"The ingredients of cat food and dog food are almost the same anyway, so there should be no problem if you let them eat it for a period of time." So far, many families with cats and dogs still hold this view. I believe that for you, isolation feeding is not a problem. It’s not a simple matter, just like cat food is also divided into kitten food, adult cat food, senior food, weight loss food, probiotic food, etc. Parents will choose according to their different ages, weights, and gastrointestinal conditions. But there are always situations when feeding, such as cats and dogs eating each other's food, or when a certain food is not enough, parents feed them the same food. Does this really not matter?

Differences in eating habits

Dogs are originally carnivorous animals that obtain food through collective hunting behavior. If you live with people, in addition to eating meat, you will have more and more opportunities to come into contact with other foods, and you will gradually become an omnivore.

Unlike dogs, cats are carnivores from beginning to end, and the ingredients and formulas of their food will also be made based on the nutrients they need. So relatively speaking, feeding dogs food to cats is more harmful.

Different nutritional requirements

Cats rely on vitamins A, B, C, taurine, fat, and large amounts of protein to survive. They also need additional vitamins and supplements because their bodies cannot produce these ingredients on their own, so they need to be provided in their food. Keep cats getting the nutrients they need. Of all the vitamins and acids, the most important for cats are vitamin A, amino acids and taurine. Dogs can produce their own, but cats need extra supplements from them. Therefore, these ingredients are very important for cats. If they are missing, they may suffer from various heart diseases. Next, let’s compare their essential nutrients.

·Protein

The protein content required by kittens during development is 1.5 times that of puppies, and that of adult cats is twice that of adult dogs. Therefore, the protein content in dog food is less than that of cat food. If cats continue to eat dog food, the protein may be insufficient.

·Taurine

Cats have a lower ability to synthesize taurine from amino acids than dogs. So they need to get taurine directly from their food. Therefore, cat food will contain more taurine than dog food. In 1980, veterinarians discovered that the main cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in cats was a diet lacking taurine. Since then, all foods have been supplemented with taurine, which has reduced the occurrence of dilated cardiomyopathy in cats. Other important functions include immune regulation, retinal degeneration, heart, and nerves. If cats eat dog food for a long time, they will develop taurine deficiency.

·sodium

The minimum sodium content for dogs is about 4mg/kg, and for cats it is about 9.2mg/kg. Therefore, dog food may contain less salt than cat food. Long-term consumption of dog food can cause cats to be irritable, increase their heart rate, drink less water and increase their urine output.

·Vitamins

Because cats cannot convert tryptophan into niacin, they need to consume more niacin than dogs, about four times as much. If there is not enough niacin, dermatitis may occur on the abdomen and hind legs. In addition, cats cannot convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, so they need to ingest it in the form of vitamin A.

The reasons why dogs eat cat food/cats eat dog food

Because dogs have a very high demand for food, even if you think you have fed them enough, they will always feel hungry. After eating all their own food, they will continue to eat if they find other foods that arouse their interest. . In addition, because cat food has higher protein and fat content than dog food and is more palatable, it is naturally very attractive to dogs. However, this high-protein food can cause serious metabolic problems for aging dogs and dogs with kidney disease and diabetes.

Cats eat dog food mostly because they have the habit of exploring food. If the palatability of the two foods is not much different, cats prefer to choose new food, so the phenomenon of cats eating dog food occurs. But compared to dogs eating cat food, this phenomenon is relatively rare.

Note: Studies have found that a small number of cats and dogs are very interested in eating food placed in a certain location. No matter what food is placed in this location, they will not be affected. Keep eating.

Possible symptoms after long-term consumption

Eating cat or dog food by mistake may cause stomachache, but it will not have serious health effects. However, if consumed for a long time, it may cause the following risks.

·Partial eclipse behavior

For dogs, long-term consumption of high protein and high salt content in cat food will lead to a partial eclipse and not eating dog food. So don’t try cat food for your dog. When raising cats and dogs at the same time, if the dog eats the cat's food, the cat will not be able to supplement the nutrients it needs.

·The burden on the kidneys

Long-term intake of high-protein and high-salt cat food may put a burden on your dog’s kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure. Cats and cats can also suffer from kidney disease due to the lack of vitamins, protein, taurine, etc. in dog food.

·Nutritional balance

Compared with cats, dogs require different nutrients and calories. If they eat cat food for a long time, the nutritional balance will be destroyed.

·Obesity

Dogs that eat cat food tend to be more susceptible to gastrointestinal problems than obese people. Long-term feeding can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as diarrhea, vomiting, and even pancreatitis.

·Dehydration

Dog food lacks moisture, and cats' sense of dehydration is not as developed as that of dogs, so if the cat does not realize that the food will dehydrate it, it will have serious consequences.

In addition, for cats, the lack of taurine and arginine in dog food can damage their vision, reproduction, heart, and neurological functions, and cause hyperammonemia, convulsions, and even death. For dogs, too many nutrients in cat food can cause digestive system diseases.

So even though dogs and cats have similar taste systems, they can accept each other's food. But from a health perspective, we should insist on using a diet suitable for them, including foods that should be fed at all ages (such as puppy food for puppies, adult dog food for adult dogs, prescription food for sick dogs, etc.), and prevent them from eating. Feed each other.

How to prevent dogs from eating cat food/cats from eating dog food

· Keep cats and dogs in separate rooms, preferably in separate rooms that dogs cannot enter. For example, the dog is placed on the balcony and the cat is placed in the bedroom;

· Separate when feeding, you can place the cat in a high place that the dog cannot reach, such as above the refrigerator, cabinet, or bookcase;

· Set up obstacles so that dogs cannot reach the area where cats eat;

· After feeding at a specific time, even if you put away the remaining food, whether it is cat food or dog food, do not leave it outside, otherwise they will have many opportunities to sneak a bite and then get out of hand.

If none of the above methods work, make a small cardboard box with just a small hole and put it in while your cat is eating. Of course, if your finances allow, it is best to install a small camera to monitor their diet at any time.

Warm Tips

If your dog has swallowed cat food, do not punish it by hitting it. Maybe it will not dare to eat cat food casually when you are around. But once you are away, it will try its best to get cat food, and its aggressive behavior can easily destroy the dog's trust in you.Spend. It’s best to remember to put away the remaining food immediately after eating!!

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