Why does pet food have vegetables and grains in it when cats and dogs wouldnever eat those things in the wild?

Answer 1

Most are used as filler and bulk. Cats WOULD get some veggie matter from their preys stomachs,but that was already partially digested and full of enzymes, so we're only looking at a tiny fraction of a meal that's 'vegetable', not the 1/2 can of crud a lot of cat food companies fill up their bulk with.

Dogs do eat vegetable matter, but cats eat very little. Most of their food SHOULD be a meat source.

Answer 2

It's all about money. Grains especially are cheap fillers that they can put into the food.

While dogs should have some veggies and fruits in their diet and cats even less they do not need nor is it good for them to have the amount that is in most pet foods.

But the company is able to get a lot of protein from the plants, so sadly a lot of the protein isn't meat based.

And once again it's cheaper, and even most of the meat sources aren't that great either such as by products. And most meat that they use even if it's human grade is the leftovers of what they take off for humans.

So really it's just about the money.

Answer 3

I feed a raw diet to both and it is recommended to give vegetables and fruit but it needs to be in the correct proportions. In the wild it's true that dogs eat the stomach contents but if you think how much that is when compared to the meat and fat and bone of an animal they kill it's a very tiny proportion, a wild animal wouldn't normally eat any more than that. Only domesticated or feral animals or those that live near human habitations scrounge human food. Just because they will eat them doesn't mean it's nutritious! They'd eat bowls full of chocolate too. Wild cats have been studied more now and it's been found that they only eat the stomach contents of much smaller prey. They usually leave the stomach of larger prey and other animals including wild dogs usually get it and the remains of the carcass! Wild cats and dogs might kill and eat something that had grain in it's stomach but most would be in seed form and pass straight through them.
Pet food companies haven't been in existence long when you think about it and they exploit our need for convenience by using the cheapest forms of proteins (vegetables) and the highest bulk of carbohydrates (cereals) and making it look and smell appetising to our animals.

Answer 4

Dogs are classified as omnivores but they are actually primary carnivores. Primary carnivore means that most of their food sources need to be meat but a small percentage should actually be plant material. In the wild dogs would occasionally graze on plant material or it would be in the stomachs of the animals they eat rounding out their diet. Dogs are animals of opportunity. They will eat pretty much whatever is available, whether it is meat or plant, so yes, they would eat it in the wild. They just need the majority of their diet to be made out of meat.

But then you are talking about the cheap brands of dog food that use vegetables or grains as their main ingredients. This is done simply because it is cheaper, not because it is in the best interest of the animal. Higher quality brands will have the proper ratio of plant material to meat and the actual content of veggies or grains will be quite small compared to the meat content.

Answer 5

I had a cat that did this after my husband & I got married and I moved in. My husband had always free-fed (left food out all the time) his dog. My cat ended up developing urinary problems including bladder stones as a result. The bladder stones had to be surgically removed. We had to stop leaving the dog food out & only feed the dog 2 times a day. Dog food is formulated for a dog's nutritional needs including their ph level, which directly effects the urine. A dog's ph level is different from a cat so you should not let your cat eat the dog food. Please get in the habit of only feeding your cat twice a day as well as the dog. They will learn to be on a schedule. Whatever they don't eat after 20 min should be picked up. They will learn to eat the food when it's placed in front of them. This should also help your cat lose some weight. Free feeding is really not good for any pet because they can overeat. It is not as convenient for you but it is much healthier for your pets to be on a schedule.

Answer 6

Because they're cheaper then real meat and dog food companies that spend a lot of money on advertising need to make it up in other ways..
Dogs will eat the stomach contents of their prey, so, it's been assumed that they must need them.. That though, is still up for debate..
Cats on the other hand are known to be obligate carnivores and would never eat more then a bite of grass now and then in the wild..

Answer 7

They wouldn't but the animals they hunt would have vegetables and grains in their stomachs. A dog's ideal diet would be pulverised vegetables and meat, they do not need grain although potato (without the green bits on the skin) would be the best form of carbs.

Answer 8

Actually wild dogs are not strict carnivores..they will eat vegetables and fruits as well. Cats are more carnivorous than dogs but might still eat veggies and fruits if that was all that was available.

Answer 9

Its good for the digestive system, only if in dog food, do not cook and give dogs raw human veggies, dogs cant digest it well that way.....

no grapes, melons, chocolate or raisins, these are toxic to dogs per several vets...

Answer 10

it's in there because their bodies need it just like your. however did you know that you should look at the label and if it says yellow corn meal as the first ingredient that food will not last quite as long at one with a meat as the first. it has less protein and they will eat more of it.