What kind of cat food is best to feed a medium sized dog?
July 31st, 2009
I have a Basenji that weighs 15 pounds, hes is visibly underweight.
He doesn’t eat any type of dry dog food and the wet dog food gives him diarrhea.
He seems to really enjoy cat food & I have read that dogs are actually carnavores and that it would be ok to feed a dog cat food becuase he needs the protein and fat at this point. Any suggestions of a good brand?
Thanks
Don’t feed your dog, cat food..cat food is "designed" for a cat. Most cat/dog foods are made with corn as the #1 ingredient..so to feed a carnivore corn, makes no sense at all.
Make some boiled chicken and BROWN rice, get a great brand of dog food like Innova, Wysong, Wellness and mix the chicken/rice into his food. Chicken and brown rice are easily digested.
Good Luck!
OhIDoDoI
Cat food isn’t well formulated for dogs… feeding a dog cat-food long term can cause problems.
What foods were you feeding him before? What brands of food were giving in the diarrhea?
You could try a more protein-rich dog food. Orijen is a very high proten brand, there are others as well.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com is a good place to look for ratings.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:59 AMReferences :
ira h
sure. feed him cat food. the only difference is the picture on the can or package.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:42 AMReferences :
Sandra R
They actually need a different kind of diet and I would not advise feeding a dog, cat food. Cat foods contain additives (taurine) that are not good for dogs.
I’d consider going home cooked or raw if you havent’ tried foods like Orijen or Wellness etc. Dr. Richard Pitcairn is one of the more popular vets out there with books telling you how to create homecooked recipes. Google in Chapters. Tons of websites on how to work raw.
Have you had your dog to the vet. A dog does not lose weight unless their is a reason. Some of those reasons can be serious like cancer. Please have a vet check them out first.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:08 AMReferences :
Animal care worker
Amanda R
NO NO NO. Cats cannot produce taurine, so their food is loaded with not only high taurine meats but a taurine addative to aid digestion, heart, and eye function. This, in a dog, gives them too much taurine because their bodies do not have such a high demand for it and causes liver damage at the very least. It would be more beneficial for him to eat a chicken nugget McDonalds kids meal than cat food.
He will not starve himself, if food is left out he will eat it eventually. You can also get him to eat Nutrical, which has all the amino acids and fats he’d need to keep his energy up. Mixing pedialite in the water will replace electrolites he doesn’t eat. Go with the higher quality pet store foods rather than the grocery store garbage that dogs will turn their nose at. Keep trying with the dry food, and get with your vet, who should have access to Hill’s AD, a high carb/protien food that will help replace what he doesn’t get.
Home cooking for him may be a solution too: making him chicken and rice (and even serving it on one of your plate) may induce his appetite and you can mix that with a little kibble. You can vary with fishes, lamb and ground beef with rice, oatmeal and an assortment of veggies to balance out the diet, rounded out with a dog multivitamin to provide what the diet doesnt.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:17 AMReferences :
malissa l
would you eat horse feed?….Probably not, so why in the world would you feed your dog cat food. If it was a universal food, it would say pet food. Its species specific for a reason….
July 31st, 2009 at 11:29 AMReferences :
Duhhhhhhhhhh
Krazy for K9s
Don’t feed your dog, cat food..cat food is "designed" for a cat. Most cat/dog foods are made with corn as the #1 ingredient..so to feed a carnivore corn, makes no sense at all.
Make some boiled chicken and BROWN rice, get a great brand of dog food like Innova, Wysong, Wellness and mix the chicken/rice into his food. Chicken and brown rice are easily digested.
Good Luck!
July 31st, 2009 at 11:45 AMReferences :
Dances With Woofs!
Well,you aren’t supposed to feed just cat food to a dog,but I had a neighbor who had a whippet mix and all she would eat was canned cat food. She lived to be 15 years old and was quite a healthy dog. On the other hand,cats cannot live on dog food,as it doesn’t have the amount of taurine,protein or fat that a cat needs.I would try a good,high-meat dog food,like Taste of the Wild and perhaps mix a bit of canned cat food into it to get the dog accustomed to it. But a diet of cat food is better than the dog starving itself. The best thing to do is ask your vet.
http://www.royalcanin.us/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?DocID=24,20,12,1,Documents&MediaID=95&Filename=Feeding_Dog_Food_to_Cats_and_Cat_Food_to_Dogs.pdf
July 31st, 2009 at 12:17 PMReferences :
Great Dane Lover
Do NOT feed a dog cat food. it is not nutritionally formulated for dogs. Proteins, fats & other vitamins & minerals aren’t in the correct amounts for dogs.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:27 PMWhoever told you it was ok to feed a dog cat food gave you some very wrong info.
References :
vet tech for 36 years
Vet Tech
Please…..cat food can cause Pancreatic issues in dogs…..DO NOT FEED CAT FOOD TO DOGS…..working in vet offices ……I have seen this turn out poorly…..
July 31st, 2009 at 12:49 PMReferences :
Isis Is: I SAVED ANOTHER!
i had a cocker/poodle mix when i was a kid that ate Meow Mix for 19 yrs.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:39 PMthe vet we had explained that while cat food CAN be ok for dogs, dog food is not healthy enough for cats. not enough protein.
References :
rescue member
That;s ridiculous, cat food has way too much fat and will give your dog diarrhea - last thing an underweight dog needs.
Feed your dog good dry with meat listed as the first ingredient, no corn meal like supermarket dry has. Canidae is very good, mix the dry with some canned Canidae.
I currently have a very emaciated dog I took into our rescue - we are feeding her Canidae chicken and rice dry mixed with the same canned - she has gained 7 ounces in 4 days (she was only 7 lbs. 2 ozs. when we got her) and is looking better. You can add some white meat, skinless, boneless chicken chopped fine, rice, carrots or lean chop meat.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:49 PMYou sure don’t need to make the poor dog sick by giving her greasy cat food.
References :
grammy c
Your dog can eat Cat Food. But, its not healthy for your dog. Cat food cannot complete dogs digestive health requirements. Its very important to complete your dogs digestive health requirements to make your dog healthy. If you want more info:- http://www.agritura.com/index.php/cat/c289_Cats.html
July 31st, 2009 at 2:07 PMReferences :