I know the commercial pet food made for for dogs and cats are somewhat different, but people had been feeding dogs and cats with home made food for centuries, and both animals are carnivore.
No, dogs shouldn't be fed a diet of cat food. A dog may occasionally eat some cat food and might end up with no other problems other than an upset stomach for the indulgence but they can not live on cat food and would have long term health consequences and vice versa when it comes to cats living on dog food.
Dogs and cats have different needs when it comes to diet and nutrition and what they need in their diet to be healthy. Even though they may both live primarily on a meat based diet they have other specific nutritional needs that don't apply to the other species and the levels of vitamins and nutrients needed are totally different.
Cat food is richer with higher protein and fat levels as well as certain vitamins and nutrients vital to cats but not to dogs. A dog that eats cat food on a regular basis is more likely to suffer from malnutrition and pancreatitis because of the other differences in their nutritional needs. Cats need a lot more taurine in their diet than dogs and the differences go on and on.
Good points Mudd04. It's funny to see this question, because someone I recently became friends with has 2 cats and a little terrier dog who only eats their cat food. Although I believe she said she tried feeding it dog food and it keeps going to the cat food instead. The thing is the dog does look a little too skinny IMO, and I wonder if it is in fact getting malnourished. Anyone know of any ideas on how to get the dog to eat dog food that I can mention to her?
(07-16-2012, 05:38 AM)ohiotom76 Wrote: Good points Mudd04. It's funny to see this question, because someone I recently became friends with has 2 cats and a little terrier dog who only eats their cat food. Although I believe she said she tried feeding it dog food and it keeps going to the cat food instead. The thing is the dog does look a little too skinny IMO, and I wonder if it is in fact getting malnourished. Anyone know of any ideas on how to get the dog to eat dog food that I can mention to her?
Poor terrier. I'm pretty sure it's like asking whether it's good for a dog to eat human food.
Mudd04 is right. The levels of protein and fat alone will differ in both diets. Most dog food have a higher Vitamin A content.
Dogs will often gravitate towards available cat food because it's richer and usually has a strong YUMMY smell to dogs. If your friend gets a decent dog food and makes that available while making the cat food unavailable the dog will start eating the dog food at some point if not immediately. Dogs are not an animal known to starve themselves to death if the food they want isn't available, only manipulating their owners into thinking they will. Most terriers are highly intelligent and adept at getting their way.
Your friend could try adding something like a little tasty canned food or even a small amount of shredded, boiled and unseasoned, skinless, boneless chicken breast, rice, organic beef or chicken baby food etc. to help jump start the process but that might also end them up in a similar situation. Even adding a few kibbles of the cat food at first might help but the dog may just pick those out. Some Nutri-Stat or Nutri-Cal (gel vitamin supplement also often used for small puppies and dogs prone to low blood sugar and working dogs) may also help make your friend feel a little better about the process. The dog will eat their dog food eventually if it's clear that playing picky will not work and that is what you eat or you don't eat period.
There are usually plenty of out of the way places to keep cat food away from the dogs in the household by placing it somewhere natural to cats but not to dogs. I am guilty of keeping my cat food on an area of the kitchen counter off to the side so the dogs aren't tempted. I also keep the litter box in the laundry room with a door that used to have a window but now is the cat portal to keep the dogs away from the litter box. They just go up and over and is their little domain. Plenty of places usually once you take a look around.
There are tons of terriers with different body types and builds and they tend to be active so the dog may be okay in that respect. Do you know what type of dog it is? A perfect or nearly perfect body weight can often be confused for 'too skinny'. I will never forget when many years ago a friend of mine saw her first Italian Greyhound at the grooming shop and burst into tears and near hysterics because the dog was starving to death and not getting enough to eat. She didn't know the breed has nearly no body fat and the dog was actually in great condition with excellent muscle tone. I showed her, explained and then brought in my two as well. Parasites and other health issues are also a possible cause for a dog being underweight or weight loss.
They can live, but they'll become very ill. My fiancee's mother's dog has a dog and she used to eat cat food all the time and not eat her dog food. She is now not in the best of shape, her nose is dry and she has something wrong with her trachea. I don't recommend doing this at all if you're pondering it.
No, dogs cannot live on cat food. Cats require higher levels of protein then dogs do. Dogs can occaionally eat cat food but it should never be their sole diet.
(07-16-2012, 05:38 AM)ohiotom76 Wrote: Good points Mudd04. It's funny to see this question, because someone I recently became friends with has 2 cats and a little terrier dog who only eats their cat food. Although I believe she said she tried feeding it dog food and it keeps going to the cat food instead. The thing is the dog does look a little too skinny IMO, and I wonder if it is in fact getting malnourished. Anyone know of any ideas on how to get the dog to eat dog food that I can mention to her?
Yeah this is sad. My Siberian Husky is getting old and refuses to eat anything but cat food. She simply stops eating.
While it's usually fine if they accidentally eat it once, I don't think it's a good idea to let your dog eat food not meant for it. Since it may cause problems later on
I worked/lived in Asia for a few years and 99% of the dogs there lived and survived on 100% rice. It's literally what everyone fed thier dogs. So while cat food wouldn't meet a dog's nutritional requirements, I'm positive they technically could survive on it.
There is some dry food for cats and dogs. When we were traveling abroad, I saw a place with a lot of stray cats and dogs. Locals were buying this food and giving it to them. I think that it's not the best choice for them, but it's better than nothing
you are absolutely right PaulReidG.
I'm going on a limb here but still, I have my doubts.
I asked the clinical veterinary doctors.
He said it's dangerous to feed only cat food to dogs.
I used this pet directory to find this pet clinical.
local pet service
