How To Choose A Diabetic Dog Food
How To Choose A Diabetic Dog Food
Diabetes mellitus is, unfortunately, very common in dogs. It often occurs in dogs that are overweight or obese, especially in dogs as they get older. It usually appears in dogs when they are five years old or older. The condition needs to be diagnosed by a veterinarian. If your dog does have diabetes, he will need to change his diet. Your dog will need to eat a diabetic dog food to help control his disease. Here are some things to look for in foods for diabetic dogs.
1. Diabetic dog food should be low in sugar and in carbohydrates.
Remember that carbohydrates are a complex sugar. They break down into glucose in your dog’s body. For this reason you will need to feed your dog a dog food that is both low in sugar and in carbohydrates.
2. A diabetic dog food should have plenty of soluble fiber to help your dog better respond to insulin.
Soluble fiber helps your dog’s body respond better to the hormone insulin. This is a good thing, as it means that less insulin is needed to function.
3. The fiber in foods for diabetic dogs also slows digestion, which is good for a diabetic dog.
Fiber slows digestion and absorption. This causes the carbohydrates in the food to be released more slowly into your dog’s bloodstream. Instead of having a fast sugar high and fast drop, your dog will be able to spread out his blood sugar level, which is healthier for him.
4. Most, if not all, of the food for diabetic dogs available today must be purchased by prescription from your veterinarian.
You don’t have to purchase the dog food from your vet, but you will probably need to get a prescription for a diabetic dog food from your vet. You can then purchase the food from a supplier who carries it. Some of the brands available include Hills w/d, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Diabetic HF 18 Dry Dog Food, and Purina Veterinary Diets DCO. If you purchase the food online you can usually just fax your vet’s prescription to the supplier when you place the order.
5. No matter what kind of food you feed your dog, reduce fattening treats and table scraps.
You can help your dog’s diabetes by feeding him a restricted diet. That means to feed only health snacks that aren’t loaded with sugar and fat and avoid feeding your dog table scraps in addition to his regular meals. A dog with diabetes needs to have his food consumption monitored and that means you need to be calorie-conscious for him.
6. Diabetic dogs need to be fed regular amounts, at regular intervals.
Because a dog with diabetes needs to have his blood sugar maintained at a regular level, you need to take care in feeding your dog on a regular routine. Feed several (two or three) smaller meals per day instead of one large meal. Divide up your dog’s food evenly between the meals. Your goal is to keep your dog’s blood sugar stable so he doesn’t have highs and lows.
7. If your dog is obese or seriously overweight, try to help him slowly lose weight.
Losing weight can help a diabetic dog be more sensitive to insulin. This means that less insulin is required and he can control his blood sugar levels better. Talk to your veterinarian about healthy ways to help your dog slowly lose weight.
8. Ask your vet for diabetic dog food samples.
Diabetic dog foods are expensive. Instead of buying an expensive bag of food for your dog that he may not like, ask your vet for a small sample to see how your dog likes it. Then, if your dog likes it, you can go ahead and purchase a bag.
If you keep these suggestions in mind you can choose a good diabetic dog food for your dog which will help you manage his condition.
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