Putting Your Dog On A Diabetic Dog Food Diet

Like humans, dogs too get diabetes. When a dog has diabetes, the best way to keep it in control is by giving it diabetic dog food, which is low in sugar and carbohydrates. Apart from controlling the amount of sugar in a diabetic dog's food, the amount of food and the frequency in which they are fed also needs to be monitored. The general recommendation is that your diabetic dog should be fed smaller meals twice or thrice a day instead of a single large meal. This is because blood sugar levels can be stabilized by smaller meals, whereas a single large meal results in a high insulin spike, and then for it to drop down in 12 hours. When blood sugar plummets too low, it results in hypoglycemia, which is a series condition.

So what diabetic dog food should you give your dog? Here are a few recommendations that will assist in controlling the diabetic condition of your dog:

Shun Foods That Have Sugar

Most dog owners have very little idea about the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar contained in commercial dog food. Carbohydrates are considered a form of sugar because they are metabolized into glucose by the body. Both soft-moist dog food and dry dog food are considered culprits. If you must feed your dog commercially manufactured dog food, it is better to give them a good quality canned food. It is important to check the ingredients, which are printed on the label.

Homemade Diabetic Dog Food

The best solution is to feed your dog homemade dog foods and raw foods. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of exactly how much carbohydrates and sugar they are getting. Putting your dog on a homemade diabetic dog food diet need not be expensive or hard work. There are plenty of websites on the Internet that have lots of advice and recipes that are nutritious and tasty.

Cut Down On The Fat

Apart from regulating blood sugar and insulin levels in the body, the pancreas also produces enzymes that break down fats. Since it is essential not to put too much stress on the pancreas of a diabetic dog, it is important to choose low-fat meats. Ground beef should not be given, and the extra fat in turkey and chicken should be removed. While some fat is required for good health, according to nutritionists, it is best to minimize the amount as much as possible.

Some Grains Are Good

While you do have to be careful about the quantity of grain you feed your dog, since animals cannot digest grains as easily as humans because their digestive track is shorter, certain grains are beneficial for diabetic dogs. Millet, oats and brown rice provide fiber and also help to control the levels of insulin. Some nutritionists also advise cornmeal, but sometimes dogs have allergic reactions to wheat and corn. But it is best to use grains sparingly, because being carbohydrates they are turned into glucose by the body.

Adding fresh vegetables and raw fruits, which are high in nutrients and vitamins, and have natural sugars (which do not have the detrimental effects on insulin levels that processed sugar does), brewer's yeast which contains a substance known as 'glucose tolerance factor' which helps the body to use blood sugar more efficaciously, and Vitamin E which aids in reducing the requirement for insulin, are some of the other recommendations.

Before making any changes to your dog's diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well. But, as a thumb rule, avoid giving baked foods that contain sugar and flour.