Dogs and Cat Food

Question
My dad's dogs have become so fond of cat food that they barely eat dog food anymore, so my father has taken up feeding them more and more cat food and less and less dog food. Is this safe? I've always heard that cat food had a higher protein content, but is it safe for dogs in large amounts? what kind of health risks are his dogs looking at?

Answer
Hi William,

I strongly advise you to persuade your dad that his dog's do in fact need dog food. There are multiple significant differences in the feline metabolism and cat food is always going to appeal to dog,s but that doesn't mean it's good for them. What type of food was he using? Most of the new premium quality foods are very palatable, especially if he was using one of the old fashioned grain based types, a switch to a meatier brand might do the trick. But the short answer is, higher fat levels and a different mineral profile will mean the dogs won't get the best nutrition they could. Its' safer for dogs to eat catfood then the other way around, but it sure ins't ideal.
All the best, Catherine