My Dog Ate Wet Cat Food Will He Get Sick?

Reviewed By Tom •  Updated: 06/12/21 •  3 min read
Dog Moderate Toxicity Level
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Has your dog eaten some wet cat food? Are you worried the wet cat food could make him sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand that it can be scary when our dog eats something they maybe shouldn’t have.

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In this article, we’ll take a look at cat food and whether or not it can make your dog sick. Let’s get started!

Wet Cat Food—What is It?

Wet cat food is a type of food specially formulated for cats. It usually comes in a can or pouch. It comes in a variety of brands, with different kinds of ingredients. You can find it just about everywhere—at the grocery store, online, at the pet shop, and more.

If you’d had a dog for a while, you know they will eat just about anything. That also includes cat food! In fact, your cat will not be happy (usually) when the dog raids his food bowl! But it’s a common problem. Dogs sometimes wet cat food to be irresistible and will snarf down all of the poor kitty’s food in a second!

It is strongly recommended to contact a Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian.

But can wet cat food make your dog sick?

Wet Cat Food & Dogs

Wet or dry cat food is specially formulated to meet the dietary needs of cats. Cat dietary needs are different from those of dogs. Why do dogs eat cat food? Probably because it contains meat and smells enticing! And dogs may like the taste of cat food. Then sometimes dogs just eat whatever’s around.

Cat food is filled with high amounts of fat and proteins. While dogs need these, too, they need fats and proteins in smaller amounts than cats.

One of the main dangers of wet cat food for dogs is the level of fat found in cat food. It’s possible a dog could develop pancreatitis, which can be a painful and dangerous medical condition. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which can lead to death if not treated.

Another issue, while rare, is that a dog could be allergic to some of the ingredients in the wet cat food. For instance, some dogs are allergic to fish. If the dog has a high sensitivity to fish, he could have a severe allergic reaction, called an anaphylactic reaction. This is a serious condition, which can also lead to death.

These are problems that could happen if a dog happened to eat some wet cat, just one. On a regular basis, a dog eating cat food could develop nutritional deficiencies, which could lead to a whole host of other health issues.

So, if your dog has eaten your cat’s wet cat food, monitor him for any symptoms that may come up. It’s possible he may have nothing more than vomiting and diarrhea. The vomiting and diarrhea should not last longer than 24 hours. If they do, then it’s time to call the vet.

An allergic reaction could cause itchy skin, breathing difficulties, and more. If your dog is showing allergic symptoms, then it’s time to call the vet, especially if your dog is having breathing difficulties.

If your dog has eaten wet cat food and is showing any concerning symptoms, then do call the vet. They’ll have the best information and guidance on how to help your dog.

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Tom

Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!

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