Choosing the Diabetic Dog Food

Many of the dogs are at a risk of suffering from canine diabetes. Canine diabetes is an important chronic disease of dogs. In fact, it is one of the most common dog health problems, which is caused due to improper insulin metabolism in the body. The beta cells of the pancreas secrete insulin hormone and are responsible for maintaining the blood sugar level of the body. There are two types of canine diabetes - type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused due to little or no secretion of insulin, whereas type 2 diabetes is caused when the body’s cells become resistant to insulin. In both the situations, the blood glucose level of the affected dog is higher than the normal level. Majority of the cases of diabetes in dogs are of type 2.

Choosing the Diabetic Dog Food

Controlling the blood glucose level of a diabetic dog is the first and foremost important step in treatment. Usually, insulin injections are prescribed under the supervision of a veterinarian. In addition, care should be taken about the oral medications and diet of the dog suffering from diabetes. Let’s see some of the tips, which will help in choosing healthy foods for a diabetic dog.

A diabetic dog food should contain less sugar, carbohydrates and sodium. It is to be noted that the soft and moist dog food contains higher amount of carbohydrates. The best option is to feed a good dry and balanced canned food; however, always make sure that you check the label of the contents before feeding. Don’t feed a canned food that is without formulations (nutritional facts) or label.

Feeding homemade food to a diabetic dog is a good idea, provided that one should consult the vet about the ingredients and the nutrient level that should be maintained while cooking. Care has to be taken while preparing food for a diabetic dog to maintain the nutrient content of the homemade food.

Choosing of a diabetic dog food also depends upon the fitness of the dog. If the diabetic dog is overweight, then his diet should contain low-calorie and low-fat food. However, in case of underweight dogs, the nutrient of the diet should be balanced in such a way that it contains appropriate quantity of fats.

A diabetic dog food should contain fiber to a certain amount. Since fiber is useful in slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates, it helps in maintaining the glucose level of the blood of the diabetic dog.

Regarding feeding frequency, a diabetic dog should be fed twice or thrice a day in smaller quantities instead of giving a heavy meal at a time. Red meat should be avoided in the diabetic dog food as far as possible.

It is recommended to discuss with a vet about the food and feeding habits for a diabetic dog. The overall health of a dog depends upon the attention of the dog owner. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to check for any changes in the dog’s behavior so that any problems regarding the health of the dog can be diagnosed in the early stages. Proper dog care should be given and regular medical checkup should be done.