Feeding cat food to your dog is tempting, especially if you have several felines in your household. However, you should be aware of the fact that dogs have different feeding requirements and feeding your dog cat food for a longer period of time can result in stomach and intestinal upset and deficiencies in your dog’s system.
Cat and Dog Food Nutritional Info
If you compare the dog food nutritional info with the cat food labels from the same manufacturer, you will find that there will be differences between the ingredients and the contents of fat, proteins, fibers and carbohydrates. For instance, all cats require a higher amount of proteins and fats than dogs.
Another difference between the 2 types of diet is that cats are carnivorous, so all of the ingredients in the cat food will be derived from animals. Canines are omnivorous and their diet may include plant sources in addition to the animal sources. Feeding only animal based ingredients will lead to indigestion and several nutritional deficiencies.
Why Not Feed Cat Food to Dogs
The reason why you should avoid feeding cat food to dogs is in the nutritional differences that are between the 2 types of food. The cat food is formulated so that it will be well absorbed in the metabolism of a cat. Since the dog’s metabolism is different, this can lead to a stomach and intestinal upset and result in vomiting and/or diarrhea. In the long run, your dog will have multiple mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
You should consult you vet and establish the type of food that is most suitable for your dog’s age, energy level and breed.
All vets and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommend against feeding cat food to dogs and vice versa.
Problems Causes by Cat Food Fed to Dogs
If you feed your dog cat food on one occasion, this will not cause any major health issues; your dog may vomit or have diarrhea. However, feeding cat food to your dog on a regular basis can cause problems such as:
- Frequent vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Obesity, due to the fact that the feline food has a higher content of fats and proteins
- Lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the dog’s system
Avoid Dog Eating Cat Food
You should not feed your dog cat food on purpose. However, if you have cats in your home and the dog is often curious and snacks from the cat food bowl, you will have to make sure your dog doesn’t have access to the cat food bowl. You should arrange so that your dog eats in a separate room than your cats and you should also restrict the dog’s access to the room where there is cat food.
Store the cat food in a sealed bag or can and make sure this will be out of the reach of the dog.