care & feeding of dog lost for four days

Question
My female(spayed), chocolate lab mix was missing for four days. She doesn't seem to have lost a lot of weight but she acts a little lethargic. Not much energy at all and she hardly makes a sound. Her collar was missing when she came back. What care and feeding should she receive to help her out? Should I just take her to her vet for a check-up? She acts like someone has smacked her for barking but I could be wrong. She may have wound up trapped by her collar and her throat is too sore to bark. Why do most advice columns say to feed a large dog longer on puppy food? She has been on a puppy food for over a year now. Guess I buy adult food next time. Is the large dog puppy food for real? and should I use it. Needless to say she will never go out by herself again. Thanks, Tina

Answer
I would just go ahead as usual.  Perhaps a little extra petting to help rebuild her confidence.  A visit to the vet wouldn't hurt, especially if she doens't get back the normal before long.  

Puppy chow has been carefully formulated to give maximum growth rates.  It is part of the science that fills the supermarket meat cases with very affordable meat.  It also allows the dog food producers to charge more giving them a higher mark up than regular chow.  So they say feed to a year or 2.  Those with no other source of information, suggest the same.  Unfortunately, it turns out that fast growth stresses undeveloped joints leading to more hip dysplacia in breeds prone to it. The dog food companies have responded with large breed dog chow.  While not as bad as the regular puppy chow for large breeds, it still promotes fast growth at the expense of sturdy joints.  It is a great deal for the dog food companies, being cheaper tomanufacture, but they can sell it at puppy chow prices.