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A diabetes diagnosis can be a terrifying thing for a dog owner. You may feel overwhelmed with worry and guilt, and may not know what to do. Luckily there is a lot you can do to ensure that your diabetic dog has a high quality of life. You can start by understanding diabetes, knowing how to manage the illness, and most importantly how to pick the right food to help your dog stay healthy and happy.
What Is Dog Diabetes?
Diabetes is an illness that creates an imbalance of sugar levels, leading to hyperglycemia. It is caused either by a lack of insulin or the inability to process insulin. Without insulin, a dog’s body cannot break down glucose. This leads to a myriad of health problems like loss of appetite and vomiting, excessive thirst and increased urination, urinary tract infections, infections, blindness, and paralysis. Luckily diabetes is a manageable illness that can be treated with medicine and changes in diet and exercise.
What Causes Diabetes In Dogs?
The cause of diabetes in dogs is still a mystery. However, there are many factors that can lead your dog to getting diabetes. The most common factor is obesity. However, there are illnesses such a autoimmune diseases and pancreatitis that can cause diabetes. Not to mention, there are also several genetic factors that can lead a dog to developing the disease. Female dogs are more likely to develop diabetes late in life than male dogs. Certain breeds such as schnauzers, dachshunds, poodles, keeshonds, golden retrievers, samoyeds, and australian terriers have a higher risk for developing diabetes.
How Is Diabetes Treated?
Diabetes treatments are determined by the severity of the symptoms. Dogs who have severe diabetes may be hospitalized so they can regulate their blood sugar to a safe level. However dogs with mild or less severe symptoms will most commonly be prescribed a series of routine insulin injections. You may have to perform glucose tests and administer these insulin shots yourself, but your veterinarian will help you understand how. You may also have to put them on an exercise routine and make some drastic changes to their diet.
Diabetic Dog Foods
One of the changes your veterinarian might recommend is to put them on a diabetic dog food. Diabetic dog foods are foods that are low in glucose and high in protein. They will also be low in fat and carbohydrates. Any carbohydrates in the food will have a low glycemic value. Luckily there are several varieties of dog food brands that are specially formulated for dogs with diabetes. We have included a list of the four best dog foods for diabetic dogs.
Hills Prescription With Digestive Weight Glucose Management
Hills Prescription With Digestive Weight Glucose Management was specifically formulated for dogs with obesity-related diabetes. With ingredients like eggs, barley, and pork and chicken livers, it has an incredibly low glycemic index. It provides complete nutrition with added antioxidants to reduce damaging cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system. Hills Prescription With Digestive Weight Glucose Management also has very high levels of the amino acid l-carnitine that boosts energy and burns fat. This high-quality, prescriptive dog food also a high level of fiber for digestive regulation and fullness. Hills Prescription is a great dog food specifically tailored to help your dog manage their diabetes and lose weight.
Iams Veterinary Glucose
Iams Veterinary Glucose dog food was also specially formulated for dogs that have obesity-related diabetes. With a patented formula D-Optimal Weight Control, Iams Veterinary Glucose helps your dog lose weight fast. Made with sorghum and barley, the carbohydrates have a very low glycemic index. Iams Veterinary Glucose is also fortified with a range of vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, vitamin B1, biotin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin D, zinc, and manganese. Iams Veterinary Glucose offers a full nutritional range for your dog so they can lose weight safely.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Glucobalance
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Glucobalance is made specifically for diabetic dogs. It was formulated to manage your dog’s postprandial health, the blood sugar levels after eating. It is primarily made with chicken and barley so it has a low glycemic index. It has a low fat content and a perfect balance of soluble and insoluble fiber, so it is also great for weight management. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Glucobalance is also fortified with a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
Canine Caviar Special Needs Holistic
Canine Caviar Special Needs Holistic is a alkaline balanced holistic dog food. Alkalinity helps your dog’s body create the ph balance ideal for healing from a severe illness like diabetes. Canine Caviar Special Needs Holistic is also specifically formulated for a very low glycemic index. They only use whole grains and do not use any simple carbohydrates and only the necessary amounts of sugars and starches which can all spike the blood sugar levels. Canine Caviar has a high protein levels from dehydrated meat which contains a variety of energy boosting amino acids.
Though a diabetes diagnosis can be a scary thing, there are plenty of ways to manage the illness so your dog can still live a long happy life. If you work with your vet to administer medicine, develop a great exercise program, and make some changes to your dog’s diet, your dog’s health can improve. There are plenty of great, healthy dog foods on the market that will work for a diabetic dog, some like the four on this list were even specifically formulated for diabetic dogs.
