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Can dogs eat cat food? Do kittens need extra vitamins? Can supplements help my dog’s itchy skin? ASPCA experts answer your pet nutrition questions — and give all companion animal caretakers much food for thought.

Please note: The information provided in this column should not be substituted for advice from your veterinarian.

I have a three-week-old pit bull whose mother died. I couldn't find any puppy milk at my local pet store, but I did find soft puppy food. Should he be drinking puppy milk, or is the puppy food enough? — Jen

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your dog’s mother, Jen. Raising an orphaned puppy is a very involved process, but it can be done successfully. First, we recommend that he be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure that he is healthy. It’s essential that you have frequent contact with your veterinarian during the first few weeks of your puppy's life. Orphaned animals often face a higher risk of infectious disease and other health issues, so it’s vital that he is carefully monitored.

Generally, healthy puppies should be encouraged to eat solid food when they’re between three and four weeks old. However, the transition to solely solid food shouldn’t take place until the puppy is six to eight weeks old. It would be best for the puppy to be on formula for at least the next two to three weeks. In addition to pet supply stores, you can often get formula at discount stores and veterinary clinics.

You can also try offering him gruel by mixing formula with puppy food. This should be easier to digest and more palatable than regular dry food. Simply combine dry or canned puppy food with formula until it has an oatmeal-like consistency. Encourage the pup to eat by touching his mouth to the food or by placing your finger in the gruel and then into his mouth. Large-breed puppies like pit bulls have different nutritional requirements than other puppies.

Please keep in mind that sudden dietary changes can cause gastrointestinal upset in any dog, and puppies are no exception. If your dog begins to vomit or have diarrhea, be sure to contact your veterinarian. Also, make sure to keep your puppy warm, but away from a direct heat source, as puppies are unable to regulate body temperature during their first four weeks. You may also need to stimulate him to urinate and defecate if he’s not doing so on his own. You can do this by gently rubbing his urinary and anal areas with a moist cotton ball.

Our 14-year-old Lhasa apso has become a very lazy dog. We feed him boiled chicken once every evening to give him some extra energy. Can you suggest another food that will put some pep back into his step? — Rob

It sounds like a trip to the veterinarian is in order, Rob. Your vet will be able to determine if the change in your dog's activity level is due to a health issue or if it’s simply part of the aging process. The food you feed him plays an important role in your pet's health. If you’re feeding him a diet of only boiled chicken, your dog is likely lacking nutrients that he needs to remain fit and healthy in his golden years. We generally recommend a high-quality commercial diet-it’s a very convenient way for pet parents to provide excellent nutrition to their pets. However, if you prefer to feed your dog a homemade diet, it’s important you use a recipe that has been formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. This will ensure that all of your dog's nutritional needs are met, and if chicken seems to be important to his health, it can be used as a primary ingredient in these recipes. Please also be sure to consult your veterinarian prior to making any changes in your dog's diet.

Exercise also plays an important role in your dog’s energy level. Elderly dogs may require less exercise, but it’s still important that they remain fit and active in order to help maintain their good health. A sedentary lifestyle can make your pet more prone to weight gain and therefore, more lethargic. It’s also important to remember that overweight pets are more likely to develop diseases such as diabetes. Therefore, your dog should remain somewhat active. We would recommend discussing a proper amount of exercise with your veterinarian, who knows your pet and his history and will be best able to give you specific exercise recommendations.

My cats are very fat. One weighs 25 pounds and the other is 17. What can I do to help them lose weight? — Marcus

We’re glad you’re concerned, Marcus, because overweight pets are at a greater risk for developing diseases such as diabetes. We recommend a visit to the veterinarian, who will examine your cats to determine how healthy they are. If your pets are overweight but healthy, you can start them on a weight-loss program.

We generally recommend high-quality "light" commercial products combined with exercise, but based upon your cats' examinations, your veterinarian will be able to recommend specific diets for them. Just keep in mind that weight loss in pets, like weight loss in people, should be a gradual result of diet and regular exercise.

We also recommend encouraging your cats to play. Find toys that they enjoy and rotate them regularly so that they continually have new sources of stimulation. Cats can also be taught to fetch—a great way for them to exercise.

My 12-year-old cat is constipated. I’ve been to the vet twice and the problem is still not resolved. Her feces are hard and look dried up, even just after she defecates. I often hear her crying and find feces outside her litter box. I’ve tried high fiber diets, oral laxatives and lubricants, and nothing works. What can I do? — Betty

So sorry to hear your cat is constipated, Betty. Determining the cause of constipation can certainly be challenging, but here are a few things you can try:

• Discuss, with your vet, any medications your cat is on. Many prescribed medications can cause pets to become constipated.
• Since water consumption and exercise can both help ease constipation, we recommend you increase both. Encourage your cat to drink by providing her with plenty of fresh, clean water, and consider placing more water bowls throughout your home. Also, because wet food contains more water than dry, you may ask your vet about changing to wet food. And encourage your cat to exercise more by playing with her more. This will help with digestive tract motility, especially if she engages in activity soon after eating.
• In some instances, a veterinarian may recommend a more highly digestible diet that will produce less fecal matter.

There may also be medical causes for your pet's constipation, so it’s important to continue working with your vet, who may decide to refer you to a veterinary specialist.

I recently read in a magazine that the following foods should never be fed to pets: avocado, cheese, ham, liver and tuna. Is this true? — Marissa T.

Marissa, pets' digestive systems are sensitive, and feeding them any novel food substance, even one that is nontoxic, can cause digestive upset. Therefore, it is important when adding new foods to your pet’s diet, to watch carefully and take away any substance that might be causing digestive upset. Also, people food and pet treats should make up no more than five to 10% of your pets' daily caloric intake. The rest of their calories should come from a high-quality, nutritionally complete pet food intended for your pet's phase of life and lifestyle.

Ham can be high in fat and sodium, so feeding large amounts to your pet can cause health problems and large amounts of liver can cause vitamin A toxicity, which can affect your pet’s bones and muscles.

What causes a horse to colic? — Dawn

Horses’ digestive systems are delicate, Dawn, so there are many causes of colic, or abdominal pain usually associated with intestinal disease. Colic can be brought on if a horse eats moldy or spoiled feed, eats too much grain without a balance of roughage, if her feed is changed too quickly, if she is infested with parasites or if there is an infection. If your horse shows any signs of colic, your equine veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

My two-year-old Lab mix only weighs 30 pounds. The vet says he’s healthy, but I can see his ribs and hip bones. He looks starved to me. He has access to food all day, but he doesn’t eat very much. What can I do to fix this? — Alexis

Pets, like people, come in different shapes and sizes, Alexis. It’s possible that your dog is slight in build and is meant to be that way, especially if you’re feeding him a high-quality, nutritionally complete diet and your veterinarian believes he’s in good health. If you think a health issue is causing his low weight, you should speak to your vet in detail about it.

You can also check the feeding guidelines on the food you feed him. These can give you some indication as to the amount of food your pet should be eating. Just keep in mind, individual pets may require slightly more or less food than is indicated in the guidelines. We would also recommend discussing your pet's appetite with your veterinarian. She’ll determine the appropriate amount of food your dog should eat, then compare that with the amount of food he does consume and, if necessary, provide recommendations to increase his dietary intake.

Remember that a high-quality, nutritionally complete diet is important because it makes nutrients more available to your pet, allowing him to lose less nutrition through his stools.

I recently witnessed my 23-year-old Arab/Welch pony eating her own poop while in her stall. She gets fed 1 1/2 pounds of senior grain two times a day, and right now, until pasture comes in, she has access to unlimited hay. What are the health risks associated with this behavior, and could it be caused by a nutritional deficiency? — Becky

The condition you are describing is called coprophagy, Becky. Horses have been known to eat their own and other horses’ feces, and young horses are especially prone to eating their mother’s and other adult mares’ feces. This is not known to be related to a nutritional deficiency. In fact, it’s a fairly harmless activity. However, coprophagy can result in the ingestion of parasite eggs. Because of her coprophagic habits, you may consider having your pony’s health status examined by your veterinarian, requesting that a fecal sample be checked for internal parasites.

Can I occasionally feed my dog tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, watermelon, honeydew and Crenshaw melons? — Kathy

Although ingestion of ripe tomatoes may be harmless, Kathy, ingestion of the green parts of the plant or green tomatoes may result in clinical symptoms such as increased salivation, not wanting to eat, severe stomach upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, central nervous system depression, confusion, changes in behavior, weakness, dilated pupils and slow heart rate. We are not aware of reports indicating that eggplant, bell peppers, watermelon, honeydew, or Crenshaw melon are dangerous for dogs, but adding any new food to your dog's diet can cause adverse reactions.

If you notice any significant changes after giving your dog these foods, we would recommend removing them from his diet. However, if there are no adverse reactions and he enjoys the foods as a treat, they should be okay sometimes. Just keep in mind, treats should not constitute more than five to 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. The vast majority of his calories should come from a high-quality nutritionally complete pet food.

I recently read that garlic is a no-no for cats. I supplemented my cat’s diet with a little garlic powder for many years and she lived to be 20 years old. Is garlic really so bad for cats? — Yves

Cats are especially sensitive to garlic, Yves. Unfortunately, we don’t know specifically what kind of dosage causes problems. We do know that gastrointestinal issues and red blood cell damage can occur as a result of cats eating garlic, though. An occasional low dose, such as that in most commercial pet foods and treats, may not cause a problem, but because of the risk, we generally recommend avoiding products that contain more concentrated amounts of garlic.

It’s also important to know that if you’re feeding your pet a high-quality, nutritionally complete pet food, supplementation is not usually necessary unless your veterinarian recommends it. If you’re concerned your pet isn’t getting all of the nutrients he needs from his pet food, we would recommend a trip to the vet to discuss his nutritional health status.

How can I get my dog to eat more dry food? She’s very picky and only eats wet food. — Gina S.

Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete if they’re high quality, Gina. If your dog’s wet food is nutritionally complete, she shouldn’t have any nutritional problems. However, if you’re concerned about her eating habits, you may consider a trip to the veterinarian to have her mouth examined—dental problems may be causing her preference for soft food. It’s also possible that she likes the consistency of wet food. If you’d like to encourage her away from wet food, consider adding a healthy flavor enhancer to the dry food you serve.

We also recommend making the transition to dry food slowly, over a period of five to seven days. Start by adding 25% dry food to your dog's 75% wet food. Then gradually increase to 50% dry food and 50% wet food. Slowly increase to 75% dry food/25% wet food, and eventually transition to 100% dry. The slow transition will give her time to adjust to eating only dry food and will also decrease the chances of any digestive upset the change may cause.

My 24-year-old Walkaloosa gelding stays with a relative who feeds him only corn. I do bring him carrots every now and then. Is this a complete diet for a horse? ― Tori A.

Corn is the most energy-dense grain, Tori. It’s typically fed, along with roughages, to horses with high energy demands and is rarely fed as a sole energy source because it produces high amounts of energy quickly. Most horses, especially those with lower energy requirements, live more healthily on a roughage-based diet, such as grass and hay. If your gelding lives his life as a pet, a roughage-based diet is probably best suited for him. This ensures that he receives his complete balance of nutrients with decreased risk for obesity, colic and laminitis — all of which can be associated with overconsumption of grains without a balanced amount of roughage.