In an emergency situation, eating dog food should probably be one of your last options, although eating dog food might increase the chances of your survival but it comes with a lot of risks. Then yes, I suppose they can. While some would think that dog food can be great for an emergency situation, but I do not recommend it. There are professional dog food tasters that are employed by the dog food manufacturers. Dog food is food specifically formulated and intended for consumption by dogs and other related canines. The scrap meat from these animals is boiled in large wats to a point where they are unrecognizable, after this, they either dehydrate them and color them, or can them.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'preppingplanet_com-leader-4','ezslot_10',189,'0','0'])); Yes, you can get sick for eating dog food either because the dog food is low quality or because during the canning process it might have been infected with dangerous bacteria. That is why the foods that are safe and healthy for humans may have a deadly impact our the dogs. No, I would say it is not a good idea. These bags are then usually left open or poured into a secondary container where it sits until it has been fully consumed. The best advice is to keep dog food for dogs and human food for humans! In theory, given the human body’s ability to adapt to a wide variety of food sources, humans are able to eat both dog and cat food, whether wet or dry, high quality or not… in a limited quantity. While many human food items are a good source of energy and health for the dogs. SurvivalCache is here to educate. However, it’s probably a good idea to avoid the temptation of stocking up on pet food as an emergency, last-ditch source of sustenance during a crisis. Dog food is basically made out of scrap meat which can not be sold to humans like, hoves, intestines, skin and as I have mentioned above it may even contain meat from other dogs. It’s important to remember, however, that many human foods lack necessary nutrients and several more are toxic to dogs. Dogs are considered to be omnivores with a carnivorous bias. Dog food can increase the risk of developing food borne illness if taken by human. Just be sure to check our guidelines below first, as there are also some foods there that could make her seriously ill. By Bjorn Carey. Asparagus – Before feeding it to your dog, trim off the rough, fibrous end of the stalk and cook until it’s tender. The needs of a dog in terms of nutrition is very different from the needs of a human. The last thing you would want in a survival situation is to eat dog food that has been gone bad. His second book, Paracord Projects For Camping and Outdoor Survival, is scheduled to be released on March 2, 2021. AnswerYes, humans CAN eat dog food. There are sure to be plenty of nutritious options in your fridge or pantry that you can safely give to your dog as emergency dog food. In 2019, Bryan authored the book Swiss Army Knife Camping and Outdoor Survival Guide. This was not because it was toxic or poisonous, it was just disgusting. As every dog food brand is different look to the packaging or contact the manufacturer to find out exactly what is used in the product. Aside from these differences, we haven’t even discussed the taste factor and smell of pet food, and whether or not you would be able to eat it is a question that only you can answer at the time. There is nothing in dog food that can cause immediate harm to your cat. But depending on it as a regular emergency food source seems unwise as it could cause some serious health issues. Prepping is about being ready for anything that comes your way; whether that’s a natural disaster or manmade. It is not a bad question to ask as one of the most popular pets to own is a dog. Even something as common as diarrhea could end up being fatal as your body will get weaker and weaker, to a point where you will no longer be able to even stand on your feet. Eating dog food in very small amounts spread out over a long time is most likely not going to harm an adult human, that is if you can get past the smell and taste of it. Animals that die of cancer or other diseases also frequently end up being sold as dog food.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'preppingplanet_com-leader-2','ezslot_6',188,'0','0'])); Now I don’t know about you but the last thing which I would want to eat is a cancerous tumor from some animal. During an emergency, you might end up eating dog food, although this is not the healthiest food but still it is better than nothing. In addition to this, if you cook often then you will lower the shelf life of the canned dog food. Feline Feast iStock. While a nibble of stolen dog food will not harm cats, it will definitely not help them achieve their best possible health. Sure a person can live of of just about any food source in emergency situations, plants, root etc. If you find a canned dog food that has it’s top bulging then this is also not good to eat, as the same forces as I have mentioned above have made the dog food unsafe to eat. ( How safe is it? But you don't really know that for sure because dog food is not subjected to the same health and safety regulations that human food is required to have. including dog food. Safe and Good Foods that Your Dog can Eat – Following down Listing down few foods that your dog can enjoy and there in harm in feeding such foods if it is not provided excessively. Just like human food, the food for dogs can also get easily contaminated by bacteria and make you sick. So to answer the original question, Can people eat pet food in an emergency? Our experts turn up their noses at nothing in their quest for the truth . This question brings me back to being a kid and wondering the same thing. They are not nearly as strict as the guidelines outlined in the manufacturing of human food but there are guidelines, nonetheless. ( How to get rid of weevils ).eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'preppingplanet_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_12',192,'0','0'])); No matter what kind of emergency you find yourself in, never eat spoiled dog food. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I will be picking up extra dehydrated and canned foods to add to the emergency stockpile just to make sure. Dog and cat food can be combined in a one-off emergency. In some cases, you might even find that the dog food will literally contain dog meat from euthanized dogs, and this comes from directly the FDA, dog food recall: FDA finds deadly pet euthanasia in several common brands.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'preppingplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',187,'0','0'])); In an emergency situation, you will be able to survive for long periods of time just by eating dog food, and believe it or not, but there are people who actually eat dogfood voluntarily as a “life choice”. The main reason behind that is that the dietary requirements of dogs and cats are vastly different. Well, it is probably not healthy by any means, but it will not be harmful. The manufacturers of dog food must follow safety guidelines for how the food is prepared. The problem is that melamine is a type of plastic that will lead to serious health issues and complications, in some cases it might even end up in death. During the past decade, there has been an increasing number of dogs with cancer, either because these dogs have been fed human food or because the dog food which they ate was extremely unhealthy. BePrepared Emergency Food Survival Kit Review, Making an Emergency Food Stockpile: DIY Approach, Best Emergency Food Bars: Top 5 Reviewed, Buying Guide, Questions, Food Storage With Food Saver Vacuum Sealer, 78 Things You Should Stock but Probably Aren’t in 2021, Find Nuclear Fallout Shelters Near Me: How to Find, Types of Shelters, Sig Sauer Romeo 5 vs Romeo 4 Scope: Head to Head Comparison for 2021, Arcturus Survival Blanket Review: Hands-On. The contents of dog food will vary from brand to brand, although you can rest assured that they do not contain lean beef or some high-quality meat. After all, if your beloved dog can woof down on the contents of their bowl, why can’t you? The “okayness” of eating the food depends on the quality. Although you will probably not spoil the canned dog food as you will feed it to your dog sooner than it gets bad. This is the second reason why you will see the label “not for human consumption” on some dog food brands. Dog food that is pumped full of chemicals and preservatives will have a longer shelf life.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'preppingplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',608,'0','0'])); Some people might even think that it is a good idea to hoard dog food for an emergency situation as some of the bands are fairly cheap, DO NOT do this. People often can tell by the smell of the food if it has gone bad or if it is still good, the problem with dog food is that even if the canned dog food isn’t spoiled it will still smell and taste bad. Although the contents of dog food might not sound so appetizing or nutritious, it is still better than eating grass, for more information check out my recent article Can you eat grass to survive? Read more of Bryan's articles. Preppingplanet.com is also participating in the ShareASale affiliate program, and we earn fees by linking to ShareASale and affiliated websites. The contents of most dog foods will be some kind of mystery meat, they might say it’s chicken or beef, but how would you know if you never tasted it. Dry dog food has a lot longer shelf life, the problem with dry dog food is that it needs a lot of water in order to be digested. The information presented here is for general educational purposes only. As you can see, your dog has plenty of options if wet or dry food supplies ever run out. Can you get sick from eating dog food in an emergency? If you look at some of the dog food brands you will find that the dry and even the wet dog food has a fairly long shelf life, but this shelf life isn’t the same as the shelf life for human food. Canned wet dog food has to be kept in a dry and cool room, out of the sun, but if you have a dog and you are feeding them canned dog food then you probably keep the dog food in the kitchen. Thus, since FDA’s rulings on human foods do not apply to dog foods, it’ll be a lot difficult to assess the consequences of consuming dog food. The problem with dog food is that it isn’t made for human consumption, and if you thought that junk food is bad due to all the fat, sugar, and chemicals in it, just think for a second that there might be in dog food. The kitchen is probably one of the worst places to keep dog food as the kitchen is fairly hot when compared to the other rooms in your house or apartment. Now we all know dog food is made from some things you would not normally eat. Dog food is heavily regulated as an industry and needs to adhere to strict product safety standards. Check out the team below and read more about us here. It is not advisable, however, because dog food is often made with various "filler" that is not as strictly regulated as human food. ( Not so Fast ! Learning how to hunt, fish, read the land, and be self-reliant was part of everyday life. Many of the foods, such as fruits and vegetables, that humans digest just fine can wreak havoc on a dog’s body, causing severe health problems. I know this seems a little odd, but I recently watched a very eye opening program about a week long power cut in Britain, and the resulting events. ). Leave me a comment below. This copyrighted material may not be republished without express permission. Make sure that you have plenty of food for both your pet and you to get through any emergency that comes … If you are completely out of dog food, don’t panic! If the actual can looks like it has been leaking, then it is not fit for consumption, as bacteria is growing inside and as they are feeding off the dog food they will produce gas, which will make the can deteriorate after a while to release the pressure. This makes dry food more susceptible to the possibility of bacterial growth. Just saying Yes, humans can eat dog food in an emergency, as long as the dog food hasn’t gone bad or otherwise been contaminated by dangerous bacteria. But is it a good idea? On the other hand, dry dog food is fairly safe to eat as it has a longer shelf life unless it comes in contact or it has some kind of mold growing on it. Bryan grew up in the Midwest and spent every waking moment outdoors. It can consist of organ meat, ground-up bone, vegetables, and other bits and pieces of animal by-products. Dry food on the other hand is generally put into a package that is not airtight nor completely waterproof. Canned food is usually cooked first which should kill many harmful bacteria within it. Nevertheless, some ingredients are safe to be consumed by dogs but not by humans. This will make it more tempting for a cat. Dangers of eating dog food in an emergency, Things to know before eating dog food in an emergency, Can humans eat dog food in an emergency? 0 0. Preppingplanet.com is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. But some of those ingredients such as bone, people do not generally eat so they can cause issues within the stomach and digestive tract. Human and dog food is also tested by several organizations so that they can label them accordingly and keep the company in check. There’s no official record of how many people dine on crunchy kibble or mushy canned pet food, but the act is probably as harmless as eating table scraps. However, avoid it if your dog has issues digesting dairy. However, dog food can never be a permanent substitute for cat food. So, it stands to reason that there is a lot of dog food available that a person could come across during an emergency. It is then sealed in an airtight, waterproof container. Dog food isn’t designed for the unique nutrition needs of humans, though it is made from ingredients that are technically safe for humans to eat. Dogs will almost eat anything and it doesn’t even have to taste good, let alone be healthy. But these vitamins are added based on the nutritional requirements of a dog and not a person. In an emergency, you can feed your cat with dog food. Dog meat is the flesh and other edible parts derived from dogs.Historically, human consumption of dog meat has been recorded in many parts of the world. I can't help it. This does not mean I am giving you the go-ahead to eat the wet canned food, but it would probably be the safer choice when push comes to shove. People who will have to eat dog food in order to survive will do it out of sheer desperation. In case you are dehydrated, and you eat as much dry dog food as you can, then you will do more harm than good, as the dog food will dehydrate you even more.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'preppingplanet_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',191,'0','0'])); Sometimes, small bugs like weevils will start eating dry dog food, especially if it has started to crumble and form a powder, these weevils can also be found in flower, for more information check out my recent article Weevils in flour safe to eat? Without boring you with the details, at one point I did grab a few pieces of dry food from my dog’s bowl and popped them into my mouth. 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