Did you ever give your dog salmon-flavoured cat treats while he urged for them? Or opened a pack of dry cat food because you missed out on getting his regular food brand, thinking, “It’s all pet food; what difference would that make.”?
You’re most likely not alone.
Crunching on your Burmese food will not harm your dog’s health if it is not a regular part of their diet, just as an infrequent salty snack or sweet treat is not harmful to human health.
Table of Contents
Should Your Dog Eat Kitty Food?
The question isn’t whether a dog can or cannot eat feline food, but whether he should or not. The answer is quite simple. Feeding your coon’s food to dogs is not a decent idea.
Don’t be alarmed if your naughty mutt slinks a few nibbles from your fluffy pet’s bowl. A small amount of your cat’s food will not harm your dog, but feeding it regularly to your dog can cause problems.
Can Your Pup Consume Dry Cat Food?
Compared to frequently used human meals like chicken, peanut butter, and cheese, cat biscuits and cat kibble are much healthier alternatives to treats or rewards.
On the other hand, dry kitty food is designed to meet a cat’s nutritional needs of a cat, and not a dog’s. This food contains a lot of carbs from meat and has no plant-based and green ingredients.
Furthermore, dry feline food is intended for cats whose teeth are thinner and quite sharp and would be easy on a dog’s teeth.
Can Your Puppy Eat Kitten’s Food in an Emergency?
Assume you are forced to flee due to a catastrophic event or another emergency, leaving you with little or no dog food and no quick access to store locations to stock up. In this case, your kitten’s food is an appropriate temporary substitute.
Giving your dog a dish of Ragdoll food is acceptable if you realise you forgot to stop before supper. But your aim should be to have your dog back to his standard diet as soon as possible.
Although feeding your pup small amounts of kitty food is not liable to cause significant issues in the short term, any meal changes create a gastrointestinal upset. Diarrhoea is a known side effect of an unexpected food transition in dogs.
Why Can’t Dogs Eat Cat’s Food?
Cats and dogs have completely different nutritional requirements and vitamin needs.
Cats are obliged carnivores, meaning they must consume meat. Dogs are voracious omnivores, which means they must consume the flesh, veggies, and a source of carbohydrates. Therefore, dogs need a more diverse diet than cats.
Feeding your cat meal to your dog may cause nutrient imbalances that prevent inclusive growth and proper development.
Can Dogs Eat Cat Treats?
You should not feed cat treats to dogs regularly. Cat treats are intended for felines. While it is acceptable to occasionally use cat treats for training and learning purposes, rewarding your pup with cat treats is not recommended, especially if your dog usually gets tummy troubles. Cat treats can be a little decadent for a dog with a sensitive stomach.
The Bottom Line
Your dog is unlikely to be harmed by a stolen bite of your Bella’s food. However, feeding dogs with cat food is not recommended, especially not long-term, as part of a regular meal.
Also, remember that even the tiniest morsel of cat treats can stimulate your dog’s future appetite for it. Because kitty food has a more pungent smell and flavour, it can be challenging to break the habit once it has been formed.
