Dogs love snooping around cat food and make sure they get a bite. While dogs eat almost everything that has a stronger addiction, one thing that attracts dogs is cat food. However, even if dogs love cat food, it is good to understand there is always a reason why there is food specifically meant for dogs and the ones for cats. A dog may not get any problem after taking a cat’s food, but you should not encourage that. However, during an emergency, most pet owner ends up feeding their dog cat food, especially after they run out of dog stock unknowingly. Read on to understand!
Can you feed a dog cat food in an emergency?
During an emergency, one may feed his dog cat food since it cannot harm the dog. However, even if a dog may live on a cat’s food, it is not advisable. You should not feed cat food to the dog due to the food’s high-calorie levels and fats that are ideal for cats.
Bottom-line
High-calorie levels and fat can affect the dog’s waistline as well as the gastrointestinal.
Nutrition
Cat and dog food may seem a bit similar to the eye, but there are deeper differences. Besides, cats are carnivores which means you need to feed them meat as the main food. On the other hand, dogs are omnivores and their diet needs to consist of more fiber which lacks in a carnivore’s diet.
Cats and dogs need different dietetic wants. Cat food is high on meat protein while dog food has both meat and vegetables. Just because a dog craves for meat, it does not mean they should eat much of it.
Bottom-line
Lack of the necessary minerals in a dog may lead to some serious problems. Unless a vet recommends, a dog should strictly eat dog food.
Health complications
Cat food has fatter and they lack fiber which is important to a dog’s diet. If you feed cat food to your dog regularly, your dog will become obese and suffer from gastrointestinal disease. Other health complications that may occur are diarrhea, pancreatitis (a fatal condition), and vomiting. Pancreatitis calls for instant vet care. Its symptoms include a hunched back, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, getting weak, swollen abdomen, and fever.
If your dog eats cat food and you notice such symptoms, contact a vet immediately. However, your dog may not show any signs of illness, but the high protein levels may affect its liver or kidneys. High levels of proteins are hard on the dog’s liver and kidneys, not to mention the waistline. The main blame is cat food.
Bottom-line
To avoid such problems, avoid feeding the dog such food, especially kitten food which is less suitable for pooches.
Conclusion
Feeding the right diet to your dog is the best way of keeping him happy and healthy. Besides, just because dogs love meat does not mean that they should eat daily. Just get the right food for your dog to avoid problems.
Leave a Reply