Update on Shiloh & feeding question

[A&J]

Hi all, wanted to update on Shiloh's progress. She's doing great. She got over her obsession with the stuffed animals and she is sleeping well and happily through the night in her crate. We go on the 9th to get her last shot and her Revolution treatment.

I do have a question about her eating habits though. We gave her wet food when she first came to us because she wasn't eating and I wanted to entice her to eat. Over the weekend we put down her dry food that the vet gave us and she didn't want it. Well we discovered that she has been eating the cat food. Is this okay or do we need to try to get her to eat dog food instead? Thanks!

[Traci]

A&J, how old is she? What was the food your vet gave you?

[A&J]

A&J, how old is she? What was the food your vet gave you?

Traci:

She is ~2 years old, and the vet gave us a bag of Best Breed All Breed Diet. The cats eat 9 Lives and she loves it LOL

[Traci]

Not familiar with the brand....I would suggest using a canine adult maintenance dog food....several brands available, but choose one that is a premium quality. (link is feline-related, but same applies when evaluating pet foods)

It's not uncommon for dogs to eat the cat's food if it is made available to them. But, it's unfair to the cats that the dog is eating their food, please try to keep the cat's food away from the dog.

[A&J]

Thanks Traci. My cats are 10 years old and 2 years old and both "graze", they have dry food available to them at all times and takes bites here and there rather than just sit and eat a "meal". I don't really have a way to restrict their food at this point. I will, however, discuss it with the vet when I take her back next Friday for her shot and Revolution and see what he suggests as far as what to feed her. I didn't mind feeding her the wet food, but her poop was runny all the time.

[Traci]

Well, chances are, the food your vet suggested just was not something she preferred. Many dogs prefer dry to canned, and the canned could actually be causing her GI tract upsets resulting in the loose stools.

Having said that, however, anytime sudden or changes in stools are noted, should talk to your vet and opt for a fecal to rule out common parasites, bacterials, etc such as campylobacter, e-coli, etc.