Is It Ok For My Dog To Eat Cat Food

How Can You Get Your Dog To Stop Eating Cat Food

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If you own a cat and a dog, feeding time can be a challenge. First, try feeding them in different rooms or at different times of the day. Lock your cat in their own room until they finish their meal. If your cat slowly picks at her food throughout the day, you can try putting the bowl up on a window ledge or the countera place where the dog cant get to it. Now that you know not to feed your dog cat food, make sure you avoid these other mistakes that every dog owner makes.

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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.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Cat Food

Experts agree: Keep cat food out of your dogs reach. Put cat bowls up highsuch as on counters or cat treesthat Rover cant reach. Or feed your dog and cat in separate locations, even if that means using a baby gate or pet barrier to segregate hallways.

Another suggestion is to schedule your dogs and cats mealtimes 10 minutes apart so you can supervise and keep your fur babies from swiping food from each others bowls.

Open to high-tech solutions? Get each of your pets a feeder programmed with his or her microchip or RFID collar tag. These types of feeders only open when the registered pet approaches. That means your cat can access her food at any time without the fear of it being stolen.

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Learn If It Poses Any Health Risks

Adrienne Kruzer, BS, RVT, LVT, has worked with a variety of animals for over 15 years, including birds of prey, reptiles, and small mammals.

Have you ever wondered if it’s okay that your dog eats from your cat’s food bowl? Dogs are not big cats, so their digestive systems are not designed to eat cat food. Long-term feeding of cat food to a dog can cause some health issues, so it’s helpful for a dog owner to be aware of some of the differences in these similar pet foods.

My Dog Ate Cat Food What Do I Do

Can a Cat Eat Dog Food? Is It Safe? Mr Dog Food

Dogs get into cat food all of the time. Some steal from the cats bowl, others break into food bags and containers. Eating cat food on occasion may lead to nothing more than vomiting and diarrhea, but this can vary from dog to dog. If your dog exhibits signs of intestinal discomfort after eating cat food, call your veterinarian.

If your dog regularly gets into cat food, it is best change where you keep your cats food or where and how you feed your cat.

As a general rule, try to discourage your dog from eating cat food unsupervised by placing it out of his reach. As always, pay attention to your dogs reaction when feeding him something new and talk to your veterinarian about any concerns you may have.

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What Are The Differences Between Cat Food And Dog Food

Cats and dogs have a few important biological and anatomical differences. For example, cats are classified as obligate carnivores who require a diet primarily comprised of meat.

Dogs, on the other hand, are best characterized as opportunistic omnivores who need a lot of different types of foods, including plenty of meat.

These differences are reflected in the foods we feed each, as discussed in greater detail below.

Are The Best Foods Those By Veterinarians

While large brands sold in veterinarian’s offices may be marketed as premium, top of the line foods, one look at the ingredients tells a different story. These formulas, made by large conglomerate food manufacturers, derive far more protein from grains or grain by-product sources such as corn gluten meal, brewer’s rice, and wheat, than from healthy meat sources.

These brands, and so many like them found in grocery stores, also contain poultry by-product, which consists of the leftovers unfit for human consumption, like feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs, and intestines everything BUT clean meat. It’s a cheap, low quality source of protein that is far less digestible than clean chicken meal. These ingredients are a tell-tale sign of poor quality food and are no different than discount brands at the grocery store.

Although the formulas may contain a few specialized ingredients to position them as a special diet for health conditions such as joint support, urinary tract health, etc., a better way to treat these conditions is with a truly healthy food and one or more daily supplements.

When looking for the best food, meat and a named meat meal, like chicken meal or lamb meal, should be listed before any grains. Our dogs and cats are designed by nature to eat protein from meat sources, not grains. The high grain content of many pet foods is a primary contributor to the growing obesity and allergy problems in pets .

Know Your Dog’s Gi Tract

“If your dog has an ironclad stomach, something like this is great and fun,” Nelson says, adding an important point: If your pet has a sensitive stomach, then some of these foodsespecially the higher-fat choices”can lead to pancreatitis or at minimum some upset stomach and diarrhea.” Remember, she says: “Every single dog is an individual.”

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food: Conclusion

Feeding Your Pets Too Much Chicken?

It really isnt, Can dogs eat cat food? but rather, Should they? In a PURRfect world, wed all have the willpower to resist foods that arent good for us, but dogs dont realize that what tastes yummy, may make them sick. Cat food might be tempting, but it wont give your dog a nutritious diet, and over time, could have detrimental effects on his health.

Have you come up with an ingenious way to keep your dog away from cat food? Your solution could help other dog moms and dads who are struggling with this issue. Please share in the comments below!

Denise Fleck

DENISE FLECK is an award-winning author, animal care instructor and radio show host. She was named one of Pet Age Magazines Women of Influence for 2018, a Most Inspiring Story in 2017 by Voyage Atlanta Magazine and has been nominated for 6 Dog Writers Awards to be announced in early 2019.

Can My Cat Eat The Dogs Food

Its not a good idea. As cat food is too high in fat and protein for your dog, the opposite is also true. Dog food does not contain adequate fat or protein for your cat. Additionally, cats require more vitamin A and taurine then dogs so dog food will not provide the correct nutritional balance for your cat.

While a bite or two of cat food probably wont do any long term damage, it is important to feed your dog food that was especially intended for them. Consider your dogs age, breed, activity level, and any food allergies or sensitivities when selecting a food for them to enjoy. You might even consider a fresh pet food like Ollie. A healthy diet is a big part of your dogs overall health. Do your research and choose a food that not only tastes great but will also keep your best friend happy and healthy for many years to come.

The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out MyOllie.com.

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food Once Or An Emergency

In an emergency where dog food is not available, you may be wondering if it is safe to give your dog a little bit of cat food instead. The occasional use of cat food is not toxic to dogs, but as previously mentioned, it is not ideal. As with any abrupt change in diet, you should expect some mild stomach upset. A better alternative in these situations is to feed a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice.

Another common scenario where owners consider using cat food is when their dog is not interested in the dog food. Since dogs usually find cat food appetizing, some owners will try to mix a little cat food in with dog food. Although this poses less of a health risk than feeding only cat food, it is still not recommended. Nutritional imbalances can still occur with the mixing of food. Some dogs are just picky eaters, but a poor appetite can indicate that your dog has an underlying health condition. If you notice your dogs appetite has changed, get them checked out by your veterinarian and discuss your concerns before making any major changes to your pets diet.

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When Cat Food Is Harmful For Dogs

For other dogs, consuming cat food, even as an occasional treat, could become problematic if there are underlying reasons for why excess protein or fat is not ideal.

Examples:

A dog with a sensitive gastrointestinal tract may vomit or have diarrhea after eating cat food because the food is simply too rich.
A dog with kidney or liver disease needs to consume moderate amounts of protein, not excess, to promote optimal functioning of those organs.
An obese dog, or one with a predisposition for developing pancreatitis , must consume a lower-fat diet to promote weight loss or limit pancreatic inflammation.

For all of these dogs, feeding any amount of commercial cat food, whether its infrequent or on a long-term basis, could exacerbate health issues.

What Happens If Dogs Eats Cat Food

Is it okay for my cat and dog to eat each other

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

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It Can Lead To Obesity Or Pancreatitis

What happens when your dogs start to eat cat food? Do they get sick more often?

The answer to that question is YES! Absolutely!

As cat food contains more proteins as it is purely meat-based, it can lead to serious problems for your dog. It can lead to obesity due to the excess of calories.

On the other hand, it can lead to Pancreatitis or other diseases that might disturb the bowel movement and digestion of food.

It might not be evident at first. But it does its damage slowly, and till you notice, it can cause serious problems.

Can Dogs Eat Cat Treats

Feeding cat food to your dog on a regular basis is not recommended, but what about popular cat treats? The long-term nutritional concerns associated with feeding your dog cat food are not as big a concern when it comes to cat treats. As long as your dog is getting a proper diet that is meeting their nutritional needs, the occasional use of cat treats is safe. There are not any ingredients in cat treats that are safe for cats but toxic to dogs. Like any treat, moderation is key.

When using cat treats, one thing to keep in mind is that they typically contain a large number of calories. As a general rule, treats should make up approximately 10% of your pets daily calorie requirement. Consuming a large number of calories from treats can lead to problems with obesity. When using cat treats, you may need to reduce the number of treats and how frequently you give them. If weight is an issue in your dog, it is best to look for lower-calorie treat options. When in doubt, it is always best to stick to treats specifically formulated for your dog.

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Dietary Differences Of Dogs And Cats

*There is an exception to this rule. If you are feeding a whole prey raw diet, then this diet is suitable for both dogs and cats. This type of meal is based on an ancestral carnivore diet, and provides all of the nutrients required by both cats and dogs.

If you need help finding the right dog diet, check out What Should I Feed My Dog? A Beginner’s Guide to Dog Food.

How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Cat Food

Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

On the top of our list, you should try as much as you can to keep cat food out of your dogs reach, okay but what is you realized that your dog has eaten a huge amount of cats food, so you should veterinary advice, as soon as possible.
You need as well to make sure that your dog is eating food which is based on the nutrition needs that are designed for its own specie to avoid any health issues.
In case, you have both a cat and dog, you need to feed your cat in a separate place that your dog doesnt have access to, or in a place where a dog cannot jump over or crawl under, or even on a high shelf.
If all of these trials failed, you can create a cat feeding house that is not fit to your dog size.
So in case if your pets like sampling and sharing their food with each others, so here you should feed them in a different time and different location.
You need as well to put your dog in his place until your cat finishes eating its own food, and of course, we dont need to mention that you not to leave cat food out when your dog has plenty of opportunities to sneak over to eat all of it.
You can use an automated cat feeder so that you can program the feeder and set it to make your cats mealtime while you are on a daily walk with your dog.
You can use a water spray bottle to discourage your dog from eating the cat food by sending some squirts toward the dog if you spotted him trying to eat cats food

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The Consequences Of Dogs Eating Cat Food

Though these differences in diet may not seem that significant, the higher percentages of protein and fats mean more calories for your dog for the same sized portion of cat food. These richer feline diets can lead to weight gain and even obesity if eaten for extended periods of time.

Also, as a dogs gastrointestinal system was not designed to digest consistently high-fat foods, cat food can upset the stomach resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. Too much fat can negatively affect a dogs pancreas, leading to pancreatitis, which can at least impact the efficiency of their digestion and at worst have serious health consequences.

Some of the newer cat foods contain an improper balance of vitamins and minerals for your dog, and this may lead to either deficiencies or excesses of these ingredients. As an example, cat food typically contains less zinc and vitamin E than dog food. Cat food also usually contains added taurine, something that dogs do not need in their diet. These nutritional differences can affect your dogs overall health over a long period of time.

Cat food is richer and can cause your dog to become overweight or obese.

Dogs also need more carbohydrates than cats and often will not get the energy they need without these ingredients in their food. Dogs can consume a diet containing almost 50 percent carbohydrates to give them energy, while a cat gets the majority of its energy from fats.

Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Cat Food

Having grown up in a household that never had less than eight cats, and always at least one dog, our dogs were always taking advantage of the ever-present feline food items no matter how hard we tried to keep them from the cat fare. .

Ounce for ounce, most cat food is typically more expensive than most dog food and so most dog owners for economic reasons alone would rather feed their dog his own food. But maybe you are having the same problem as I had, where my dogs always found a way to get their paws on the cats cuisine. You might be left wondering if its OK for your dog to always be chowing down on Kittys food. In short, the answer is no.