Protein And Fat Content
Dog food is not that different from your food. Its made with some of the same proteins, carbs, fruits, veggies, and supplements that comprise your daily diet. In fact, many typical homemade dog foods are quite similar to the chicken-and-rice dishes you may make for your family.
Cat foods, on the other hand, are more like Atkins-inspired recipes. Theyre primarily comprised of proteins and fats, and they typically lack the assortment of fruits and vegetables that are often found in dog foods.
The AAFCO guidelines call for 18% protein content for adult dog foods, while adult cat foods must contain 26% protein content .
Nevertheless, some authorities consider these figures too low for cats and recommend protein content in the 30% to 45% range.
The AAFCOs guidelines for fat content differ less, but they still recommend that cat foods contain 9% fat content, while dog foods only require 8.5%.
Keep in mind that these are minimum guidelines, and many cat foods have protein and fat content that exceed these recommendations sometimes significantly so. In fact, the high protein and fat content of cat foods is probably the reason dogs find cat foods so tasty.
Okay But Is It Actually Better
Many of these fresh pet food brands are marketed as being human-grade or say they dont contain fillers, but that doesnt mean theyre better than traditional pet food. The fillers in pet food are grains or carbohydratessuch as corn, soy, or wheatthat offer your pet nutritional value. Preservatives extend the shelf life, flavor, and smell of pantry pet foods and typically go through quality-control testing by the FDA or another governing body, to ensure the food is still safe for your pet to consume.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials defines human-grade food as being suitable for human consumption, meaning all ingredients must be safe for humans to eat. Bullen explained that feed grade can be defined as being suitable for animal consumption. But the distinction may not be much more than marketing when youre talking about a dog who likes to eat leftovers out of the trash. There are so many things that would make food feed grade rather than human grade that wouldnt harm the animal in any form or fashion, Bullen said. A prime example of feed grade would be poultry by-product meal, which can consist of poultry liver, spleen, or kidneys, but would not include poultry feathers or feet.
My Dog Ate Cat Food: What Should I Do
It’s unlikely that your dog will experience any negative effects from eating cat food once or twice. He’ll probably love the way it tastes and want more, even if it causes mild gastrointestinal distress. Don’t worry too much if your dog eats some, but do take precautions to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Cat food isn’t good for dogs, and kitten food is even worse.
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Can Dogs Eat Pineapples
Pineapple is safe for your dog to eat. It has many vitamins and minerals, which can help boost your dogs immune system and digestive health. However, pineapple is high in sugar, so moderation is key. If youd like to learn more about safely giving your dog pineapple, read our can dogs eat pineapple article.
Feed Your Cat In A Different Room
Another simple way to prevent your dog from eating your cats food is to simply feed your cat in a closed room your dog cant enter.
You could use any room for such purposes, but bathrooms, laundry rooms, pantries, and garages are among the best. Baby gates can also be used to segment off a part of a room. Some household dog gates are designed with a small opening that allows cats to pass through while keeping canines out!
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Be Proactive & Save Yourself From Expensive Vet Bills
If your dog eats something and gets sick, the vet bill can be tough for pet parents to stomach. Take the proactive step and consider pet insurance before you find yourself rushing to the vet. That way, if an unsuspecting treat becomes a medical emergency, your dog will be better off. Check out this video explaining what pet insurance is and why its worth it.
See something we missed? Does your pup have a favorite food youd like to learn more about?
Do More For Your Furry Friends
Other than whipping up homemade dog and cat food recipes to satisfy your fussy furry eaters, you can also show your fluffy pals some tender loving care by bringing them to the groomers! Check out these best places for pet grooming in Singapore to give your pets a good trim and pamper them with a spa treatment at the pets parlour! Meanwhile, improve your pets indoor living conditions with these pet-friendly home decor ideas.
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Why You Should Trust Us
Over the last year, weve written in-depth reviews of over 80 cat food brands and hundreds of formulas. We spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, and analyzing labels. With the help of our cats, we also got hands-on experience with a few foods.
Between reviewing specific brands and researching feline nutrition, weve learned which brands and products are worth buying and putting in your cats bowl.
Based on that experience, weve chosen the 10 products described below as the best cat food you can buy in 2021.
What Food Should Dogs Eat
Most dogs thrive off of a of dry kibble that follows AAFCO guidelines but the growing number of specialty food options has drawn some dog owners away from the traditional dry dog food. Most pet stores now have freezers and refrigerators to provide the other options that aren’t found on the shelves in the pet food aisle. Most every dog food you see in a pet store will follow AAFCO guidelines so as long as you choose a food designed for a dog and their specific needs you will be providing proper nutrition unless they have a medical condition requiring supplements. The same goes for feeding cat food to cats, but that does not mean that they are interchangeable between species.
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Q: Do You Have Any Tips For Keeping My Dog Out Of My Cat’s Food And Vice Versa
Dr. Leslie: Cat food is very tasty to dogs. They can be obsessed trying to get into Fluffy’s bowl. A “creep feeder” is a feeder that the cat can get into, but the hole is too small for the dog. This is one way to keep Fido from Fluffy’s food.
While you’re keeping your pets’ food separated, treat them to their own special snacks, too. Try Meow Mix® Irresistibles® for your cat.
“Zoe” by Paul L Dineen via Flickr. License info. “Best Friends” by Lottie via Flickr. License info.
So How Much Carbohydrate Matter Does A Cat Need
None. Carbohydrate concentrations between 1 and 10% wont harm your cat, but anything more is a threat to your cats health. Excess carbohydrates can lead to problems like obesity and digestive issues.
Now, finding foods with low carbohydrate content is trickier than it sounds. Unlike a jar of peanut butter or a loaf of bread, cat food labels dont tell you how many grams of carbohydrates are in each serving. They dont tell you anything about the carbohydrate content.
The best way to avoid high-carbohydrate foods is by looking for products that dont contain anything starchy. Read the ingredient list and rule out anything that contains potatoes, wheat, soy, peas, or other high-carbohydrate products.
If you want more details, you can contact the company and ask about carbohydrate content. Alternatively, use a carbohydrate calculator like this one to get a rough estimate.
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Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Food
While cats are obligate carnivores, meaning theyre obligated to eat meat and would in fact die without it, dogs are opportunistic omnivores meaning they can make use of many nutrient types found in their environment. Being relatives of wolves, people think of dogs as keen hunters, but ancient dogs began to rely on foraging scraps off nearby humans as they developed the bond we cherish today.
Being opportunistic, dogs will eat practically anything, which can certainly pose a problem at times. Its like their ancestral instincts have come up against a human-centered world. On par with sniffing something to see what it could be, dogs often try eating things simply out of curiosity. If you own a dog, you probably have more than one story of pet shenanigans.
Not only does cat food smell novel to the pet kibble theyre accustomed to, a dogs strong senses draw them to its high protein and fat content.
Why Your Cat Needs More Than Dog Food
via flickr/bambe1964
While its not ideal, a dog could live on a cat food diet for a while. A cat, on the other hand, cannot subsist on dog food alone. While a bite or two of dog food wont hurt your cat, a dog food diet is lacking several essential ingredients to kitty health.
As mentioned, cats are obligate carnivores, and they need a meat-based diet with the appropriate nutrition. There are a few essential ingredients in cat food that just dont come up in dog food:
- High protein content. Without the right amount of protein, cats lose muscle mass and become lethargic.
- Taurine. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, this amino acid is critical for vision, digestion, heart function, fetal development, and a healthy immune system in cats. Cats get taurine from a high-protein, meat-based diet, but commercial cat foods add extra taurine to make up for whats lost in processing. Dogs dont need as much taurine, so it isnt added to their foods, meaning a dog food diet cannot keep a cat healthy.
- Vitamin A. As explained by Doctors Foster and Smith, dogs can use beta-carotene as a source of Vitamin A cats cannot. Commercial cat food is formulated to include the appropriate level of Vitamin A for cats, and they simply wont get that from dog food.
Its a little less common for cats to go cuckoo for dog kibble, but if you happen to have one of those special cats, just keep an eye on them and make sure theyre eating their own food too, even if they get a doggy sample once in a while.
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Can Dogs Eat Eggs
Salmonella poisoning and biotin deficiency are two things to be cautious of when feeding your dog raw eggs. It is safest to give your dog a cooked egg over a raw egg. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and have a host of vitamins for your pup. Dont cook eggs in butter, oil, salt, pepper, or other additives dogs dont need those things, and they can be harmful to them as well.
If Your Dog Tends To Move On To Your Cat’s Food Bowl After He Finishes His Dinner You’re Going To Want To Read This
Dogs will eat any food they can find. Whether its dog food, cat food, something you dropped on the ground while eating dinner, or garbage they find on their walk, they dont discriminate. We can assume that the garbage your dog finds on the road isnt healthy for him, but is it bad if your dog occasionally eats the leftovers your cat left in her bowl? Can dogs eat cat food? If your cat is the pet in your house that loves to eat, learn if cats can eat dog food.
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Will Cat Food Make My Dog Sick
When dogs eat cat food, they take in far more protein and fat than theyd normally eat. Many dogs will be fine doing this every now and again, but if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach, all this extra protein and fat can cause dogs to feel sick. Some dogs may start to vomit or have diarrhea or abdominal pain. Others may even progress to pancreatitis. This is a painful inflammation of the pancreas in reaction to the high levels of fat in the food. This can make dogs very ill. They usually vomit repeatedly and refuse to eat, sometimes for days on end.
Can Dogs Drink Alcohol
Do not give your dog alcohol on purpose. Alcohol can cause not only intoxication, lack of coordination, weak breathing, and abnormal acidity but potentially even coma or death. Find out what dogs can drink safely.
This includes rubbing alcohol and alcohol in hand sanitizers.
When eaten or licked off the paws in large amounts, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause digestive upset such as vomiting or can even cause alcohol toxicity if the alcohol content is high enough. Elizabeth Racine, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
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What Happens If Dogs Eats Cat Food
Some dogs wont show symptoms. They will be unfazed by the change in diet, especially those with stomachs that can handle it explains, Sharon Crowell-Davis, DVM, DACVB, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia says. Others however may exhibit gastrointestinal discomfort like vomiting, flatulence, or diarrhea. Even more serious is pancreatitis.
Obesity is another way in which cat food impacts your dog. Dogs who eat cat food tend to be obese. Dogs generally eat more than cats, so aside from the recurrent feedings of high proteins, think about how much more cat food you will be giving your dog in order to satisfy his appetite.
Besides an over dosage of proteins, there are also ingredients in cat foods that can be very harmful to your dog. Vitamin A, Taurine or Arachidonic acid are ingredients that are supplied in cat foods that are vital to a cat’s overall health. Dogs however produce these naturally. An over abundance can have adverse effects.
Just to make it clearer here is a brief review of how the three ingredients can individually impact your dog health
How To Train Your Dog To Stop Eating Cat Food
Start by making bowls of food distinguishable.To be fair to your dog, it may be hard to tell the difference between a bowl full of kibble that theyre supposed to eat, and a bowl full of kibble thats off-limits. Help your dog out by making the bowls of kibble look very different from each other. Try different bowl sizes and colors, and if you have a placemat under your pets bowls, make sure theyre different too.
Teach your dog the Leave It command. Once your dog knows Leave It, introduce cat food and repeat until they can successfully ignore the food. It can take daily practice for a few weeks, but stay consistent with your training and youll get it together!
Remove the opportunity for your dog to eat cat food.The best way to keep your dog from eating cat food is to separate your pets when food is out. Start by moving your cats bowl to another room one your dog cant get to. If your dog never has access to the cats food, theyll never get the opportunity to steal it! Here are some options:
The bottom line: Dont leave cat food out when your dog has plenty of opportunities to sneak over and grab a few bites. If youre used to leaving food out throughout the day, it may take a while to get your pets used to eating their meals in full on a schedule. However, the benefits of a feeding schedule and removing any food that isn’t eaten in 10-20 minutes is worth it.
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Why Do Dogs Love Cat Food So Much
There’s no doubt that dogs love cat food. Some dogs love it so much that their owners use cat food as a high-value treat to reward them for exceptional performances. Dogs love cat food so much that many cat owners are forced to feed their cats in separate areas that are out of the dog’s reach. Dogs even enjoy eating cat food after it has been digested: There’s no denial that many dogs perceive kitty’s “Tootsie rolls” as a pure delicacy.
So what makes cat food so appealing to dogs? Is it just the fact that it’s different? Does Rover get an adrenaline rush when he steals it? Is it more appealing because it’s left out longer ? Or does it actually taste better?
The Difference Between Dog And Cat Food
At a first glimpse, dog and cat food appear strikingly similar. They are both dry kibble that come in similar shapes and looks. They come in bags and they may even have a similar smell. But they are quite different when it comes to ingredients.
Cats are obligate carnivores and as such, their diets are very rich in protein. Sharon Crowell-Davis, DVM, DACVB and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, suggests that it’s this high protein content that has a major impact on flavor.
The fact Rover loves Fluffy’s food is a no-brainer, but the real question is: Will eating cat food harm my dog in the long term? Below, we will take a look at the health implications and side effects of eating cat food as a habit.
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Nutritional Requirements Of Dogs
When you are discussing nutrition for dogs, there are 6 fundamental nutrients that are gone over: protein, water, fat, minerals, carbs, and vitamins. Canines require all 6 of these nutrients, because they are omnivores, however in differing quantities. Cats have various requirements, given that they are from a line of carnivorous predators.
Substantial research has actually been done over the past years to identify what is nutritionally helpful to a dog so that dog food companies have the ability to understand how to create their perfect foods. If your dog food has a AAFCO seal on it, then it follows the suggested standards for creating a well balanced and complete dog food. These standards vary for canines and felines.
Because dietary requirements are based on various life phases, illness, and the weight of a pet, various foods that are created for various pets might have various quantities of the 6 fundamental nutrients in them. This is why feeding your dog food that follows AAFCO standards is the easiest and best thing you can do to offer needed nutrition to your dog.