my dog likes to eat cat food will that make her sick?

Question

My dog is a shi-tzu / Maltese, We have two cats, who were quite fat when we got them, we have been feeding them IAMS indoor cat formula hairball. Our dog prefers the cat foods and the cats prefer the dog food.  The dog food we feed her is the IAMS small breed food mixed with the cesar small dog food.  Although she does get to eat alot of table scraps (just the left over meat like hamburger/chicken/ham/turkey etc...)

Will eating the wrong food hurt her in the long run?  It doesn't seem to make a difference with her BM's.  And well I guess the same thing for the cats?  They have lost weight since we got them, which I think is completely because of the food switch plus they are getting a lot more exercise than they were before.

Our dog seems extremely healthy and is the perfect weight for her size, but I do wonder about them eating each others food.

? · Accepted Answer

Hi, I totally understand your dilemma about your pets eating each others food.  I am also a parent to four dogs and a cat and work for the Iams and Eukanuba pet food company which is what my pets eat.  

I understand the occasional visit to each others bowls, can happen.  However, cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements and really should not eat each other’s food.

For example, cats require a much higher level of taurine and a different pH balance in their diet.

I would recommend putting your cat's bowls up where your dog cannot reach.  This will help prevent her from eating the cat food.   

Finding the right balance for both your pets can be not only challenging but rewarding as well!

Deo · Answer

It won't hurt them. The only thing I can say that would be different is, maybe she won't grow to her full height, but I honestly doubt it would make a difference.  If they've been eating it continuously with no digestive problems or changes in stamina then there won't be a problem.  Just watch her coat, if she starts to get dry skin and itches bald spots into her fur, then make her stop eating the cat food.  If it hasn't happened yet, it probably won't.  There's no real difference in the types of food.  Just how easily they can chew it and digest it.  Dog's have stronger jaws and digestive systems than cats.

Nekkid Truth! · Answer

cat food and dog food are nutritionally different

cat food is properly balanced for CATS.. it has too many fats, protiens, and other nutrients that dogs DO NOT need.. it can lead to pancreatis, bladder stones, liver or kidney issues, and obesity, etc..  

Dog food does not have the nutrients that cats need.. one main nutrient is taurine.  Cats can suffer blindness from lack of taurine.   There's many other issues a cat can suffer from malnutrition as well.

feed your pets SEPARATLY at meal time to assure they are getting their proper diets.

Anonymous · Answer

it can make your dog sick because it is more fatty, i suggest that you put your cats food on a table or something. (somewhere where your cats can get to it but your dog can't)  also if you cats like the dog's food better then you should put down your dogs food at breakfast and dinner

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my dog likes to eat cat food will that make her sick?

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