What Human Food Can I Feed My Diabetic Dog

Grains That Are Healthy For Dogs With Diabetes

If you have a dog that has diabetes, you may think you want to switch to food that is grain-free, but thats actually not a great choice. If you want him to stay active and healthy, your dog will need fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but avoid starchy foods. Grains are good human food for a dog since they are full of vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Remember that foods a dog should not eat include processed foods that can contain added sugar as well as other ingredients that can be toxic.

However, whole grains can give your dog support and energy as you work towards curing his diabetes.

• Oatmeal or whole oats
• Whole rye
• Wild rice

If your dog is having difficulty with digestion, removing whole grains from his diet may help your dog remain regular. When he regains his normal health, then you may want to include grains in his food. Some studies have concluded that starches that are easily digested are the reason for spikes in blood sugar levels right after he eats, and it can cause your dog to gain weight. Just remember that adding whole grain to your pups diet can help him to reach his blood sugar level.

If you want to feed your dog a diet that includes whole grains to help your dog with his weight management, these are the 3 most important to include:

• Buckwheat
• Quinoa

What Human Foods Can A Diabetic Dog Eat

You know you need to be careful about what you feed your diabetic dog but, there are times when youd love to share some food from your own table with him.

So, what human foods can you safely feed to your diabetic dog?

In this article, we provide a definitive answer to that question.

In the process, well provide a complete overview of what your diabetic dog needs to be eating for optimal maintenance of his diabetes.

Contents

How Can I Best Treat My Dog If He Has Diabetes

Diabetic dogs will need their blood tested regularly, and theyll also need maintenance injections of insulin to remain healthy. The insulin injections ensure your dog is able to process the glucose in his body. You may also need to make some simple dietary adjustments for the benefit of your furball. Liaise closely with your vet throughout.

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What Is Canine Diabetes

Dog diabetes is a chronic disease very similar to the type of diabetes that affects humans.

It occurs when a dogs body is not producing enough insulin, or is unable to use the insulin that it is producing, to correctly break down glucose for energy.

As a result, the dogs body cannot get the glucose that it needs to function properly, and there is also a dangerous build-up of glucose in the bloodstream.

This means that the body is starved of vital fuel, and it will begin to break down other fats and proteins for fuel, which can lead to extreme weight loss.

The high levels of glucose circulating around the body can also cause damage to the organs, as this acts as a poison for the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels, and nerves.

The primary symptoms that might indicate your dog has developed diabetes include:

• Excessive thirst

While diabetes cannot be cured, it can be managed successfully. In dogs this usually involves a combination of insulin injections and a diet designed to keep blood glucose levels stable.

All Natural Diabetic Treats Vet Approved

Rating: 4.3/5 from 304 customer reviews.

The next product on our list is by the same company that sells the low-calorie diabetic dog treats we showed you earlier the Old Dog Cookie Company. This time, lets have a look at their original, all-natural diabetic treats. Once again, these treats are made from organic whole grains and fruits only, containing no meat sources.

The benefits of these treats are similar to the low-calorie version, with a good range of vitamins and minerals on offer from all-natural sources. Some dogs will appreciate the larger biscuit size of these treats. But you should be careful not to feed too many, as this could cause your pup to gain weight.

Buyers also love these original treats, claiming that their dogs gobble them down with no problems. If your pup finds the pieces too big to chew, these treats are also easy to break up.

Some customers were disappointed that their dogs didnt like these treats. Just like the low-calorie version, this is probably because there is no meat in the ingredients list. One buyer recommends mixing the treats with chicken or beef before feeding to make them more appealing.

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Dont Switch Foods Unnecessarily

Unless theres a compelling reason to do so, try to avoid making significant changes to your diabetic dogs diet.

Switching foods can cause your pets blood sugar levels to fluctuate in unpredictable ways, which can put his health in jeopardy.

Accordingly, youll want to think carefully about the food you select, and always talk to your vet before changing to a different recipe or brand.

Hills Prescription Diet Dry Dog Food

• First 3 ingredients: Whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, powdered cellulose
• Best for: For all breeds with diabetes and weight problems
• Price: $$$

Hills Prescription Diet food might not be cheap, but its one of the very best dog foods for diabetic dogs.

As a veterinary-backed diet, the food is formulated by vets and nutritionists to fully meet the needs of dogs with diabetes.

The kibble is expressly designed to help you manage your dogs glucose levels, and it will also help smooth the digestive process.

Youll get a helping hand managing Fidos weight here, too. The formula is low in calories, and youll also get the perfect blended mix of fiber and insoluble fiber perfect for diabetic dogs. High fiber foods can easily inflame diabetes while also potentially prompting obesity in dogs.

The all-natural ingredients will minimize any chance of an insulin spike in your pooch, and hell also appreciate the flavor and aroma of this food.

Every purchase of Hills food sees some of the profits go towards animal shelters. The company has already helped 11 million dogs in need. The only question that remains is whether they will be helping your dog to thrive without being dragged down by diabetes.

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Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Food

Best Diabetic Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach: If your dog suffers from food allergies or sensitive stomach, it may be difficult to find a dog food that wont upset his stomach. This Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Food is a great option because it contains a limited number of main ingredients to reduce the risk for triggering an allergy and it contains a novel source of lean animal protein. This formula is packed with protein from both fresh turkey and turkey meal, plus it is made with digestible grain-free carbohydrates like chickpeas and peas. It may be a little higher in fat than some dogs need, but it is very high fiber and contains fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for key nutrients. This recipe is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus it is supplemented with chelated minerals. Overall, its a great choice if youre looking for a limited ingredient diet to keep your dogs blood sugar stable.

• Pros: Rich in lean animal protein, blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, high in fiber, chelated minerals
• Cons: May be too high in fat for some dogs, contains plant protein

What Foods Should My Diabetic Dog Avoid

First and foremost, you should carefully choose the carbohydrate sources your diabetic pup is fed. Carbs fit into three categories based on their glycemic index high, mid, and low. Simply put, a carbohydrates GI rating indicates how it affects blood sugar levels. So, dog treats for diabetic dogs have to be a bit different.

High GI carbs cause a large spike in blood sugar levels and should be avoided for diabetic dogs. On the other hand, low GI carbs will raise your pups blood sugar by a healthy amount. As an added bonus, low GI foods release energy slowly so your canine wont get very hyper after eating or run out of steam too quickly.

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My Diabetic Dog Is Overweight Will Weight Loss Help

Many dog owners wonder if weight loss can help treat diabetes. The short answer is yes.

You may be surprised to learn that being overweight is not a diabetic risk factor for dogs. However, once your pup has diabetes, it can pose problems.

This is because too much body fat can lead to insulin resistance. In other words, your dog’s insulin dose would have to increase to deliver the same results.

As such, your vet will likely suggest your diabetic dog lose weight. However, you should do this slowly. Additionally, your vet won’t suggest weight loss until your dog’s diabetes is stable.

Your dog will also need more frequent vet visits during the diet changes, as this will affect his insulin doses.

Natures Variety Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain

To help your dog achieve and maintain a healthy body weight while also supporting his nutrition, we recommend this Natures Variety Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain-Free Chicken Recipe. This recipe features a combination of high-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw bites in a healthy, nutritious recipe that provides plenty of protein and fiber with moderate fat content and a low glycemic rating. It is made with fresh chicken as the main ingredient with turkey meal, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal as supplemental sources of lean protein. This recipe is rich in omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus it contains fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for key nutrients. It is supplemented with probiotics for healthy digestion as well as vitamin and chelated mineral supplements to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.

• Pros: High-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw bites, several premium animal proteins, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, probiotics, rich in omega fatty acids
• Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet, some dogs may be sensitive to chicken ingredients

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Signs Of Diabetes In Dogs

The classic symptoms of diabetes in dogs are excessive thirst, increased urination, and weight loss despite normal or increased food consumption. Acute-onset blindness resulting from cataracts can also be a sign.

The diagnosis is easy to confirm with simple tests for glucose in the blood and urine.

Other test results linked to diabetes include ketones in the urine, increased liver enzymes, hyperlipidemia , an enlarged liver, protein in the urine, elevated white blood cells due to secondary infections, increased urine specific gravity resulting from dehydration, and low blood phosphorus levels.

Canine diabetes may be complicated or uncomplicated. Complicated cases, in which the patient is ill, not eating, or vomiting, require hospital care. Fortunately, most cases are uncomplicated and can be treated at home.

My Trick For Injecting A Diabetic Dog

It was a challenge to convince Ruby that getting two insulin shots a day was actually a good thing. I had success after following some great advice: use his food as a reward for receiving the shot. I started by putting his full food bowl on the counter while prepping his shot. Like any food-motivated dog, movement of his food bowl commands his attention. But then the approaching needle would make him run away. After he ran away, I would put his food bowl in the cupboard. That movement of his bowl would bring him back again. Round and round we went until he realized the simple equation of food bowl on counter + shot in dog = food bowl on floor + full dog belly. See, Ruby, insulin shots are a great thing! Before we knew it, he rushed each injection along so he could eat.

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Other Foods For Diabetic Dog

What human food can I feed my diabetic dog Protein

High-quality proteins are very essential when managing diabetes in your dog. Meat sources like lamb and beef have the L-Carnitine amino acid which can help enhance fat metabolism and assist in maintaining lean body mass. Other great sources of proteins for a diabetic canine include chicken, fish, and turkey.Since were trying to avoid body fat from adding up, aim for the low-fat foods like lean red meats or chicken breast.

What human food can I feed my diabetic dog Carbohydrates

When it comes to carbs, you truly have to be careful not to cause a blood sugar spike in your dog. The body usually digests carbs faster than proteins or fats. As you choose the right meal for your pet, you have to avoid simple carbs which are characterized by high glycemic index . High GI food can make the glucose spike very fast, therefore you should stick with wholesome or low GI carb. Some of these foods include whole grains, legumes, brown rice, potatoes, and honey.

Some of the high-glycemic food that you ought to avoid include, white bread, white rice, etc.

What human food can I feed my diabetic dog Fiber

As of now, fiber has come to prove to be the best meal in a dog living with diabetes. The food helps a lot in digestion and also slows down the emptying of gastric and the digestion of carbs. This, in turn, minimizes the release of glucose and prevent the blood sugar levels from spiking.

What human food can I feed my diabetic dog Fats

How Much Fat Should My Diabetic Dog Be Eating

The majority of diabetic dogs do well on a low-fat diet.

You should limit the levels of saturated fat in the dogs diet by trimming the fat from any meats you serve up.

You can, however, serve up plenty of healthy fats to your dog in the form of foods like coconut, green, leafy vegetables, and salmon.

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Can Diabetic Dogs Have Peanut Butter

Some dogs love peanut butter, and a good quality peanut butter, in moderation, shouldnt pose a risk to your diabetic dog. But you do need to be very careful when choosing a brand.

Many peanuts butters contain a lot of added sugar and fat, which can destabilize your dogs blood glucose levels.

Worse than this, some peanut butters contain the natural sweetener xylitol, which is harmless to humans but toxic to dogs even in small quantities.

Since this food is not dangerous to humans, it is not always specifically listed under ingredients. But be wary of anything that says that it contains natural sweeteners, as it may well by xylitol.

You can learn more about dogs and xylitol here.

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Are Human Foods Provide Required Nutrients For Diabetic Dogs

Yes, no doubt human food provides all the required nutrients that a dog needs to perform daily activities and to stay active and in good health. Whenever you make food for your dog at home, do not depend on one or two ingredients. To make a complete diet for your dog you must include multiple ingredients like meat, vegetables, and whole grains. Balanced formula for dogs always has all of these ingredients. In fact, switching a diabetic dog to human food is really a good decision. In this way, an owner becomes satisfied that he is feeding a quality diet that can help his pooch to recover quickly.

If your dog has diabetes he still can live a long and healthy life, human food can help your dog to eat less and get all required nutrients and make his immune system strong to counter the disease.

The Diabetic Dogs Food

Depending on whether your diabetic dog is overweight, underweight, or just right will determine how much fiber and carbohydrates he needs in his diet.

Your dog may not need a diet that is low in fat unless he also has pancreatitis, Cushings disease, raised triglyceride levels, elevated cholesterol, or another special issue. However, most diabetic dogs do have at least one of these concurrent health problems and pancreatitis is a common predisposing factor in diabetic dogs.

This means that a diet that is moderately low in fat is often advisable for diabetic dogs. At least you should avoid feeding dog foods that are high in fat.

For most diabetic dogs, the amount of protein in their diet should be normal for dogs today or increased. When fat is lowered in the diet, protein should be increased to avoid adding too many extra carbohydrates.

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