Do dogs and cats have the same nutritional requirements?
Table of Contents
Do dogs and cats have the same nutritional requirements?
Dr. Leslie: Cats have higher needs for many essential nutrients, whereas dogs can adapt to life on very little. Cat food, as a result, tends to be higher in protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Cat food is also smaller for their smaller mouths, and is higher in calories.
Do calories matter in dog food?
The nutritional needs of a dog include adequate amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc. Even if you were able to calculate calories perfectly, if you fed your dog a diet that was unbalanced, he won’t have his needs met and can’t benefit from the calories you have fed him.
How many kcal should a dog have a day?
Dog and Cat Daily Caloric Needs
| Cats | |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs. | 180 to 200 calories |
| Dogs | |
| 10 lbs. | 200 to 275 calories |
| 20 lbs. | 325 to 400 calories |
How many Kcals does my dog need?
(Resting Energy Requirements or RER), which can be calculated by multiplying the animal’s body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70, for example, a 10kg (22lb) adult neutered dog of healthy weight needs RER = 70(10kg)3/4 ≈ 400 Calories/day.
If you are a dog lover who also shares your home with cats, there is one more thing you need to know. Just as it’s dangerous to feed only cat food to dogs, cats cannot survive on dog food alone. Dog food lacks sufficient vitamin A and taurine, two nutrients cats need to live healthy lives.
Why do cats require more protein in their diet than dogs?
Cats require significantly more protein than dogs, who are omnivores. That’s because cats use protein for energy when possible and need more of certain amino acids for building blocks of muscles and fuel bodily processes.
Why is dog food in kcal?
Though it sounds complicated, the requirement that all pet food labels express calorie statements in terms of kilocalories per kilogram of product as fed makes it easier to compare similar products. A kilocalorie is the same as a calorie (aka a big calorie or food calorie).
Why is dog food measured in kcal?
What is a kcal? A kcal, or kilocalorie, is 1000 calories. This is the most common unit of energy used to express an animal’s daily requirement and the caloric density of pet foods.
Are kcal and Cal the same?
Calories and kcal are used interchangeably and refer to the same amount of energy. Calories or kcal may also be measured in kJ, with one calorie (kcal) equaling 4.18 kJ.
What happens if a dog eats cat food?
Complications of Feeding Cat Food to Dogs Symptoms include abdominal pain and a hunched back, lethargy and weakness, appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhea, a distended abdomen, and fever. Even if your dog eats cat food and suffers no obvious ill effects, the high protein levels can be hard on his liver and kidney.