You have been giving your large breed puppy MoveGuard Growth since 8 or 12 weeks. They are now approaching what looks like adult size. The question is: when do you switch to the adult formula?
It is not based on age. It is based on a single biological milestone: growth plate closure. Until your vet confirms that the growth plates have fused, your dog is still developing β and still needs the growth-specific formulation. Once they are closed, the developmental phase is over and the maintenance phase begins.
Growth Plates in Puppies: What Every Large Breed Owner Needs to Understand β
The Rule: Growth Plates, Not Birthday
Growth plate closure is the definitive marker of skeletal maturity. Once all growth plates have ossified and fused to the surrounding bone, the skeleton is no longer actively growing. The developmental processes that MoveGuard Growth supports β cartilage matrix formation, growth plate biology, collagen synthesis β are complete, and the dog's joints now need the maintenance-focused support that MoveGuard Adult provides.
Age is an imperfect proxy for this milestone. Two 14-month-old Labrador Retrievers from different lines can have meaningfully different growth plate status β one fully closed, the other with several plates still open. Using age alone to time the transition risks switching too early for late-maturing dogs.
Radiographic confirmation: a simple X-ray at your vet's office showing whether growth plates are closed, partially closed, or still open. This costs $50 to $100 and provides definitive information that eliminates guesswork.
When to Expect Closure by Breed Size
| Breed Size | Adult Weight | Expected Closure | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large breeds | 50β90 lbs | 12β18 months | Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Standard Poodle, Boxer |
| Giant breeds | 90+ lbs | 14β24 months | Great Dane, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Irish Wolfhound |
These are ranges, not rules. Males typically close later than females. Dogs neutered or spayed early may close later than intact dogs. Within any individual dog, different growth plates close at different times β the distal radius (wrist area) and proximal tibia (knee area) are typically among the last to fuse, and are often the ones your vet checks to determine overall skeletal maturity.
The Transition Process: Step by Step
Schedule a growth plate X-ray with your vet when your dog reaches the lower end of the expected closure range for their breed β 12 months for large breeds, 14β16 months for giant breeds.
If growth plates are confirmed closed: begin MoveGuard Adult at the recommended dose for your dog's adult weight. The transition can be immediate β no tapering needed. Finish any remaining MoveGuard Growth supply first (it is not harmful to a dog with closed plates, just no longer optimally targeted).
If growth plates are still open: continue MoveGuard Growth. Recheck in 2β3 months. Continue growth-appropriate exercise management.
Once on MoveGuard Adult, continue daily joint supplementation indefinitely. Joint maintenance is a lifelong investment, especially for breeds predisposed to arthritis and hip/elbow dysplasia.
Ready to Make the Transition?
MoveGuard Growth for developing joints. MoveGuard Adult for maintaining them. Both available with Subscribe & Save for seamless, uninterrupted joint support.
What Happens If You Switch Too Early or Too Late?
Switching Too Early
The dog misses growth-specific support β manganese, growth-appropriate omega-3 ratios β during the final phase of skeletal development. The adult formula is not harmful, but it is not optimized for the developmental processes still underway. For dogs with high orthopedic risk, this gap could influence the quality of the final joint architecture.
Switching Too Late
MoveGuard Growth is not harmful to an adult dog β its ingredients are safe at any age. However, the dog is missing maintenance-specific compounds (chondroitin, green-lipped mussel, adult-dose anti-inflammatories) their mature joints now benefit from. The formulation is providing developmental support the dog no longer needs while omitting maintenance support they do need.
Switch when closure is confirmed β not before, not long after β to get the right support for the right stage.
The Lifetime Joint Health Journey
MoveGuard Growth. Controlled nutrition. Exercise management. The developmental foundation.
MoveGuard Adult. Full exercise freedom (post-transition ramp-up). Weight management. Active lifestyle with joint support.
MoveGuard Adult at the senior dosing level. Increased focus on weight management, low-impact exercise (swimming), and possibly additional interventions if arthritis develops.
The thread connecting all three stages is daily joint supplementation. The specific formulation changes to match the biological stage, but the principle of consistent, targeted support remains constant from puppy to senior. Dogs who receive uninterrupted joint support throughout their lives have better mobility outcomes than those who start supplementation only after problems appear.
MoveGuard vs. MoveGuard Growth: Which One Does Your Dog Need? β
Frequently Asked Questions
An X-ray is strongly recommended for large and giant breed dogs because the variability in closure timing is significant. A 14-month-old dog who looks full-grown may have open growth plates. If cost is a concern, using the upper end of the expected range for your breed size (18 months for large, 24 months for giant) as a transition point without X-ray confirmation is a conservative approach that errs on the side of developmental support.
There is no harm in giving both products simultaneously for a brief overlap period (a week or two while finishing one and starting the other). The ingredients are compatible. However, there is no particular benefit to overlapping β a direct switch is fine.
Continue MoveGuard Growth. If a specific condition is diagnosed (panosteitis, early OCD signs, hip laxity), your vet may add additional interventions (pain management, activity restriction) while the growth supplement continues. Do not switch to the adult product prematurely β the developing skeleton needs growth-specific support even, especially, when developmental problems are detected.
Seamless Joint Support From Puppy to Adult
Start with MoveGuard Growth. Transition to MoveGuard Adult at growth plate closure. Take the quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Take the Dog Wellness Quiz β
