The smell of that cat food may appeal to your puppy, but just because dogs want to eat cat food doesn’t mean they should. Dogs and cats have different nutritional needs, which is why their food is created and balanced differently.
Dog food and cat food
Cats are carnivores and need a high meat content in their diet. Their food is meat based and has more protein and fat than dog food. Dogs, however, are omnivores, which means they eat meat, vegetables, and fruit. Dogs require more of a balanced diet of these ingredients.
Dog food is nutritionally deficient for cats. And cat food often contains too much protein and fat for dogs – making them smell good but not good for dogs to eat cat food over time.
Can dogs eat dry cat food?
Unless directed by your veterinarian, you should not feed your dog dry food or wet cat food. While occasionally eating this food will not poison your dog (such as if your dog sticks to cat food), eating cat food in lieu of their balanced diet or as a treat that will not be good for your dog’s health.
However, there are some situations where a veterinarian may recommend cat food to dogs who have cancer and have lost too much weight or muscle mass and have a poor appetite. Always check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet.
Is cat food dangerous for my dog?
Cat food has too much protein and fat for dogs to eat – even if they are enjoyed infrequently. When dogs eat cat food, it can lead to the following health problems:
- Stomach upset
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fat
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney disease
- Liver failure
How to stop a dog from eating cat food
- Keep cat food in a separate room from where your dog eats, with the door closed.
- Feed your cat two to three regular meals – just like your dog – instead of letting their food sit all day.
- Place your cat’s food above or on a table so it can be eaten out of the dog’s reach.
- Keep your cat food in an airtight container, like Yamazaki Home Store pet food airtight throughout the day so your dog doesn’t smell it and be tempted to eat it.
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