That cat food smell may be appealing to your pup, but just because your dog wants to eat the cat food doesn’t mean he has to eat it. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs, which is why their food is created and balanced differently.
dog food vs cat food
Cats are carnivorous and need a high meat content in their diet. Their food is meat-based and contains much more protein and fat than dog food. Dogs, however, are omnivores, meaning they eat meat, vegetables, and fruits. Dogs need a more balanced diet of these ingredients.
Dog food is nutritionally deficient for cats. And cat food is usually way too high in protein and fat for dogs – which makes it very flavorful, but unhealthy for dogs to eat cat food over time.
Can dogs eat dry cat food?
Unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian, you should not feed your dog wet or dry cat food. While eating it occasionally wouldn’t be toxic to your dog (like your dog getting into the cat’s food), eating cat food in place of a balanced dog diet or as a treat would be bad. for your dog’s health.
However, there are certain situations where a veterinarian may recommend cat food for a dog that has cancer and has lost too much weight or muscle mass and is not eating well. Always check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet.
Is cat food dangerous for my dog?
Cat food is too high in protein and fat for dogs to eat, even as an occasional treat. When dogs eat cat food, it can lead to the following health issues:
- Stomach ache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Obesity
- Pancreatitis
- kidney disease
- liver disease
How to prevent your dog from eating cat food
- Keep your cat’s food in a separate room from where your dog eats, with the door closed.
- Feed your cat at regular intervals of two to three meals, just like your dog, rather than letting their food sit all day.
- Place your cat’s food on a perch or high counter where your cat can eat it out of your dog’s reach.
- Store your cat’s food in an airtight container, like Yamazaki Home Airtight Pet Food Storage Containers, throughout the day so your dog won’t smell it and be tempted to eat it.
