Also remember, dog food is not good for cats either. Worried your dog has eaten something dangerous? Find your nearest clinic for immediate treatment. Enter City, Town, or Postcode. Find my nearest clinic. Want to video chat with a vet? Get personalised expert advice and peace of mind. In small amounts on rare occasions, it is unlikely to do any harm. So, if you find yourself in a situation where you have run out of dog food but have cat food available, then feeding cat food on these rare occasions in most cases will not have any adverse effects.
Saying that, a sudden change in diet can result in semi-solid stools because there has been a sudden change in diet with a different balance of ingredients present.
While occasionally getting access to cat food will unlikely affect long-term health, it is best that dogs are fed diets designed for dogs and cats are fed diets balanced correctly for cats.
References: 1. Taurine: An essential nutrient for cats. J Small Anim Pract. Morris J, Rogers Q. Arginine: An essential amino acid for the cat.
J Nutr. First name. Last name. Email address. I have read terms and conditions. This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Close Close. An all meat diet such as a cat would eat in nature creates a more acidic urine.
A high protein diet is the best way to maintain a low urinary pH naturally. Cats eating canned diets have fewer problems with FLUTD than those eating primarily dry kibble diets. This is due both to the higher meat content of canned diets as well as the higher moisture content; increased hydration also prevents crystal formation.
A frozen raw food diet is ideal for maintaining a lower urinary pH and providing proper hydration. Focusing on low-ash foods will not solve FLUTD problems, but a healthier diet and proper hydration will. A more effective means of preventing FLUTD than stressing about the amount of ash in your companion's food is focusing on stress reduction for your pet and you.
When our companions are stressed , their immune system are compromised. Furthermore, when you are stressed, your companion is far more likely to be stressed. Flower Essences are an excellent stress reduction and emotional support tool; cats are especially responsive to flower essences and can benefit greatly from their use.
There are flower essences designed for every emotional state, so look through the large selection and choose the one or two remedies that best match your companion's issues. Dosing is as simple as adding a few drops to the water or massaging them onto your pet's ears or paws. A healthy dog or cat can eat a different food at each meal without issue as long as they are high-quality foods. Holistically minded guardians and veterinarians know that variety is important for several reasons, the most important being to avoid the development of sensitivities to any particular food or protein type.
When the same food is fed for many months or years at a time, animals can develop allergies or sensitivities to specific ingredients in the food. Plus, many holistic veterinarians believe that feeding the same food for many years is a contributing factor to inflammatory bowel disease. Variety provides a wider range of nutrition for your companion as well. Even though a food may be formulated to meet AAFCO standards, that does not mean it meets the standards of every dog or cat.
As a matter of fact, many foods that meet AAFCO standards cannot be tolerated by our pets due to the heavy use of grains and grain by-products. A diverse diet will meet the nutritional needs of your companion over time, and, besides that, would you want to eat the same meal everyday?
Remember, every meal doesn't need to be perfectly balanced as long as the diet is balanced over the course of a week. Whenever feeding any diet, it's important to remember to include supplements. Digestive enzymes are hugely important and will help your companion transition from one type of food to another with ease. They help animals maintain a healthy digestive tract and get the most nutrition from their food. Essential fatty acids , especially from fish oil, provide the omega 3 fatty acids missing from most processed pet foods that nourish the skin, coat and digestive tract.
Probiotics are important for animals on medication or those experiencing digestive upsets. Account Login Register. Holistic Healthcare Library. Previous Article. Next Article. Here are the top 10 pet food myth questions we hear and the truth behind them: 1.
Can dogs eat cat food? Can cats eat dog food? Are the best foods those by veterinarians? Does dry pet food clean your dog's and cat's teeth? Do pets need life stage appropriate diets, like puppy, kitten, and senior formulas? Are table scraps and other "people foods" bad for your dog and cat?
Can't dogs and cats only eat food labeled as "complete and balanced"? Isn't feeding raw food dangerous due to the risk of Salmonella and E. Are high protein diets hard on your pet's kidneys, especially as they age? Is ash content important in cat food? Is changing formulas or brands of pet foods is hard on your dog's or cat's digestion?
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