What should I feed a diabetic dog?

Diabetes is an illness in dogs as well as in humans, and it can be distressing to hear that diagnosis, particularly if you don't know much about the illness or how to deal with it. However, just as it can be managed in humans, dogs with diabetes are able to lead perfectly normal and happy lives with a little adjustment.

Diabetes isn't really something you can diagnose by yourself – the diagnosis will have to come from the veterinarian, and if your dog is found to be diabetic you should listen carefully to the professional advice and instructions you are given for dealing with it. It's easy to take care of a dog with diabetes with relatively little hassle, as long as you're careful to follow medical advice and establish a strict routine.

 

Food is obviously a pretty important issue for dogs suffering from diabetes. Most dog owners are aware of how important good, healthy food and regular feeding times are to all dogs, but the type of food and the strictness of the feeding schedule become even more crucial when the dog is diagnosed with diabetes. Consistency is the key to coping effectively: owners must get into a regular routine of feeding the dog the same amounts of food at the same time every day. If for whatever reason you're going to be delayed, try to make arrangements for someone else to feed your dog that day, rather than feeding him when you get home at a later time than he's used to. Regular, consistent feeding is extremely important for keeping your dog's health in a stable condition.

In addition to this, it's more important than ever to make sure that your dog isn't obse. Diabetic dogs can very easily become overweight, and that's harmful and dangerous for any dog. Make sure that you're familiar with the ideal weight range for your dog's breed, and determine from that how your dog measures up. Give him the correct amount to eat, and be sure to let him have a decent amount of exercise every day. If your dog is overweight, you might want to consider a higher quality food, which contain many more nutrients in much smaller servings.

There are also specially formulated dog foods for diabetic dogs, and these are well worth considering, because they are made up of consistently high quality ingredients. Generally, they include some form of insoluble fiber, which provides dogs with bulk by slowing down the digestion, along with soluble fiber which provide nutrients in the large intestine. This ratio of soluble to insoluble fiber is a recognized method in treating diabetes.

In addition to this, diabetic dog foods have a carefully restricted fat content, enhanced vitamins and minerals, and a specially enriched antioxidant content, all aimed at controlling the diabetes. If you're in any doubt, you should talk to your veterinarian about what sort of food your dog requires, but a diabetic food formula is almost certainly going to benefit your pet.

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