What is the best protein for diabetic dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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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...

A guide to the best protein sources for dogs

Can dogs eat a vegetarian diet?

Though dogs are naturally omnivores, they can thrive on a vegetarian diet of balanced nutrients. Without the proper supplements, however, its possible that a dog on a vegetarian diet can experience protein or vitamin deficiency.

What is the best protein for overweight dogs?

Not all dog foods and protein sources are created with bioavailability in mind, so its important to consult your vet before making major dietary changes to Fidos nutrition plan, especially when it comes to weight loss. That being said, vets may recommend fresh, lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs coupled with high fiber foods such as fresh brussels sprouts and broccoli.

What is the best protein for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

This actually depends on your dog as certain proteins may increase stomach sensitivity in your dogs. For example, your vet may recommend switching from a chicken-based diet to a diet with more beef or fish if your dog has a sensitive stomach. In general, youll want to look out for high-quality ingredients when shopping around for dog food.

Is meat better than meat-meal?

Actually, ingredients that list chicken meal refer to chicken with the water and fat removed, meaning it can actually contain a higher percentage of protein⁴ compared to just chicken as an ingredient. When you see chicken listed as an ingredient, it refers to unprocessed chicken with water.

Whats the healthiest meat for dogs?

To determine whats healthiest, you need to understand how the meats have been processed, whether your dog has an allergy to a certain meat, and whether your pup enjoys the food to ensure they will even retain the nutrients! Protein sources like chicken, turkey and lean ground beef are all great options for animal-based protein diets.

Is chicken or salmon better for dogs?

Chicken and salmon both retain high biological value for dogs, but the quality of protein depends on how the meats have been processed and whether or not your dog has an allergy to a certain meat.

Whats the most easily digestible protein for dogs?

Whole eggs have high biological values and are a great source of protein for Fido, but there are many recommended options, including chicken, turkey, salmon, and lean ground beef.

How much protein should dog food have?

The minimum requirement of crude protein³ for adult dogs is 8%, but the average diet for an adult dog typically contains 25-30% crude protein on the food label. Exactly how much protein your dog needs varies depending on your dogs breed, weight, health conditions, and activity level.

What fish is best for dogs?

Salmon and tilapia are highly recommended by vets! When trying out Fidos tolerance to any particular fish, start with a small amount.

Are any meats bad for dogs?

Not generally, though pork is a fattier cut of meat and can increase risk of developing pancreatitis, so youll want to keep consumption to a minimum. If your dog is sensitive or allergic to a certain meat, youll also want to avoid this as a protein source and consult your vet for an alternate source.

Do dogs prefer beef or lamb?

It all depends on your dogs allergies and pickiness! Many pups with allergies to chicken, fish or beef switch to lamb-based diets.

Whats the Best Diet for My Dog with Diabetes?

There is no one-diet-fits-all approach to diabetes: body condition, pet preferences, and other diseases or medical conditions will guide the best diet for a dog with diabetes. Though there are some differing approaches for optimal nutrition in dogs with diabetes, the one strategy that is most agreed upon is to keep the diet consistent use the same food, same treats, and feed and give insulin at the same time every day!

What kind of diabetes do dogs get?

You may be familiar with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in humans. Type 2 is much more common in people and is associated with obesity (this is also the kind of diabetes that cats usually get) and the body becoming resistant to the effects of insulin. Dogs are more commonly diagnosed with something similar to Type 1 Diabetes, or what we might call insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Animals with Type 1 can no longer make insulin, often due to an auto-immune condition. Diet can play an important role in the management of both types of diabetes, but it should be used along with medical management and diet will never replace the need for insulin or other medications in diabetes for dogs or cats.

What nutrients are important for diabetic dogs?

Before selecting a diabetic diet, we need to consider which nutrients are most important for your specific dog and use this to guide the optimal nutrient profile. The main nutrients to consider for diabetic dogs include water, calories, carbohydrates, and fiber. Many dogs with diabetes have increased thirst and increased urination, so fresh, clean water should be available at all times. The ideal number of calories per cup or can of food will depend on your dogs body condition and whether she needs to gain or lose weight to obtain ideal body condition. If your dog has another disease such as heart disease or pancreatitis or has high levels of fat in his or her blood, other nutrients such as sodium or fat will also be important to consider. Some studies have shown benefits of increased dietary fiber for dogs with diabetes as well.

How does fiber help?

Fiber can be useful in canine diabetes, however, there are various types of fiber which can have different properties and benefits. The different types of fiber can be defined in a few ways, though dividing fibers into soluble (able to dissolve in water) and insoluble (bulking fibers) are good ways to categorize fiber. (For more information on the details of fiber, see our previous article here). Insoluble fibers, such as cellulose, add bulk and can slow digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrate, which can be a benefit to sugar regulation for diabetic dogs. While the term high fiber diets can be confusing, a rough estimate to the amount of insoluble fiber in a food is the crude fiber content. Of note, the percentage of fiber on pet food labels is guaranteed analyses and thus only a maximum and cannot be compared between diets of different moisture or calorie content. In addition, the crude fiber only measures insoluble fiber so it will not include any soluble fiber in the diet. For more information on comparing fiber contents of diets, see our previous article with a built-in calculator.

What about carbs?

Though it would seem logical to reduce dietary carbohydrate in dogs with diabetes for better blood sugar control, clinical studies have shown carbohydrate content in diets is not as helpful as fiber content for dogs

A diet is more than just the food youre feeding!

Not only do we need to make sure we pick a diet with the right combination of nutrients, but we need to feed it consistently! Consistency of diet is an even more important aspect of diabetes management for most dogs than individual nutrient levels. Feeding the same food at the same times each day (and picking just one or two treats and giving them consistently at the same time!) will help the dogs body to better regulate blood sugar. Along with consistency and treats comes feeding an appropriate amount. Even the best diet, if we feed too much or too little, can make it harder to control the signs of the diabetes. Dogs with diabetes can be underweight, overweight, or even ideal weight, so focusing on achieving or maintaining ideal body weight can help you pick the right diet for your dog (along with your veterinarians guidance). Higher calorie diets will be best for underweight dogs while lower calorie diets important for overweight dogs. Some lower calorie diets are also higher in fiber. This is an example where there is no one size fits all diet for diabetes in dogs: in the instance of an underweight dog, a high fiber, low-calorie food would be harmful if that dog cannot eat enough of the food to meet his calorie needs to maintain an ideal weight!

Will weight loss help my overweight diabetic dog?

While being overweight isnt a risk factor for the development of diabetes in dogs, it can contribute to difficulty controlling diabetes once it develops. Excess body fat can cause insulin resistance, meaning that the same amount of insulin has less of an effect. All overweight diabetic pets should be encouraged to slowly lose weight once initial diabetic control is reached. It is VERY important that your veterinarian monitor your dog closely during weight loss as his diabetic control will likely change and adjustments in his insulin may be needed to avoid overdoses.

Do I need a therapeutic or vet diet?

There are diets that you can obtain from your veterinarian or with your veterinarians approval that are designed specifically for the management of diabetic dogs. However, these diets are not ideal or necessary for every diabetic dog. High insoluble fiber nutrient profiles can also be found in some over-the-counter foods. One advantage of therapeutic diets is that they may have better consistency due to more strict processing protocols compared to over-the-counter diets, which may have more batch to batch variability. It is also generally easier to obtain specific nutrient information from the manufacturer. You and your veterinarian may decide to stick with your pets regular diet initially but switch to a therapeutic diet if you are having trouble with diabetic control after starting insulin. Regardless of the diet you pick, you should always beware of substituting flavors, textures, or even dry and canned versions of the same food. Each product may have a different effect on your dogs diabetic control and you should talk with your vet before switching and monitor their diabetes carefully during and after a switch.

Anything I should avoid?

Because we want consistency in the diet, home-cooking is not recommended because of batch to batch variability as well as the lack of testing to determine how various nutrients interact with each other (e.g. fiber) and are absorbed and utilized by the dog. Veterinary therapeutic diets from companies with strong nutritional expertise are typically tested for digestibility. Also, semi-moist dog foods should be avoided because they contain sucrose, fructose, and other simple carbohydrates that can result in higher blood sugar levels, so watch for ingredient lists that include sugar, corn syrup, or honey on the label if your dog has diabetes.

Tips for managing a diabetic dog

Make sure you keep a diet journal and tell your vet everything your dog gets, including treats, chews, table scraps, and food used for medication administration. An example diet history of what to write down can be found online at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Nutrition Toolkit.

When considering higher insoluble fiber diets, the increased fecal bulk will result in more frequent trips to go to the bathroom. This may mean you need to schedule more walks during the day to avoid accidents.
Dog diets specifically designed to be higher in fiber are a better source of fiber in most cases than just adding fiber to a regular diet as they can be formulated to still provide all the right nutrients to dogs (added fiber may make it harder to absorb all the nutrients from the diet). Canned pumpkin is popular with clients as a fiber supplement, but the amount needed to see an effect may unbalance the total diet (meaning the pumpkin would provide significantly more than 10% of the dogs total calories).

Avoid fiber supplements containing added flavors or sweeteners such as xylitol, which can be harmful to dogs.

Dr. Deborah Linder, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, is the head of the Tufts Obesity Clinic for Animals and has had articles appear in Eating Well, the Boston Globe, AARP, SHAPE, and XM Sirius Radio Doctor Channel. She has spoken at national and international conferences and a Capitol Hillbriefing, and is an expert in pet obesity, nutrition communication, and in the human-animal bond.