of the AAFCO Sentence on Every 'Puppy' or 'All Life Stages' Bag: Many bags end with: '…including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)'—meaning it is safe for your big puppy! If it says '…except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult)' (newer bags: 'except puppies >70 lb as an adult'), do not use it as a big puppy's main food.
- Dedicated Large-Breed Puppy Formulas: As Hill's states on its label, large-breed puppy recipes are crafted 'with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth.' Ask our crew to walk you to our Dry Food - Large Breed puppy section!
Kittens & Nursing Moms: High-Protein, High-Moisture Growth
Kittens double their weight rapidly in the first months and have tiny stomachs:
- Pair Kitten Wet Food With Kitten Dry Food: Look for an AAFCO statement covering growth or kittens. Offering both wet kitten food (for hydration and easy chewing) and dry kitten kibble introduces varied textures early so your kitten doesn't grow into a single-texture picky adult cat!
- Never Feed Adult 'Urinary' Formulas to Kittens or Nursing Moms: Many adult over-the-counter urinary cat foods print a restriction on the bag stating they 'should not be fed to pregnant or nursing cats or to kittens' because acidifiers and mineral levels don't match kitten growth.
When to Switch From Puppy/Kitten to Adult — And How 'Senior' Bags Work
Every breed matures on a different timeline (toy breeds finish growing much earlier than giant breeds):
- Check the Maker's Feeding Chart on the Back of Your Bag: Instead of guessing a month from memory, turn your puppy or kitten bag over—the manufacturer's age/weight chart shows exactly when their growth curve transitions to the adult formula.
- What About 'Senior' Dog & Cat Foods?: AAFCO does not have an official 'senior' nutrient profile—so every senior bag carries an Adult Maintenance (or All Life Stages) AAFCO statement, tailored by the maker for older pets' calories, fiber, or joint/kidney support.
Puppy, Large-Breed Puppy, Kitten & Senior Lines We Stock
Flip Any Bag Over With Our Crew — We'll Read the AAFCO Life-Stage Sentence Together!
- Puppy & Large-Breed Puppy (Fromm, NutriSource, Farmina N&D, Nulo, Orijen & Acana): Dedicated Small/Medium Puppy and Large-Breed Puppy formulas (with the AAFCO 'including growth of large size dogs 70 lb+' statement verified on the bag).
- Kitten Dry, Wet & Freeze-Dried (Tiki Cat Baby, Weruva Kitten, Fromm Kitten, Nulo & NutriSource): High-protein, moisture-rich kitten mousses, shreds, and small-bite kitten kibbles built specifically for feline growth and gestation/lactation.
- Adult & Senior Life Stages (All Flagship Brands + Senior Wet & Dry): Calorie-appropriate adult maintenance and senior recipes, plus soft pâtés, bone broths, and hip/joint mobility chews for older dogs and cats.
Portion Sizing & Growth Tips:
- Start With the Bag Chart: Use the maker's weight & age chart on the back of the bag as your starting daily portion
- Divide Into 2–3+ Meals: Young puppies and kittens digest smaller, more frequent meals better than one big bowl
- Adjust as They Grow: Re-check the bag's weight row every few weeks as your puppy or kitten gains weight
- Limping or Sick Puppy?: Sudden lameness, vomiting, blood, or refusing food in a puppy/kitten goes straight to the vet
Keeper Note: Don't Add Extra Calcium to a Complete Large-Breed Puppy Food: Because AAFCO already sets strict calcium-to-phosphorus limits for large-breed puppy growth, adding extra calcium powders or bone meal on top of a complete diet throws off that balance. Let the complete large-breed formula do its job!
Essential Keeper Rules & Pro Tips
- Read the Sentence, Not the Front Photo: A bag with a cute puppy picture on the front might still exclude puppies over 70 lb—always read the AAFCO sentence on the back!
- Introduce Textures Early to Kittens: Serving pâté, shreds in broth, and dry kibble during kittenhood helps prevent extreme texture pickiness later in life.
- Puppy-Safe Chew & Toy Sizing: Young puppies have fragile baby teeth—choose puppy-specific rubber toys and size-matched chews from our Puppy section.
- Gradual Life-Stage Switches: When it's time to graduate from puppy/kitten food to adult food, follow the new bag's gradual transition instructions.
Complete Store Setup Checklist
1. Verify Your Life-Stage Statement
- Puppy / Kitten: AAFCO 'Growth' or 'All Life Stages' Confirmed on Back of Bag
- Big Puppies (≥70 lb Adult): Confirm Statement Includes Large-Size Dogs!
- Adults & Seniors: AAFCO 'Maintenance' or 'All Life Stages' Confirmed
2. Hydration, Wet Food & Training
- Puppy or Kitten Wet Cans / Pouches (Great for Hydration & Stuffing Toys)
- Soft, Pea-Sized Puppy/Kitten Training Treats (Count Toward Daily Calories!)
- Measuring Cup Marked for Your Pet's Current Age & Weight Row
3. Bowls & Puppy/Kitten Essentials
- Shallow Whisker-Friendly Kitten Dish OR Non-Skid Puppy Bowl
- Slow-Feeder Bowl or Lick Mat (If Your Puppy Gulps Meals Fast)
- Puppy-Sized Chew Toys (Check Package Weight & Age Line)
How We Help With Pet Nutrition at All 6 Oregon Stores
- We Flip the Bag Over Together (AAFCO Rules & the Maker's Own Label): At Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, and South Salem Pet Supply, we never rely on front-of-bag marketing slogans or make medical promises. Bring a photo of your current food bag and we'll compare the Guaranteed Analysis, the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, and the first five ingredients side by side.
- Frequent Buyer Program at Every Register: Just give your phone number at checkout at any of our 6 stores—buy 10 to 12 bags of most dog and cat food brands (Fromm, NutriSource, PureVita, Acana, Orijen, Nulo, Farmina N&D, FirstMate, Zignature, Open Farm, Stella & Chewy's, Primal, Northwest Naturals, and more) and your next bag of the same size is free! Because we track it by phone number in our POS, we can also look up the exact recipe your pet bought last time.
- Zero-Deposit Special Requests & Vet Referral Standard: Don't see the exact bag size or formula your pet eats on our shelf today? Ask at the counter and we'll log a special request in our Command Center with zero deposit. Remember: we carry over-the-counter and vet-formulated diets (not prescription diets), so always see your veterinarian first if your pet has signs of illness (vomiting, blood, not eating, or a cat straining in the litter box), a diagnosed medical condition, or takes medications.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How can I get help with Puppy, Large-Breed Puppy & Kitten Nutrition at your stores in Oregon?
Stop by any of our 6 family-owned Oregon stores—Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, or South Salem Pet Supply. Bring a photo of your pet's current food bag and our team will gladly walk the aisle with you and compare labels.
How does your Frequent Buyer Program work on dog and cat food?
Just give your phone number at the register at any of our 6 locations—there are no paper punch cards to keep track of. On most major kibble, raw, freeze-dried, and gently cooked brands, when you buy 10 to 12 bags of the same size, your next bag is free!
Do you sell veterinary prescription diets, or over-the-counter specialty diets?
We do not sell veterinary prescription diets (if your veterinarian has prescribed a therapeutic Rx diet for a diagnosed medical condition, follow your vet's instructions). We stock a deep selection of over-the-counter vet-formulated, limited-ingredient, novel-protein, wholesome-grain, grain-free, wet, freeze-dried, and frozen raw diets.
What if my dog or cat is a picky eater or has a sensitive stomach when switching foods?
Always follow the gradual transition schedule printed on the back of your new food bag—mixing a small amount of the new food into the old food over 7 to 10+ days—and never starve a cat to force a food switch. Ask our crew about single-ingredient toppers, bone broths, plain canned pumpkin, or fermented goat's milk to support a smooth transition.
