The goal in treating your pet's diabetes mellitus is to keep your dog happy and to provide them as stable of life as possible. Nutrition is an integral part of the management of any diabetic patient. Like humans, when dogs have diabetes, staying trim is key. If your dog is overweight, losing some pounds can help their cells better use insulin, a hormone that keeps blood sugar levels in check. That makes it easier for their body to turn food into fuel.
Understanding Canine Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus in dogs, similar to type 1 diabetes in humans, is characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insufficient insulin production. Diabetes relates to excess blood glucose (or sugar). A diabetic dog needs correctly timed meals, instead of free will feeding. Treatment is all about controlling blood sugar levels through insulin injections and changes in diet.
Goals of Nutritional Management
In order to reach our overall objective of maintaining your pet's quality of life, there are several important goals that we try to achieve with regard to nutritional management of the disease. The goal for any pooch with diabetes is to keep blood sugar (or glucose) levels as close to normal as possible. This helps your dog feel good and makes it less likely they'll get diabetes-related complications, such as vision-clouding cataracts and urinary tract infections. Controlling blood glucose (or sugar) concentrations within a healthy range is important in achieving these goals.
The Role of Diet in Managing Canine Diabetes
Nutrition plays a vital role in managing canine diabetes. This can be done using medication (usually insulin or an oral drug), nutrition, or a combination of both. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, your veterinarian will help you with insulin dosages. It’s not all about insulin though.
Prescription Diets
In some cases your veterinarian may choose to change your pet to a special prescription diet to help manage their diabetes. The simplest way to meet all the dietary requirements for diabetic dogs is to feed them a prescription diet. Prescription diets, available through your veterinarian, use ingredients to even out blood glucose levels, making it easier to keep your dog on a steady dose of insulin. These diets are designed by veterinarians and tested through clinical trials to determine effectiveness at helping to control a diabetic dog’s blood sugar. Your vet may recommend prescription dog food or a homemade diet developed by a veterinary nutritionist. Your vet can tell you the best way to go about changing your dog's food.
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Fiber-Enhanced Foods
Fiber-enhanced foods have been used successfully in the management of both canine and feline patients with diabetes mellitus for years. Fiber is proposed to promote a slower digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrates (the major provider of blood glucose or sugar in the food), reducing peaks in blood sugar after meals. Some types of fibers are also believed to form gels in aqueous solutions (such as found within the gastrointestinal tract), thereby binding glucose and water and preventing their transfer to the absorptive surface of the intestine. This may also aid in reducing fluctuations in blood sugar concentrations following a meal. Much of the fiber in your diabetic dog’s diet should be insoluble, as this will help your dog feel full but not provide excess calories. Insoluble fiber promotes the movement of food through the digestive tract. Soluble fiber attracts water, turns to gel and slows digestion, resulting in more calories released in the colon. For an overweight dog, a diet with 10-20% of the dry food as fiber is a good plan. Most guaranteed analyses will not tell you if the fiber in the diet is insoluble or soluble. You will need to look at the ingredient list and consult with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist. Beet pulp, guar gum and psyllium are common sources of soluble fiber.
High-Fiber, Low-Fat Diet
Researchers are still exploring what diet is best for dogs with diabetes. Most vets recommend a high-fiber, low-fat diet. Fiber slows the entrance of glucose into the bloodstream and helps your dog feel full. Low-fat foods have fewer calories. Together, the diet can help your dog eat less and lose weight. But make sure your pooch drinks plenty of water. Fiber takes water from the body, and that can cause constipation and other problems. Low fat is important for diabetic dogs, since as many as 30% of them become diabetic secondary to pancreatitis.
The Importance of Meal Timing and Portion Control
Managing diabetes in dogs goes far beyond just choosing the right type of food. One of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of a diabetic dog diet is how you time meals and control portions. Timing meals properly plays a vital role in managing canine diabetes. Dogs with diabetes usually rely on insulin therapy, and the effectiveness of insulin is closely tied to when your dog eats. Eating causes a spike in the blood glucose; in normal dogs, insulin is released to keep that glucose from getting too high. Diabetic dogs can’t make insulin, so they need to receive their insulin injection at the same time they are fed. For this reason, consistency is key. Feeding your dog at the same times every day helps stabilize blood sugar and ensures that insulin works efficiently.
Consistency is Key
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. Most dogs do best on a regular schedule of 2-3 meals a day. As a general rule, injections should be given every 12 hours. Talk to your vet about getting your dog on the right schedule.
Portion Control
While timing matters, portion control is equally important. Your veterinarian will determine how many calories your dog needs every day, based on their weight and activity level. Once you know that number, it's important to keep a close eye on what they eat and how much. Giving too much food can cause obesity, while feeding too little can lead to low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Using a measuring cup or a digital kitchen scale ensures that your dog gets the right amount of food every time. Think of portion control as your dog’s best defense against fluctuating glucose. Meal timing and portion control work best when paired with the right type of food.
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Avoid Overfeeding and Underfeeding
Overfeeding and underfeeding diabetic dogs produce very different outcomes. Both extremes are dangerous, which is why portion accuracy matters as much as the food itself.
The Importance of Regular Feeding
Your diabetic dog must eat regularly. If they don’t eat, they don’t get medicine. So, you must find a food your dog consistently consumes. Even the best diet won’t help if your dog doesn’t eat it, though -- and you can't give insulin to a dog on an empty stomach. It can make them very sick. If your dog skips a meal, do not give them an insulin dose because it could trigger hypoglycemia.
If your dog isn't eating as much, it could be because they don't like the food. It could also mean they have another problem, or that they are having diabetes-related complications. Talk with your vet. Make sure your dog eats something -- even if that something isn’t ideal. But steer clear of soft, semi-moist dog foods in packets, which are typically high in sugar.
With your vet’s OK, here’s how you can entice your pup to eat:
- Stir a tablespoon of canned food into their regular food.
- Scatter shredded chicken or scrambled eggs into kibble.
- Add a tablespoon of low-sodium chicken broth to dry food.(make sure the broths doesn't have onions in it because they are toxic)
What to Avoid in a Diabetic Dog's Diet
A diabetic dog needs correctly timed meals, instead of free will feeding. Always avoid table scraps, sugary treats, or high-fat snacks.
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Treats
Be careful with treats. If you need treats for training, discuss your choices with your veterinarian. Highly digestible diets are often yummy, but they are high in sugars. Treats between meals are OK, but not necessary; it may be best to just stick with meals and no treats. Avoid snacks that list syrup, molasses, fructose, dextrose, or maltose on the ingredients label. Homemade dehydrated meats, carrots, snap peas, and even canned pumpkin are good options.
Weight Management for Diabetic Dogs
Weight loss in obese patients and stopping DM-associated weight loss are treatment goals for diabetic canine and feline patients. Many diabetic dogs are overweight. If your diet plan includes some weight loss, do frequent weigh-ins at your veterinary clinic so that your dog’s insulin dosage can be adjusted as needed. Underweight dogs will need different dietary considerations than overweight dogs. 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. If your dog is losing weight, their diabetes is not well controlled. It’s important to weigh your dog every 2-3 months once your dog’s diabetes has been stable for some time. Weight loss indicates your dog’s diabetes is not being managed properly.
Additional Dietary Considerations
Pancreatitis
Low fat is important for diabetic dogs, since as many as 30% of them become diabetic secondary to pancreatitis. Supplementing with L-carnitine may help with fat metabolism for these dogs. L-carnitine is a natural derivative from the amino acid lysine, and it is often included in weight-loss supplements.
Carbohydrates
Look for a dry-matter carbohydrate level of 25%. Read the ingredient list for carbohydrates that have a low glycemic index, like soybeans.
Balancing Insulin and Food
It’s 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. Sometimes diabetic dogs don’t 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 doesn’t eat anything, they should receive a half dose of insulin to help combat elevated blood glucose. Balancing insulin and food is like a relay race. The body constantly processes food and insulin between meals and injections.
Monitoring and Adjustments
No two diabetic dogs are exactly alike, which means meal timing and portion control may need adjusting. Regular veterinary checkups, glucose monitoring, and keeping a feeding log help identify patterns. Changes in your dog’s diet may require corresponding changes in insulin. If your animal is placed on a weight reduction plan, it is imperative that you regularly re-check with your veterinarian while your animal is on the program. As your animal losses weight, it will often need less insulin or other medication to maintain its blood sugar levels within a healthy range. It can take a few months to get to “cruise control,” so try not to worry if your pup’s blood sugar levels aren’t under control quickly. Also, losing weight may lessen your dog’s need for insulin, so check their blood glucose levels often.
Recognizing and Responding to 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 won’t eat or are unable to eat.
Exercise
Regular exercise will also help your pooch lose weight and lower blood sugar levels. It’s best to have your dog exercise for the same length of time and at the same intensity every day. An unusually long or vigorous workout could cause blood sugar levels to drop too low. Talk to your vet first about any changes that may be needed.
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