HELP!!! My Dog Is Eating Catfood!!?

Question

My Pug is eating catfood. I have tried several kinds of dog food, but she refuses to eat it. Instead she is eating our cats' food. What do I do? Is it safe that she eats it? Let me know! Thanks!
Amanda

Answer 1

Put the food out of the dog's reach. We have two cats, and when we got our first dog we put the cats' food on a piece of cat furniture. The can jump up there, but the dog can't. Some sort of table or desk will also work. As long as your dog isn't a jumper or isn't tall enough to reach it, the problem will be solved.

Answer 2

Cat food will not make a dog go blind; but the reverse may occur, because cats cannot use Vitamin A of plant origin the way dogs can. The main problem with a dog eating cat food is that most cat foods have more calories and will tend to make the dog fat. Keep an eye on your pooch's waistline and consider more exercise if need be. If the dog is sufficiently larger than the cats, you may be able to make a type of creep feeder[1] - a box with an opening just big enough for the cats to get in and out but too small for the dog. Very few dogs will actually starve themselves, but if tastier food is avaiable they are likely to get finicky. Small breeds such as Maltese are especially good at manipulating sympathetic owners into giving them tasty stuff. --------- [1] From livestock management - a feeding trough set off by a rail that a foal can creep under but the mare can't. It's not a feeder for creeps. :)

Answer 3

You cannot let your dog eat too much cat food. It is too rich and will cause digestive problems. If it was ok, as some of the other answers stated, it would be called "dog & cat food".
You need to keep the cat food away from the dog. One way of doing this is by putting the cat's bowl in a large rubbermaid tub (used for storing sweaters, blankets, etc.) and cut a hole in the tub just large enough for the cat to get through. Cats can get into incredibly small places, much more so than even a small dog.
Next address the problem of the dog not eating. Try a higher quality food. I feed Purina Mills Exclusive, which has so much human-grade fresh meat in it that dogs almost can't refuse it. You also may want to try adding just a small amount of canned food, mixing in hot water, and stirring it, making the canned food go a longer ways. You could to this all the time or just to get your dog eating again and then wean him off of it. There is also another school of thought...if he gets hungry enough, he'll eat the dog food.

Answer 4

no cat food is not good for a dog! don't let it eat any more! put it up on something where the cats can get it not the dog! it will give it diarrhea and doesn't have the things in it the dog needs to stay healthy! for some reason all dogs like cat food! after a while the dog will get hungry and eats it's own food if it can't get the cat food!!:)

Answer 5

Cat food is richer than dog food-- has higher levels of protein and vitamins and other good stuff. That's why your dog prefers it.

It isn't unhealthy for a dog to eat cat food as long as her weight stays in a normal range.

If you want to get your dog back on dog food, you'll have to make sure you put the cat food where the dog can't find it. Leaving extra bowls of dog food around when you do this helps.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Cat food IS harmful to your dog if he eats it long term. If he gets in it once in a while, he'll be fine. Compared to dog food, cat food is delicious to the dog. It's like having McDonald's instead of a healthy meal.

I would try to put the cat food up high enough so that the dog cannot get to it. Then, offer him dog food. When he gets hungry, he will eat.

It sounds like your dog has you well trained!

Answer 7

OK - try this one for size ... posted this elsewhere today, but is a recipe I use for my dogs (was given this by the breeder of my Schipperke) - if your Pug won't eat this then 'll be stunned. Will fill him up as well so he/she will be less likely to raid the cats bowl (worked on our dog who dod exactly the same thing).

Chicken mince (2 KG)
Liver (either lamb or Ox will do - chop into small chunks)
Pasta (250 grams)
Rice (1 Cup)
Celery (Half a bunch)
Carrots (3-4)
Fresh Garlic (4-5 cloves/pieces - easiest and cheapest flea-repellent)
Fresh Ginger (one small piece, peeled and finely chopped)
Water - about a litre to start - can add more later.
Gravy to thicken (not the cheap and nasty brands!)

Easy to make:
Brown your mince and liver
Add you garlic, vegetables - cook on low temp for a few minutes with the lid on the pot.
Add your pasta, rice and water - cook gently for an hour or so.
Once cooked, and 3-4 cups of gravy to bind and thicken - leave to cool.

Is cheaper by far than your supermarket brands, and the dogs will LOVE you for it - just watch the improvement to their coats as well

Answer 8

Lol, calm down, it's not that bad. Now, is ur dog a puppy? If so, she's probably trying new things to eat, if not, either it's easier to chew, and her teeth are hurtin' if that's so, give her the soft quishy food, like in the can type. Do ur dog and cat get along fine? If not, she's robably sain 2 the cat "Ha! What u gonna do now? FELINE!!!!!!" Lol

Answer 9

It is unhealthy for your dog. Cat food is much higher in sodium. Pick it up off the floor and keep your pug from it. When he gets hungry, he'll eat his. If he needs a little motivation, try a gravy mix from the pet store. Just a little until he's started eating his food again regularly. Believe me, he'll love it.

Answer 10

Absolutely not. Cat food is very fattening. The answer is to elevate the cat food so that the dog can't reach it, then just put dog food down. The dog WILL get hungry enough and eat it. You just have to have the willpower to stand firm.

Also do not feed canned food. Dry food is the healthiest.

Answer 11

Cat food is too high in protein for dogs. You really don't want to continue a diet of cat food for your dog. Down the road, it can cause problems with your pugs kidneys and that's not something you or your dog want to deal with.

Feed your cat where your little pug can't get to it, like the top of a dryer, etc. Try a high quality dog food like Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's soul. Look in your phone book under Pet Food/Supplies and visit one that advertises holistic foods. Your dog will probably love it, (not guaranteed, but probably) and she will be healthier for it too! Come to think of it, you might want to try these types of food for your kitty too.

Best to you and your pets.