There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
Can Your Cat and Dog Eat the Same Food?
If you have a cat and a dog, then you may have noticed that one or both of them will sometimes eat the other's food. Sometimes, one will leave their own bowl before they're finished and start eating with the other. If one of both of your pets doesn't seem to care that they are eating food marketed for a different animal, then you may be wondering if you can just feed one type of food to both of them. Is this a good idea?
Cat and Dog Foods Are Different For a Reason
Pet food manufacturers don't just stick the same pet food in cans and pouches and then put different stickers on to market them to cat and dog owners. The food itself is different. Both your cat and dog have different dietary needs. As well as giving them fuel, their food adds things into their diet that they need to stay healthy. These things aren't necessarily the same for cats as they for dogs and vice versa. Cat food is formulated to meet the needs of cats and dog food to meet the needs of dogs.
So, for example, cat food often contains extra taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that helps keep the eyes, nervous system and heart healthy, among other things. Cat food often contains a taurine boost because cats typically can't produce enough of this amino acid on their own. However, dogs can produce enough so they don't need to eat taurine-containing foods. Their food won't contain extra taurine.
Switching Foods May Affect Your Pet's Health
While snacking on your other pet's food occasionally won't do your cat or dog any harm, this isn't something your pets should do regularly. They could develop health problems. So, if your dog eats your cat's food, then it will feed its appetite well enough, but the food may not do it any good. Some dogs get upset stomachs after eating cat food for long periods; others put on weight because cat food tends to contain more fats and calories. Your cat may come off worse here. Solely eating dog food isn't going to meet a cat's nutritional and health needs. Your cat may end up with dietary deficiencies that could make it seriously ill if the food it eats doesn't contain appropriate supplements.
If you are worried that your cat or dog are eating each other's food too often, then ask your vet for advice on pet food. They can tell you more about the benefits of sticking to pet-specific foods and, if necessary, give your pets a check-up to see if their diet is affecting their health.