Can diabetic dogs have carbs

A guide to diabetic dog food

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects dogs just as much as humans. The most common kind of diabetes in dogs is diabetes mellitus, a condition that affects their ability to transport the glucose, or sugar, in their bloodstream to other parts of their body. Glucose, produced when the body breaks down the nutrients in food, fuels the bodys organs and cells. A hormone known as insulin is in charge of delivering that fuel from the bloodstream to the cells.

Canine diabetes is a rising health issue affecting as many as 1 in 300 dogs, an 80% jump since 2006. While diabetes isnt curable, it is manageable with the appropriate steps. This starts with understanding the nutrition, exercise, and medical care diabetic dogs need to lead healthy lives.

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent conditions that lead to diabetes in the first place.

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What To Know About Feeding Dogs With Diabetes

Just like humans, dogs with diabetes require special care to avoid dramatic changes in their blood sugar. This is done through regular insulin injections, but a dogs diet is equally important in managing this condition.

The proper feeding of diabetic dogs includes more than just what you feed them. The type of food is important, but the timing of meals is important, too. Heres how to feed a dog with diabetes to help them live longer, happier lives.

What Is Canine Diabetes?

Similar to type 1 diabetes in humans, dogs with diabetes mellitus have high blood sugar caused by low insulin production. This causes increased thirst and weight lossdespite an increased appetite.

Treatment is all about controlling blood sugar levels through insulin injections and changes in diet. Continuous high blood sugar, and the deficiency of insulin causing it, can cause organ damage and eventually, without treatment, death.

Diabetes mellitus in dogs requires treatment with insulin injections. This may be once or twice a day, depending on the type of insulin your veterinarian prescribes. Diabetic dogs have specific feeding requirements to help balance and control the condition.

What Is the Best Diabetic Dog Food?

The most important factors of diabetic dog food are the amount of fiber, starch, and protein present.

Starch is carbohydrates rapidly digested and absorbed as glucose. High-starch diets cause a rapid increase of glucose into the bloodstream, creating high glucose in the blood when eating. Diabetic dogs need low starch, so each meal doesnt produce a large spike in glucose levels.

Protein maintains and builds muscle in the body. Diabetic animals dont have insulin to allow cells to use glucose for sugar, so the body will break down fat and muscle for energy. By feeding your dog a diet high in protein, they can maintain their muscles and body weight better.

Fiber is used to slow digestion and allow slow absorption of glucose. The fiber binds up the starch, keeping it from being absorbed right away when eating. Slow absorption means the glucose enters the blood more slowly, making less of a spike in blood glucose after eating.

Its also important to make sure that the diabetic dogs food has the necessary vitamins and minerals they need.

The simplest way to meet all the dietary requirements for diabetic dogs is to feed them a prescription diet. These diets are designed by veterinarians and tested through clinical trials to determine effectiveness at helping to control a diabetic dogs blood sugar. Diets frequently prescribed for diabetic dogs includeRoyal Canins Glycobalance,Hills w/d, andHills Metabolic Diet.

Tips For Feeding a Diabetic Dog

Stick to a Feeding Schedule

Simply feeding your dog the correct food isnt enough; diabetic dogs should be kept on a regular feeding schedule.

Eating causes a spike in the blood glucose; in normal dogs, insulin is released to keep that glucose from getting too high. Diabetic dogs cant make insulin, so they need to receive their insulin injection at the same time they are fed. Because insulin should be given at the same time every day, your dog must be fed at the same time every day to match the insulin dose.

Dogs with diabetes should be fed two meals a day, 12 hours apart. Do not give them any food between these mealtimes, as this will cause another increase in blood glucose. Glucose is best kept at a consistent level, so spikes in glucoseapart from insulin injectionsneed to be avoided.

Monitor your Dogs Weight

Weight loss is common in diabetic dogs before they are diagnosed. Your dog should be weighed every 2-3 weeks after their initial diagnosis of diabetes. They should gain weight, or at least maintain their weight, when the diabetes is under control.

If your dog is losing weight, their diabetes is not well controlled. Its important to weigh your dog every 2-3 months once your dogs diabetes has been stable for some time. Weight loss indicates your dogs diabetes is not being managed properly. Weight management is important for diabetic pups because more weight may mean your pet requires more insulin.

A dog with diabetes needs to see a veterinarian every 3-6 months for routine follow ups, and the vet will always weigh your pet at appointments.

Manage Insulin Injections

Its important to pair insulin injections with mealtimes so the insulin can counteract the spike in blood glucose. The insulin injection is best given after your dog finishes eating. Most dogs tolerate insulin injections well, but if you are having difficulty administering insulin, contact your veterinarian for assistance.

Sometimes diabetic dogs dont eat their full meal, so you will need to adjust the amount of insulin you give. If your pet eats less than half of their meal, you need to give them half of the insulin. Even if your pet doesnt eat anything, they should receive a half dose of insulin to help combat elevated blood glucose. Do not give the full dose of insulin, as this can cause their blood glucose to drop too low, causing hypoglycemia.

Signs of hypoglycemia are disorientation, loss of balance or coordination, collapse, or loss of consciousness. If you notice any of these signs, give your dog canned food if they can eat. Give them honey or Karo syrup if they wont eat or are unable to eat. This will reverse the low blood sugar.

If your dog experiences hypoglycemia or is not eating consistently, contact your veterinarian.

Featured Image: iStock/Sadeugra

WRITTEN BY

Emily A. Fassbaugh, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Emily Fassbaugh grew up in San Diego. She attended the University of California, Davis for both her undergraduate studies in Animal...

What's the best diet for a diabetic dog? A vet's guide

What's the best diet for a diabetic dog? If your pet has recently been diagnosed with diabetes it's common to ponder what to feed them in order to maintain their health. Although the treatment of diabetes mellitus in dogs predominantly relies on insulin therapy, a diet of the best diabetic dog food can have a significant impact on disease management.

Whether you're keen to learn more about which foods are best for your diabetic pup or you're wondering about the best diabetic dog treats, keep reading to learn more about which diet will work for your pooch.

What is diabetes mellitus in dogs?

Before we dive into appropriate diets for diabetic dogs, it is important to understand what diabetes is. Diabetes mellitus in dogs is an endocrine disorder in which a lack of insulin production or insulin resistance results in hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose levels.

Most dogs are affected by insulin-dependent diabetes, which is similar to type 1 diabetes in humans. It occurs when the beta cells of the pancreas, which produce insulin, are destroyed, resulting in a deficiency of insulin.

There is no cure for diabetes in dogs, and diabetic dogs require lifelong insulin injections. No diet will eliminate the need for insulin therapy, but a suitable diet can help manage the condition.

What's the best food for a diabetic dog?

In short, there is no single best food for dogs with diabetes. The most important consideration when selecting a food for a diabetic dog is that they find it palatable and eat it consistently.

1. Consistent feeding

Most dogs with diabetes receive insulin injections every 12 hours. Ideally, a meal containing 50% of a dogs daily energy requirement should be fed before each injection. However, some dogs may require additional small meals or treats between injections to prevent life-threatening hypoglycemic episodes.

Diabetic dogs insulin, food (including treats!), and exercise should be kept consistent from day to day to minimize abnormal fluctuations in blood glucose and keep their condition under control.

2. Veterinary prescription diet

There are a few veterinary therapeutic (prescription) diets on the market that have been formulated specifically for dogs with diabetes mellitus. They are often high in insoluble fiber, which slows digestion and the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, preventing sudden spikes in blood glucose and subsequent hypoglycemia (i.e., low blood sugar).

These diets also tend to utilize complex carbohydrates over simple sugars for the same purpose. Veterinary therapeutic diets undergo more extensive testing than commercial diets, and their ingredients are more consistent between batches, which is beneficial in regulating blood sugar. Although they are a good choice for many dogs, they may not be appropriate for others.

Factors that determine a diabetic dog diet

Several factors can influence an individual dogs ideal diet, including weight and co-existing diseases:

1. Weight

Whether a dog needs to gain, lose, or maintain weight can help determine which diet is best for them. Some newly diagnosed diabetic dogs may be underweight, so they should be fed a diet that will allow them to gain weight.

Overweight dogs, on the other hand, should be encouraged to lose weight. Although being overweight or obese does not increase the risk of diabetes in dogs, it can cause insulin resistance, making it more difficult to regulate diabetes once it has developed.

According to the 2018 American Hospital Association (AAHA) Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, obese dogs should lose weight gradually (1-2% reduction per week).

Insulin requirements decrease when excess body fat is shed, so close monitoring is required in these dogs to avoid insulin overdose and hypoglycemic episodes, with the insulin dose adjusted as necessary according to your vets recommendation.

2. Medical history

There are some diseases that, when presenting alongside diabetes, can affect which diet should be fed.

For example, dogs with a history of pancreatitis or hyperlipidemia should be fed a low-fat diet, and dogs with heart disease should be given diets with a low sodium content. Other diseases that require consideration include chronic kidney disease and inflammatory bowel disease, among others.

What foods should dogs with diabetes avoid?

As we have discussed, the appropriate diet for a diabetic dog relies on many factors. There are some foods that should be avoided, however:

Foods that are high in simple sugars

Foods that are high in simple sugars, such as semi-moist foods, should be avoided because they cause surges in blood glucose after consumption. This can also happen with carbohydrate-rich treats and easily digestible diets (i.e., some sensitive stomach foods).

Fiber

Another ingredient to consider is fiber. Many veterinary therapeutic diets are high in fiber, which is often associated with lower calorie content. For this reason, some of these diets (and other high-fiber diets) are not suitable for underweight diabetic dogs. In dogs benefiting from high fiber content, high-fiber commercial diets should be used over fiber supplements.

Commercial diets are formulated to include all essential nutrients in the correct proportions, and added fiber can interfere with the absorption of these nutrients. In addition, some human fiber supplements contain sweeteners like xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.

Home-cooked diet

Lastly, home-cooked diets are not recommended for diabetic dogs because they can have a great amount of variability between batches and they do not undergo rigorous testing like commercial diets.

If an owner is adamant about feeding their diabetic dog a home-cooked diet, they should consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist before doing so.

Are eggs or chicken good for diabetic dogs?

Although eggs and chicken are good sources of protein with minimal carbohydrates, adding other foods or treats to a diabetic dogs diet can affect how their normal food is absorbed and utilized, thus influencing their diabetic control.

Most commercial diets are complete and balanced, so the addition of these foods is unlikely to provide any benefit. If you wish to feed your diabetic dog eggs or chicken, this should be done in moderation and on a consistent basis (i.e., the same amount fed at the same time each day) under your vets supervision.

Changing your diabetic dogs diet

Every diet will have a different effect on a dogs diabetic control. If you decide to feed your diabetic dog a new food, it is very important to maintain contact with your veterinarian throughout the process so that they can monitor your pups blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin dose if required.

Dogs with well-managed diabetes should ideally be kept on the same diet unless their needs change. Your veterinarian can discuss your dogs individual requirements with you and provide insight into which diet is best for them.