The 10 Funniest Questions Pet Nutritionists Have Been Asked
Animal nutritionists and experts know that their clients love their pets, and sometimes, they can ask some interesting questions. Needless to say, if you’ve ever felt silly asking something about your dog or cat, don’t -- you’re certainly not alone!
We asked dozens of pet professionals from around the world the funniest question they’ve ever been asked, and the results are definitely entertaining. One thing we have to add, though: you should never feel strange asking your vet or pet nutritionist your questions because chances are, they’ve heard it all!
Don’t have a pet nutritionist yet? That’s okay! Check out How To Find The Right Pet Nutritionist For You & Your Pet to find the perfect match and have all your burning questions answered.
1. “Is it okay for my dog to eat cat food?”
Lynes Downing of Pet Sitting Professionals in Novato, California said he’s heard this question before. The short answer is, if Fido sneaks a few bites of your feline’s food, it’s probably fine; however, cat food will not provide a balanced diet for dogs, and should never be given as a meal.
2. “Can I eat this dog food?”
“We sell a dry food that it is made fresh monthly, a customer asked if they could eat it themselves,” says Carlos Deleon of Pet Wants San Antonio North in San Antonio, Texas. “I said, ‘There's nothing bad in the food, all good, high-quality ingredients, so it should be fine … she proceeded to eat it. She said, ‘it tastes good!’ I was crying!”
How’s that for some human-grade kibble?
3. “Can my dog eat the same meals that I do?”
There are some healthy human foods that can add nutrition to a dog or cat’s diet, but the nutritional needs of pets are not the same as humans. “It still boggles my mind that some people believe that their pets can eat the same meals that their owners eat,” says Concetta Ferragamo of King's Cages International, LLC in East Brunswick, New Jersey. She continues, “and, they seem to usually be a poor choice of meals, such as hotdogs or beans and rice (with nothing else) ... Yikes!”
4. “Can I neuter my female puppy instead of spay her?”
“One time a client asked us if she could neuter her puppy instead of spay her since it was much cheaper,” recalls Kyle Goguen of Pawstruck.com.
Neutering is for males and spaying is for females, so needless to say, that would be impossible.
5. “Can my pet be vegan?”
Lisa Bliss of Fluffy Mustaches Pet Grooming in Mustang, Oklahoma was once asked by a client, “Can my dog live on strawberries? I think I want him to be vegan.”
It’s not natural for pets to live without meat, especially cats, who are obligate carnivores. That means they’ll eventually die without meat in their diets. This is because meat provides more than protein; it’s full of other essential nutrients, too.
6. “Is bread nutritional?”
This question was asked to Richard Nowak of Avian Sanctuary and Protection in Utah.
A bite of bread won’t hurt your pet, but it’s not very nutritional (and all those carbs can pack on the pounds), so they should only enjoy small bits, if any at all.
7. “What’s a bully stick made of?”
According to Diana Farrar of Fifi & Fidos Pet Boutique & Holistic Nutrition Center in San Antonio, Texas, the funniest part about this question is the answer.
Farrar remembers a hilarious exchange with customers that went something like this:
“What’s that?”
“A bully stick.
“What’s it made of?”
“A bull penis!”
8. “What food would help calm my dog?”
Margaret and Steve Gelinas of Market Pet Shop recalls hearing this question from a customer. In actuality, diet can sometimes help with hyperactivity in pets. However, most naughty or anxious behaviors must be addressed through training.
9. “Why should your animal be fed human-grade food?”
George Craft of GGC Healthy Paws in Willingboro, New Jersey has heard this question before. Pets should be fed humane-grade food because it’s the safest, most nutritious way to maintain a healthy diet. Also, they’re family!
10. “My dog likes to eat cat poop. Should I feed it to him every day?”
A client asked this to Chris White of The Urban Zoo in Hamilton, Ontario … and his answer was likely a resounding “no!”
Eating cat poop is a common habit of dogs who live with felines, however indulging in this “snack” should definitely be discouraged.
We hope you found these questions entertaining, and more importantly, we hope you don’t feel silly asking your own questions after reading them!
The next article in our pet nutrition series is called 7 Healthy Dog & Cat Homemade Treats Recommended By Vet and Pet Nutritionists, containing ideas from experts around the world. If you’ve ever wondered about the healthiest snacks to feed your dog or cat, stay tuned for lots of amazing ideas!
About the author
I asked my vet one time if a dog can see his nose.
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