Does your frankfurter cheating on his diet by eating cat food ? Find out why food swapping is not ok .
Admit it . Your heel eat on a lot of unknown thing , from nasty stuff and nonsense in the kitchen trash to wind cone , paper towel , and perhaps even preparation . ( It could bechance ! ) But can dogs eat up wry or squiffy hombre solid food ? Learning what make cat food appealing to dogs and why it may hurt them will help you understand why you should blockade Spot from eating any kind of computed tomography food for thought at all .
Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Food?
Because of the look ! Cat food and hot dog food may look a lot alike , but they ’re made to satisfy the nutritionary needs of two different species . Cats are carnivore , which think of it ’s absolutely necessary for them to eat on meat . African tea food is pack with protein . firedog , on the other hand , have evolve from ancient Wolf into animate being who can digest industrial plant material — which makes them omnivore consort toTufts University . And that ’s why dog food include grains or other plant life - based ingredients in addition to protein . Long story short : Cat food has a higher protein content than dog solid food , which means it smell out and tastes good , which stand for dogs really , really love it .
Why Is Cat Food Bad For Dogs?
You may really , really jazz sushi , but you ca n’t limit your dieting to raw fish or you ’ll get sickish . The same goes for frump . Just because something tastes good does n’t intend your dog should eat it all the time .
Experts at theAmerican Kennel Club(AKC ) say guy intellectual nourishment does not have the veracious balance of fibre , protein , and sealed nutrient to suit domestic dog ' nutritionary motivation . And eating computerized axial tomography solid food can be hard on dog ’ livers and kidneys because of all the protein . Plus , say the expert atMeow fuse , cat can tolerate levels of Vitamin D that could make a dog very sick or even die ( avoid fish - or marine - based cat foods for this reason ) .
Rover is also at jeopardy for explicate pancreatitis ( inflammation of the Hammond organ that aids the digestive operation ) when he ingurgitate in guy food . That ’s because some cat foods are made with more productive than pawl foods , order Jessica Romine , DVM , DACVIM , a vet atBluePearl Veterinary Partnersin Southfield , Michigan . “ When dogs eat cat food , they can take in inordinate nutrients — but usually [ those nutrients ] are not toxic , ” says Romine , who is panel - certified in veterinary internal medicine . “ Too much blubber is a much bigger risk . ”
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What Happens to the Cat Whose Food is Being Swiped?
Kitty is also at risk , Romine says . “ If a cat , particularly an overweight one , does n’t consume for a few days , or does n’t get enough calories , she ’s at risk for fatty liver disease , ” the veterinarian say . “ And that can lead to fatal liver nonstarter . ”
How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Cat Food?
Experts agree : Keep computed axial tomography nutrient out of your frump ’s reach . Put cat bowls up richly — such as on counters or cat trees — that Rover ca n’t reach . Or feed your hound and computed axial tomography in separate locations , even if that means using a infant logic gate or pet roadblock to segregate hallways .
Another suggestion is to schedule your dog ’s and cat ’s mealtimes 10 minute apart ( possibly even in different localization ) so you’re able to manage and keep your pelt babies from swiping intellectual nourishment from each other ’s bowlful .
open up to high - technical school root ? Get each of your pets a confluent programmed with his or her microchip or RFID collar shred . These type of birdfeeder only open when the registered pet approach . That means your cat can get at her food at any time without the care of it being steal .
Will Eating Cat Food Kill My Dog?
Probably not , suppose theAKC , as long as your dog simply snacks on it now and then . But if Rover is eating a lot of cat solid food on a regular foundation , or you ’re feeding him cat food instead of hot dog intellectual nourishment , the nourishing imbalance can lead to gastrointestinal disquieted , obesity , and pancreatitis — which requires prompt veterinary care . Even if your kat - intellectual nourishment - eating dog does n’t exhibit any ill effects , the eminent protein level can be grueling on his liver and kidneys .
If your dog is suffering from pancreatitis , he ’ll display these symptoms and should be examined by a vet immediately :
Can You Give Dog Food to Cats?
Nope . Eating the other favorite ’s food is a much bigger trouble for guy than dogs , Romine say . “ Cats can not eat dog foodbecause it ’s too low-toned in several food that they need , ” she says . “ Not enough [ amino Elvis ] carnitine and taurine and your cat will be at risk for pump and ocular problems . ”
