Is Cat Food Bad For Dogs?

Beggars can't be choosers, and nobody begs better than dogs. Even when they aren't in a pinch, dogs will eat the loaf they just pinched just because they're bored or attention-starved, per South Boston Animal Hospital. Or it could even be that a mother dog wants to clean up her pups' poop and has to use her mouth as both scooper and poop receptacle.

Instinctively it might sound might seem unsafe and at the very least butt-backwards to a pet eat feces. But as it turns out, for canines, it's largely harmless, except in cases where it indicates some underlying health problems. So what about cat food, then? It's at least meant to enter an animal before it comes back out. How bad could it possibly be?

Writing for PetMD, Dr. Patty Khuly says that man's best friend could technically live on cat's best food, but it's ill-advised. No matter how cat-like your dog may seem, it still has different digestive needs. Cat foods pack more protein and fat and are all-around more calorie-dense than dog food. So canines that prefer feasts fancy are more likely to teeter on obesity and experience digestive difficulties. Some complications will upset your dog's stomach, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

The most upsetting prospect is pancreatitis, which can be fatal and must be treated immediately. The American Kennel Club lists common symptoms, which include a swelling belly, fever, diarrhea, weakness, sluggishness, and a hunched back. Even if your dog doesn't display obvious symptoms, the protein concentration will likely tax your pet's liver and kidneys. So it's probably better to err on the side of caution. The last thing you want is for curiosity about cat food to kill your dog.