is-cat-food-bad-for-dogs

Despite the common belief that cats and dogs are adversaries, they are actually perfect friends. Aside from sharing the same owners, they tend to share toys, playgrounds and even what they eat. It is especially interesting to note how dogs are highly interested in trying cat food every chance they get. They also like it more than the ones produced for their own consumption.

Dogs are probably one of the least picky members, including homo-sapiens, of the animal kingdom. They can and will consume and ingest anything that catches their fancy, which sometimes creates trouble for their digestive systems. They are omnivores, so they are not limited to either animals or plants as a source of food. Their dietary requirements include nutrients and minerals that are not all available in one type of food source.

 

Why Do Dogs Dig In On Cat Food?

One of the reasons why dogs consume the food for their feline friends is the fact that it is there. Cats are generally free-feed, so their food is available and ready for anyone to consume. Food-loving dogs who like to munch on just about anything is undoubtedly unable to resist such temptation. The presence of food is enough to get a dog’s mouth salivating like they have not eaten for ages.

Another reason is the delectable nature of cat food as it is naturally concocted to be as enticing as possible. The effect of its appeal is not restricted to the feline’s appetite though. The doggy’s senses usually are stopped, and the next thing one can see is a dog indulging in cat food. Dog food, on the other hand, is not tasty and smelly enough to attract the felines.

Dogs discover how tasty cat food is when they first had a go at the neighboring bowl of pet food. This is generally because of the high-protein content in the cat food as required for its healthy diet. Before one realizes it, the dog is first to finish the cat food before the cat can touch it.

 

What Makes Cat Food And Dog Food Different From Each Other?

Physically, both food types are very similar as they are usually sold as kibbles, and they sometimes also smell alike. This is why pet owners tend to use them as an alternate for each other when the one bag is finished. It should be noted though that this practice is entirely wrong. It can be accepted if done in rare times and for severe cases only.

Consistency with this practice is not acceptable at all. This is because both animals have very different nutritional requirements, which are addressed by the food made for them. Cats need numerous essential nutrients, so they need more fat, minerals, protein and vitamins. More so, cats are entirely carnivorous, and they are able to get what their body needs even from meat alone.

When it comes to dogs, the list of nutrients required cannot be acquired from meat alone. Canines call for a balanced diet of protein, fat, and fiber, but the latter is not available in cat food. They are also equipped with a unique ability to produce certain supplements and create amino acids internally.

 

Is Cat Food Good For Dogs Or Not

The huge and serious question lies on the cat food’s impact on a dog’s body and total well-being. Animal lovers have a tendency to have a brood of various pets in their residences. This heightens the risk of food designed for another animal to end up in the other animal’s guts. If such incidents happen once, it should not keep the owner awake all night worrying about its impacts on the pet.

However, there should be severe effort to lessen these tendencies and keep the animals on their proper diet. In fact, it should be wholly avoided as the long-term impacts are definitely not positive. The answer is no if consumption of cat food happens once only or in tiny amounts. If it is a snack once or twice a month, it will not have so much negative impact. If the consumption is on a longstanding basis though, the answer to the question is a deafening yes. It is something that should be avoided.

 

What Impacts Do Cat Food Have On Dogs

The very first impact of regular cat food consumption among dogs will be obvious in the dog’s body. Since cat food is not complete with all the nutrients required by dogs, the latter becomes malnourished. Eating it on a regular basis will result in the insufficient amount of the needed vitamins and minerals for the dog’s body. This can be easily assessed based on the dog’s degrading appearance as well as the susceptibility to common illnesses.

Nutritional imbalance in dogs results in inconvenient conditions such as frequent gastrointestinal problems and pancreatitis, which can lead to death. Cat food contains raw meat products as well as thiamine access and high levels of fat and proteins. These cause problems on a dog’s digestive system and possible development of illnesses in the kidney, teeth, stomach, and liver.

 

What To Do In Case Of Dogs Eating Cat Food

There is really nothing necessary to do in such a case. This is because the negative impacts of cat food on the dog’s body take place in the long term. However, dogs tend to enjoy cat food, so it is best to keep them from experiencing for the first time. Otherwise, it is another challenge to stop them from consuming cat food as they will prefer it over their own.

For pets with more sensitive tummies, initial consumption of cat food might result in some problems like diarrhea and vomiting. In such cases, the first thing to do is bring them in for a visit with the veterinarian. This is a blessing in disguise as the dog associates its negative reaction to cat food and will hate it.

 

Conclusion

Technically, cat food does not contain any elements that are harmful or just not good for the canine population. The problem with cat food is that it does not have everything that a dog needs to keep itself healthy.

Additionally, the dietary requirements of cats have the higher density for nutrients that dogs need only very little to none of. Because of this mismatch, complications arise in the dog’s body and resulting in several possible health issues.

 

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