If this is an infrequent occurrence, no action should be taken; however, if it becomes an ongoing trend then preventive steps should be taken immediately to keep this from happening. Move food to an area your dog cannot reach; install baby gates where your pup cannot jump over them; or consider installing a cat flap in a doorway as solutions.
Contents
Pancreatitis
Cat treats may be tasty for dogs, but they’re often not designed with their nutritional needs or digestive system in mind – meaning that they may contain high amounts of fat and protein that make digestion difficult for the stomach of an animal.
At first, occasional taste tests of cat food will not usually cause significant health concerns in adult dogs; however, frequent consumption can lead to digestive distress and other related health problems.
If your dog shows symptoms of intestinal discomfort after eating cat food, such as vomiting and diarrhea, consult a veterinarian immediately. To promote optimal pet health, keep cat food out of reach from your dog while providing him or her with healthy, balanced diet made with natural ingredients such as those found in Health Extension dog foods. You can use positive reinforcement training techniques to teach them “Leave It”, to make sure they understand that their meal belongs solely to them.
Diarrhea
One episode of dogs eating cat food likely won’t cause lasting harm; however, over the long term a diet consisting of cat food isn’t ideal as its high concentration of fats and proteins may wreak havoc with their digestive systems and cause vomiting, diarrhoea or obesity in some dogs – in extreme cases this could even lead to pancreatitis or fatty liver disease!
Unfortunately, cat food often contains taurine which cannot be synthesized by dogs and therefore leads to heart and eye issues if regularly eaten by them.
If your dog is raiding the cat buffet regularly, consult with your veterinarian who can advise on what steps can be taken to address this behavior. Your vet may suggest behavior modification techniques or switching over to low-fat, high-protein dog food which will be easier on their tummies.
Vomiting
An accidental feeding of cat food to a dog could potentially result in vomiting and diarrhea. While these symptoms are less serious than pancreatitis, they should still be checked out by a vet immediately.
One or two mouthfuls of cat food won’t do your pup any harm, but binge feeding should be avoided as too much can cause digestive distress as well as dehydration resulting in thirst and urination increases, prompting more vomitting episodes.
Dogs sometimes attempt to steal food from their feline family members, including cat food. While this behavior shouldn’t cause major health concerns in your dog, if this behavior becomes frequent or affects his/her wellbeing then speak to your vet as they may offer recommendations to discourage it such as changing where and how the cat’s food is stored.
Weight Gain
If your dog occasionally consumes cat food, there should be little cause for alarm. A small bit can actually help make the animal feel fuller than when fed their own food alone.
However, feeding your dog cat food could create problems. Cat food contains high levels of fat and protein which may contribute to digestive issues and weight gain in dogs, while pancreatitis (an inflammation of the organ that aids digestion) could develop as a result.
Diets that contain too many proteins may also pose problems for dogs with delicate digestive tracts, liver disease or pancreatitis. To maintain optimal function and avoid discomfort like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea they should consume lower-fat foods like lettuce or celery which contain many essential vitamins A & K along with folate and fiber content – perfect foods for these ailments!
