I Accidentally Bought Puppy Food (7 Things To Do With It)
We’ve all been there, rushing through the store after a long day at work, trying to make it home in time to walk the dog before it gets too dark outside. You find yourself in the pet food aisle and quickly throw a bag of dog food into the cart.
You get home, open the bag of food, and then see that next to the familiar logo you’re used to buying, in small print, is the word ‘puppy’. You read the nutritional information and realize that this food is too high in calories and fat for your adult dog. Oops!
Darn! Now, what will you do with all of this puppy food?! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’ve all accidentally bought the wrong food for our pets at some point.
Luckily there are plenty of good options for what to do with it.
Donate The Puppy Food
One option is to donate the food to a local animal shelter or rescue group. A lot of times these important institutions operate with limited funds.
These groups could always use extra food of all kinds, which makes this option a great way to help out while getting rid of the food you accidentally bought.
When looking where to donate, don’t forget to check with your vet. They might know of groups or even other pet owners who could use the extra help.
Give It To A Friend
If you’re a dog person then odds are you have friends who are too. Offer the food to a friend who is currently raising a puppy. They’ll be happy to have it and you’ll be happy knowing it’s going to good use.
Store It Until You Need It
If you were debating getting a puppy, maybe this is your sign to get one! Store the puppy food until you’re ready to bring a new furry friend into your life. When the time comes, the food will be there waiting for your new best friend.
Make a note of the expiration date, you don’t want to feed your new puppy expired food.
Trade The Puppy Food For What You Want
One option is to trade it for what you want. If you can find the right person this is a great option.
Check online classifieds, old-school bulletin boards, or social media groups for people who are looking for puppy food. There are bound to be other pet parents out there who have made the opposite mistake.
If so, they’ll be glad to trade their adult food for your puppy food.
Mix The Puppy Food With Some Adult Food
With all that extra fat, your adult dog will probably love the taste of puppy food. This means a great option is to simply mix the puppy food with some adult food to feed your good boy.
Because of the extra fat, you’ll want to keep the ratio of puppy food low. As long as your dog doesn’t have allergies or any other food issues your dog should be just fine.
Just be sure to keep an eye on your dog’s weight, as too much puppy food can cause them to gain weight. Needless to say, don’t do this if your dog already has a weight problem.
Use The Puppy Kibble As A Treat
That extra fat in puppy food isn’t just good for livening up your dog’s regular food, you can also use a few kibbles at a time as treats.
Just like when you mix puppy food with adult food, you need to be careful not to feed too much to your favorite pooch because the high fat means high calories.
Your dog will love the taste of puppy kibble and treats a great way to show your brown-eyed buddy how much you care.
So, give your dog a little treat now and then, and remember there is no reason to go overboard. They’ll still love you just as much.
And obviously, don’t add extra treats (such as puppy food) to your dog’s diet if they are already overweight.
Get A Refund
If you bought the puppy food from a local pet store, odds are they’ll take it back for a refund.
However, if you bought the food from a big box store like Walmart or Target, they may or may not take it back and give you a full refund.
In either case, opened puppy food might not be accepted, you’ll probably want to call and ask before you show up with it.
Other Concerns
- If you trade puppy food for adult food, make sure you are getting uncontaminated food. That can be hard to do with strangers so it’s best to trade with friends or family you trust.
- If you give your dog puppy food as a treat or mixed with their food you don’t only need to watch your best friend’s weight. Also, keep an eye on your dog to make sure they aren’t having other digestive issues. If their stool changes, your dog becomes lethargic, or anything else, stop giving the puppy food to your dog.
Summary: What If I Accidentally Bought Puppy Food For My Adult Dog
If you accidentally bought puppy food for your adult dog here are a few things you can do:
- Donate it to a local animal group.
- Give it to a friend.
- Store it until you need it.
- Trade it for what you want.
- Mix the puppy food with some adult food to feed your good boy.
- Use the puppy kibble as a treat.
- Try to get a refund.
If you do opt to treat your dog to puppy food or mix in puppy food with their regular food, be sure to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t have any adverse reactions.