Do Pets Need Life Stage Appropriate Diets Like Puppy Kitten And Senior Formulas
Life stage diets were created as a marketing tool: the more formulas manufacturers develop, the more shelf space they command. While it is true that puppies and kittens need more food for their size than adults, they don’t need a specially formulated puppy or kitten diet. A high-quality, varied diet is the best option for your young pets.
For puppies, this can include dry food, canned, freeze-dried, dehydrated, and raw food.
For kittens, kibble is not recommended to be a large portion of the diet as it can contribute to dehydration, urinary tract issues and less than optimal health over time. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they eat mostly meat and very little carbohydrates. High meat, grain-free foods are a good option if you’re supplementing with kibble, but canned, freeze-dried, dehydrated and raw are the best choices.
Feeding younger animals more frequent meals, like 3 times per day, is helpful while they are in their biggest growth phase. After three or four months of age, two meals per day is sufficient for most animals. Puppies and kittens should be kept slim, just like adult animals. Keep an eye on your little companion’s waistline and don’t let them get round.
Senior animals tend to slow down as they age, so while their calorie requirements may shrink, their need for the healthiest food you can provide is never greater.
It Can Upset Their Stomachs
The biggest issue with cat food stems from its richness. Cat food is packed with protein and fat, and some dogs stomachs just cant handle that. This leads to the dog having stomach issues and causes vomiting and diarrhea. There isnt a single pet owner alive that would enjoy being woken up to that scene.
Cat Food Has Too Much Fat
Dogs dont have near the fat requirement that cats do. In fact, an adult dog that weighs around 33 pounds only needs around 25 grams of fat a day. While cats are typically much smaller, the proportion of fat they require in their diet is much higher. Their food is designed to provide that.
Therefore, a dog that eats its fill of cat food will end up consuming way too much fat. Over time this can lead to obesity, which has a wide range of health risks.
Dogs that are prone to pancreatitis also need to limit their fat intake. Excess fat can cause inflammation of the pancreas, resulting in a painful and life-threatening condition. You definitely dont want to put your pup through that.
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Should Dogs Eat Cat Food Regularly
Theres no question that dogs can and do eat cat food, both dry and wet, for both a variety of reasons and simply because it is there. A better question, and one weve not looked at yet, is whether dogs should eat cat food. We know about the high protein and fat content of cat food. We also know that a dog has more widely distributed nutritional requirements. If a dog is eating cat food exclusively, or on a regular basis, they will be getting far more meat proteins and fats than they strictly need. What are the risks if a dog is consuming cat food every day?
Obviously, if your dog is getting into the cat food, youre going to have to buy more of it more frequently. Thats bad for your domestic economy. There are health risks for the dog in question as well. Fats are good for dogs and necessary for the best coat and skin health, but dogs need even less total fats in their diet than they do proteins. Dogs need proteins, but not at the level that theyre present in cat food.
Lemons And Limes: Cant Eat
Lemons and limes can be toxic to your dog.
This is because the skins of lemons and limes contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause dogs to have gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea .
If very large amounts of psoralen are consumed by dogs, more severe symptoms, such as muscle tremors, difficulty walking, liver failure and death, can result.
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What Cats Need To Eat
Obligate carnivore means “meat eater by necessity.” In other words, it’s a biological necessity for kitty to eat meat. Without meat, cats will fail to thrive because meat contains the essentials for their survival.
For instance, cats have a biological need for taurine, an amino acid that is mainly found in animal flesh. It’s also critical that cats ingest arginine, which is also abundant in meat sources, as well as arachidonic acid.
As obligate carnivores, cats also have a high need for protein. In order to live and thrive, cats therefore need meat.
Cats And Dogs Have Different Nutritional Needs
While both dogs and cats share our hearts and homes, over time, nature has molded them into very different animals with very different nutritional needs.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they require a diet of meat-based proteins and animal fats in order for all of their body systems to function properly.
Dogs, on the other hand, are actually omnivores. An omnivore has a more flexible diet and can easily eat both meat and vegetables. A dog food diet does not meet the specific nutritional needs that cats require.
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What Happens If A Cat Eats Dog Food
If your cat eats a small bit of dog food, this will not cause any issues. But if your cat eats dog food on a consistent basis, he or she will develop serious health problems.
Dog food is formulated differently than cat food. Cat food is higher in protein since cats are obligate carnivores. Cats digestive systems are structured differently than dogs so are unable to properly metabolize the large number of carbs that are found in dog food.
Cat food also contains different quantities of vitamins than dog food. For example, cat food contains high amounts of vitamin A since cats need more vitamin A than dogs do. Cat food also contains taurine which is essential for maintaining organ function.
Cats cannot make taurine themselves, so taurine needs to be added to their diets. When cats do not get the taurine that they need, they will have vision problems, experience heart failure, and even death.
Can Dogs Eat Boiled Eggs
Eggs should be cooked before given to a dog. Cook or boil eggs plain without oil, butter, salt, seasoning, spices, or other additives. It doesnt matter how your dog likes their eggs sunny side up, scrambled, or hard boiled as long as they are cooked. In general, dogs shouldnt eat more than one egg per day.
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Is Eating Cat Poop Bad For Dogs
While many dogs eat cat poop, and theyre fine, eating any poop carries the potential for the dog to contract harmful bacteria and parasites. Some of these bacteria, like salmonella, for example, can be transmitted to humans. Furthermore, dogs can contract several different species of internal parasites from cat poop.
How Can You Prevent Your Dog Eating Cat Food
If your dog is obsessed with cat food and never misses a chance to get their paws on it, it can be a challenge to keep them out of the cats bowl!
There are a variety of different ways that you can try to stop your dog from being able to get access to the cats food, such as feeding the cat on a worktop or higher surface that your dog cannot reach. Making one room out of bounds to the dog and installing a cat flap in it can also keep the cat food well out of reach, as can using baby gates or crates to feed your cat while keeping your dog safely out!
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What To Do If Your Cat Eats Dog Food
If your cat eats a few bites of dog food every once in a while, you probably have nothing to worry about. Monitor your cat for problems like weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, poor skin/coat condition, inappropriate urination or defecation, or other signs of illness. Be sure to contact your vet if your cat is not doing well.
Eating dog food may be more problematic if your cat has an allergy, a sensitive stomach, or a certain health problem. Make a note of the type of food your cat ate and talk to your vet about potential complications.
If you find that your cat has been eating large amounts of dog food on a regular basis, then you should contact your vet for advice. Your cat may need an examination and lab tests to evaluate overall health and check for the effects of malnutrition.
Take steps to prevent your cat from finding dog food by keeping the food out of reach. Avoid free-feeding of all pets in the home and pick up bowls of leftover food.
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?
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What If Your Dog Ate Too Much
The primary problem is that its high in protein and high in fat. When your furry friend takes in that much food at once, it can upset their tummy. If youre lucky, youll get away with a bit of wind or some mild diarrhea after eating too much. Those who are less fortunate may find themselves at the vets office with a dog that is vomiting, has profuse diarrhea, and is refusing to touch any food. While gastroenteritis usually passes once the offending food is gone from the gut, pancreatitis can set in. Pancreatitis is much more serious and can cause severe dehydration and even death if left untreated.
What To Do If Your Dog Has Eaten Cat Food
Once you discover that your dog has gotten into the cat food, make sure they cannot get into it again and monitor them closely for any signs they are not feeling well. If your dog seems particularly uncomfortable or the symptoms do not resolve within 24 hours, you should have them checked out by your veterinarian.
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Can Dogs Die From Eating Cat Food
Your dog will not die if they eat some cat food as it doesnt contain anything lethal to dogs. However, youll want to make sure that your dog doesnt eat too much.
Furthermore, if you feed your dog cat food on a regular basis, your dog could suffer from health problems due to not getting the proper nutrition.
Complications Of Feeding Cat Food To Dogs
If your dog eats a lot of cat food on a regular basis, or if you are feeding your dog a diet of cat food instead of dog food, complications may arise, as it does not have the correct balance of protein, fiber, and all of the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy.
Dogs can certainly survive on cat food in a tough spot, but the nutrient imbalance can lead to gastrointestinal upset, obesity, and pancreatitis. Pancreatitis requires immediate veterinary care. Symptoms include abdominal pain and a hunched back, lethargy and weakness, appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhea, a distended abdomen, and fever. Even if your dog eats cat food and suffers no obvious ill effects, the high protein levels can be hard on his liver and kidney.
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Human Food Safety For Dogs
Almonds:No, dogs shouldnt eat almonds. Almonds may not necessarily be toxic to dogs like macadamia nuts are, but they can block the esophagus or even tear the windpipe if not chewed completely. Salted almonds are especially dangerous because they can increase water retention, which is potentially fatal to dogs prone to heart disease.
Bread: Yes, dogs can eat bread. Small amounts of plain bread wont hurt your dog, but it also wont provide any health benefits either. It has no nutritional value and can really pack on the carbohydrates and calories, just like in people. Homemade breads are a better option than store-bought, as bread from the grocery store typically contains unnecessary preservatives, but its best to avoid it altogether.
Cashews: Yes, dogs can eat cashews. Cashews are OK for dogs, but only a few at a time. Theyve got calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, and proteins, but while these nuts contain less fat than others, too many can lead to weight gain and other fat-related conditions. A few cashews make a nice treat, but only if theyre unsalted.
Cheese: Yes, dogs can eat cheese in small to moderate quantities. As long as your dog isnt lactose intolerant, which is rare, but still possible in canines, cheese can be a great treat. Many kinds of cheese can be high in fat, so go for lower-fat varieties like cottage cheese or mozzarella. Many dogs enjoy their very own dog-specific Himalayan dog chew made of dried cheese .
Are Table Scraps And Other People Foods Bad For Your Dog And Cat
Most holistically trained veterinarians encourage the practice of feeding “people food” to our pets. Healthy leftovers are an excellent supplement to your companion’s regular fare. There are only two rules with people food for pets:
It’s important to note that not all healthy foods for us are healthy for our pets: onions, grapes and raisins can all be toxic to dogs and cats. If you’re not positive it’s safe, don’t feed it.
If you want to feed meat from the grocery store, there are a number of homemade pre-mixes available where you just need to add is meat and an appropriate oil for healthy fat content.
Pre-mixes contain vegetables, vitamins and minerals, and sometimes grains to make the meal complete. You don’t have to cook every meal for your companion to benefit from fresher food: even the occasional homemade dinner is a wonderful healthy treat!
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Why Is Cat Food Bad For Dogs See How You Can Prevent It
Its feeding time. You set out your cats food only to have your beloved pup come bounding around the corner to wolf it down. Your cat looks up at you, a horrified look in its eyes, almost as if its asking you, Wasnt that for me?
Cat food isnt particularly awful for dogs in the way chocolate would be. However, you need to monitor your dog and ensure it doesnt eat too much cat food, as that could cause health complications down the road due to the higher concentration of fat and protein in cat food.
Its a scene pet owners are all too familiar with. For some reason, dogs seem almost magnetically attracted to cat food. Its like they cant get enough. Read on to find more about this strange dog behavior.
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Is Cat Food Safe For Dogs
Is cat food safe for dogs? Dogs can certainly survive on cat food in a tough spot, but the nutrient imbalance can lead to gastrointestinal upset, obesity, and pancreatitis. Pancreatitis requires immediate veterinary care.
Can I give my dog dry cat food? Dogs should not be fed cat food and dog owners who have cats should ensure their dogs access to cat food is restricted. One of the reasons for this is cats are carnivores and their diet is almost exclusively made up of meat.
Why will my dog only eat cat food? Cat food is mainly made up of meat because cats need the nutrients it provides for their body, whereas dog food does not need to be majority meat. Dog food needs to contain more fiber than meat can provide by itself. Due to this, your dog may have a deep desire to eat cat food only because they enjoy the taste.
Can dogs eat cat food occasionally? Can dogs eat cat food? Yes, its completely safe. But, if your dog makes a habit of eating cat food, that extra fat and protein can quickly lead to weight gain.
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What Will Happen If A Dog Eats Cat Food Once Or Occasionally
The answer to this question largely depends on the size of your dog, and how much cat food they manage to get hold of!
A one-off snack or even a binge might not have any negative effects on your dog, but on the other hand, it might potentially cause problems. The fact that cat food is higher in protein than dog food and also has a different combination of ingredients may mean that it effects the stomach of sensitive dogs, potentially causing an upset stomach and sickness and diarrhoea, although there are unlikely to be any long-term or serious side effects of a one-off cat food binge.