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How To Get My Dog To Stop Eating Cat Food
- 25/04/2020
When living in a multi-pet home, you may notice that your dog loves stealing cat food sometimes. Why does he do so? Is it dangerous for a dog's health? And if so, what can you do to stop your dog from eating cat food?
In this article, we've got the answers to all these questions.
Why Dogs Love Eating Cat Food
Both dog and cat food look the same (shape, smell, color, and texture), but they differ in ingredients drastically. Cats are carnivores, and that is why their food is extremely rich in proteins and fats as compared to dog food flavors. And this is the reason why your dog loves cat food: Its high protein flavor tastes and smells yummy for them.
More than that, some dog owners use cat food as a treat to reward their dog. They believe there's nothing wrong with a dog eating cat food. Indeed, what's a big deal if a dog consumes a little extra protein?
The deal is that dogs and cats have different nutrition needs, and a wrong balance of ingredients in food is harmful to their health and wellbeing.
What Happens If a Dog Eats Cat Food
While cats are obligate carnivores who need meat in their diet, dogs are omnivores who need a wider variety of nutrients. And although cat food smells and tastes suitable for pups, they can't handle the high protein and fat content: Dogs have weaker stomachs, and cat food can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other troubles with digestion.
Also, a high protein level in cat food influences a dog's liver and kidneys negatively as it contains a lot of iron. As for fat-rich content, it leads to pancreatitis and obesity in dogs.
That is why the best decision would be to prevent your dog from eating cat food. Here go the tips on how to do that.
How to Get a Dog to Stop Eating Cat Food
● Make your dog's bowl distinguishable. Cat and dog food looks the same for your pet, so try different bowl colors and sizes to help them distinguish the food. Also, consider different placemats for them.
● Train your dog a "leave it" command. Once he knows it, please repeat it whenever he goes to cat food until he can ignore it successfully.
● Feed your cat on a higher surface. It's easy for felines to jump up and take food there, while your dog won't be able to reach it.
● Separate cat and dog feeding areas so they couldn't reach each other's food. You can feed them in different rooms behind closed doors, or think of investing in a pet gate with a small opening at the bottom for your cat. Protective cat bowls can be an option too.
● Consider time- instead of free-feeding. Yes, some experts agree that free-feeding is excellent for cats; but this recommendation won't work for multi-pet homes. Maintain the schedule for both a cat and a dog, feed them separately, and they will get used to this routine soon.
Jimmie O'Chutt is an avid pet lover who runs CatPet.Club, a blog about living with cats and making this life fulfilling for both owners and their four-legged friends. Jimmie has also created the CatPet YouTube channel where you can find games for your pet to play.
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