Is your dog a sneaky little tyke, who likes to enjoy cat food? Are you totally clueless as to why your dog puts his mouth inside the cat’s bowl? Then you’ve come to the right place. Today we will be discussing all ‘dogs eating cat food’. Keep reading to know some interesting information.
So now coming to the burning question which is ‘Can dogs eat cat food? How to Stop Dog From Eating Cat Food?’ And the answer is a surprising yes. Your dog can totally eat cat food. But what makes the whole concept a bit complexes are the implications and consequences which occur with this kind of behavior. Turns out it isn’t particularly safe for your canine to indulge into a meaty cat meal.
Can Dogs Eat Cat Food?
How is Dog Food Different from Cat Food?
- Cats and dogs are two very different animals when it comes to their diet and nutrition. Dogs are omnivorous and can consume all classes of food having a diet which is rather diverse. Cats, in comparison, are carnivores. This makes meat an essential part of their diet. A dog consuming cat food ends up eating a whole lot of meat and not the other classes of food.
- Cat food is packed full of protein, owing to the meat which is an important constituent. Thus it has a richer flavor and a stronger scent in comparison to dog food. This could be one of the reasons why your dog gets attracted to cat food.
- Cat food is quite rich in fats as well. Conventional dog foods do not contain a large quantity of fat as a dog’s body is not accustomed to metabolizing a lot of fat. Thus a dog feeding on cat food can develop obesity and pancreatitis due to the high content of fat in it.
- Dog food generally has a good amount of fiber to keep the bowels running. Conventional cat food has a very little amount of fiber and is thus unsuitable for your dog. Also by feeding your dog cat food, you are ripping them off the essential vitamins and minerals which are only found in dog food.
- The attraction of dogs for cat food has led many dog owners to use cat food as a training meal for their dogs. Dogs which develop the tolerance for cat food are occasionally fed cat food as a treat to make them control their disruptive behavior.
What Happens if a Dog Eats Cat Food?
Although feeding your dog some cat food occasionally cannot be harmful, feeding your dog cat food constantly can cause some serious problems. Eating cat food may be your dog also have some other issue like licking you so much you may take some help from the expert so you can get the answer of why does my dog lick me so much?
- Upset tummy:
Cats are physiologically designed to consume meat and meat products exclusively. This is because some essential nutrients cannot be synthesized by their bodies and they need to consume them externally. - Taurine, arachidonic acid and arginine are some examples of the substances which cats attain by consuming meat. Dogs, on the other hand, need all classes of food in their diet. A dog being fed cat food is unable to tolerate the heavy quantity of protein and experiences an upset stomach as a result
- Liver and kidney disease:
The large quantity of protein in the cat food, entering a dog’s body has to ultimately be processed. The liver and the kidney are the major organs which process all this protein. Naturally, both organs are not equipped to handle it all and thus liver and kidney problems start to develop in your dog. - Pancreatitis:
With protein, cat food is also rich in fats. Fats are notorious for causing inflammation in the pancreas of humans. Dogs are no different. A large amount of fat contained in the cat food can cause dogs to develop pancreatitis. Signs of pancreatitis are appetite loss, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, fever, weakness, distended abdomen and lethargy. - Obesity:
The idea of a fat dog is never a cute one and neither is that the norm. It is pretty common for cats to be as fat as balls, but dogs are associated with a rather healthier and athletic image. This is because there is a stark difference in their diets. If a dog starts consuming cat food which is full of fat and protein, they will in no time start developing a wider waistline which causes immobility and bone problems.
How to Stop Dog from Eating Cat Food?
Owners having both cats and dogs as pets face the biggest challenge as there is a higher chance of your dog feasting on your cat’s treats. There are certain ways and methods which can be employed to prevent this from happening.
- Separate them:
Whenever it is time to feed your pets, make sure that you do so in separate rooms. Get different feeding spaces for both your pet animals. This way their focus is their own food bowl which is provided by you and both animals end up eating food which is necessary and fit for them. - Different feeding times:
If separating them while feeding doesn’t work, then start feeding them at separate times too. Put an hour or an hour and a half’s gap between their mealtimes and prevent your dog from consuming your cat’s food. - Make a territory:
This method works best for nosy dogs who reach to the cat’s food despite strenuous efforts made by you to prevent it. Just separate the area of the house where the cat is fed and install a gate around the area. Make sure the gate is such that the dog can neither crawl under it nor jump over it. - High shelf:
Make use of your cat’s agility and climbing expertise to stop your dog from eating cat food. Feed your cat on a high shelf or a counter. Only your cat will be able to reach the counter and your dog wouldn’t. This will stop your dog from consuming the cat’s food.
Treating your dog occasionally with some cat food is not harmful, but you should be careful not to go overboard. Cheers.