Will it hurt a dog to eat cat food?

Question

Will it hurt a dog to eat cat food?

Answer 1

I understand that as a steady diet, is is hard on the kidneys as it produces too much uric acid...However, in small amounts..not replacing dog kibble, it doesn't hurt..I use Iams kitten kibble for training treats..I also used to put small amounts ( a tablespoon per feeding) in my puppy kibble, so the pups got taurine, for heart lung development..but the puppy kibble I use now includes taurine..

Answer 2

No way. There is no problem for a dog to eat cat food, but do not let a cat eat dog food.

Answer 3

Hurt in the sense of upset stomach, then yes. Hurt in the sense that the dog will be seriously ill, then no. Any change in brand or food causes some symtoms of upset stomach such as vomiting or gas. Dog food formula is sweeter than cat food and cat food has a high acidity. If the dog eats some cat food once, he might be gassy or such, but his body will get used to it. This is how some dogs eat nothing but cat food. Since dog and cat food are formulated differently, they really should eat what's made for them (nutritional reasons), but it won't kill them.

Answer 4

No it won't. A dog can eat cat food with no negative consequences. However, the reverse is not true -- i.e., a cat can't eat dog food, at least not for too long.

Cat food has much more protein than dog food, and if cats eat dog food rather than cat food then the lack of protein in their diet will hurt them. However, the extra protein the dog gets from the cat food won't hurt him.

Hope that wasn't TMI! I know I answered more than you asked for! :-)

Answer 5

Yes, dog food is not good for cats. Dogs are omnivores and as such their food has a lot more grains and veggies in it. Cats are carnivores, they need a very high protein meat based diet with no grains. Cats must have the amino acid called 'taurine' in their diet; dogs can actually make their own taurine. A cat eating food deficient in taurine can develop severe heart disease and other health problems. Cats require a different form of Vitamin A than dogs do. Dogs can use beta-carotene as a source of Vitamin A; cats cannot. Cats can not manufacture the fatty acid called 'arachidonic acid' and must have it supplemented in their diet; it is not essential for dogs to have this fatty acid in their food.

Answer 6

It won't hurt a dog to eat cat food, but it won't give him the same balanced nutrition he'd get from dog food.

Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements, and their food is manufactured accordingly. If you feed your dog only cat food, he won't be getting the proper mix and proportion of nutrients he needs.

But if your dog gets into your cat's food every now and then, don't worry about it. Just make sure he mostly eats dog food.

Answer 7

No. However, cat food is generally a bit more expensive than dog food because cats are more picky about what they eat.

Answer 8

No, but cat food does not have the same ingredients as dog food, so the dog would not be getting the nutrition he needs from it.

Answer 9

No. My dogs actually like cat food better than there dry dog food.

Answer 10

There is a considerable difference between commercial cat and dog foods as cats have very different nutritional requirements than dogs. Most cat foods have higher amounts of protein and fat, as well as more fiber. For these reasons, it is recommended that dogs be fed strictly dog intended diets. More importantly is the source of protein and the quality of (dog) food you are provided her.

Answer 11

Cat food is not formulated for a dog's needs. It won't hurt a dog to eat a little of it, but it should NOT be fed regularly to dogs.