The Best Foods for Diabetic Dogs
You must carefully monitor your dog’s diet if it has diabetes. It means feeding them specific foods and giving them insulin injections to help keep their blood sugar level stable. Keeping these healthy habits for your dog’s quality of life and overall health is essential.
Dog owners need to be careful about the carbs they feed their diabetic dogs. It is because food affects blood sugar levels. It would help if you chose recipes with a lot of protein and equal fat and carbs. Carbs from low glycemic index sources are best.
Please continue reading if you’re looking for the best diabetic dog food. We’ve produced a list of our top eight recommendations, a buyer’s guide, and useful purchasing tips to keep in mind while you hunt for the best dog food.
Quick Picks: The Best Foods for Diabetic Dogs
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The 8 Best Dog Food for Diabetic Dogs
1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food
Ollie Fresh Dog Food is an excellent option if you are looking for good food for your dog with diabetes. It has a limited ingredient list and only uses real meat proteins. The recipes include fresh fruits and vegetables, suitable for your dog’s blood sugar level and digestion.
Making sure your dog has the food it needs can be stressful. It is especially true if your dog has diabetes. Ollie is a company that can help make things easier for you. They will deliver your dog’s food to your door on your chosen schedule. Ollie also customizes your dog’s meal plans based on their weight, age, breed, and dietary restrictions. We believe that this makes them the best option for finding food for dogs with diabetes.
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2. Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food
Hill’s Science Diet is a good food choice for diabetic dogs because it is affordable and has healthy ingredients like vegetables and lean protein. Dogs who eat this food can lose or maintain weight healthily.
The primary disadvantage of this formula is that it is watery. Although this doesn’t mean it is not nutritious, the gravy has a looser consistency. It also contains byproducts, which can be a problem because you might not know what they are made of. Overall, this is a good formula.
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3. ROYAL CANIN Dry Dog Food
Glycobalance Dry Dog Food by Royal Canin is intended for diabetic dogs. The food has a controlled amount of fat and balanced fiber to help moderate your dog’s blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates also aid in the regulation of your dog’s blood sugar.
This food is expensive, but it is worth the money. You can only buy it with a vet’s prescription, making it more challenging. But it provides your dog with a specialized formula guaranteed to help them maintain a healthy dog diet.
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4. Dr. Harvey’s Superfood Dog Food
Paradigm Superfood Dog Food by Dr. Harvey is a pre-mix that you combine with a protein and oil of your choice. This food is low in carbs, grain-free, and without dyes, fillers, wheat, corn, soy, or preservatives. It is excellent for weight loss and contains low-glycemic veggies to promote slow digestion and reduce blood sugar spikes.
This formula does not constitute a complete dog food meal. You need to add your protein and oil, which makes it more expensive.
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5. Hill’s Prescription Gastrointestinal Dry Dog Food
Prescription Diet by Hill’s Dry Dog Food for the Stomach is meant to help your dog stay healthy and not gain weight. A low-fat, low-calorie diet with protein helps your dog’s muscles remain strong.
It is an expensive option that doesn’t have as much protein or good ingredients as Ketona or Royal Canin. It is a good option for weight management for a diabetic dog, but it is not as well-rounded for all the needs of a diabetic dog.
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6. Ketona Chicken Recipe Dry Food
The Ketona Chicken Recipe Dry Food is good food for diabetic dogs. It has a lot of protein, with over 46% of its calories coming from chicken and pea protein. It also doesn’t have many carbs, sugars, or starches. This food is also grain-free. Although it is pricey, the excellent quality is worth it.
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7. WholeHearted Dry Dog Food
WholeHearted Dry Dog Food is a grain-free choice that will aid with weight management for your dog. It has a lot of lamb protein, which is necessary for a healthy diabetic diet. And it’s also sold at a low price, meaning you won’t have to spend a lot of money when you need to restock.
This formula is high in fiber, which could be good or bad for your dog. Some say that high-fiber diets are not suitable for diabetic dogs, but they can help dogs lose weight if they are obese. This formula has byproducts, which are not the best type of protein. You usually want a recipe with whole meat, like chicken or lamb.
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8. Grain-Free Dog Food Ketogenic Pet Food
The Grain-Free Dog Food Ketogenic Pet Food has a high protein content and a low amount of fat. This formula has no starch or grains, so it doesn’t have any ingredients that could cause your dog’s blood sugar to spike.
Diabetic dog food usually has a low amount of fat and carbs. It is not ideal for your dog, as they still need these nutrients. However, this food is expensive and does not have a well-rounded formula. You may add additional ingredients to give your dog a balanced diet.
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Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Diabetic Dog Foods
How Diabetes Affects Diet
Diabetes means that your dog needs to eat food that will help keep its blood glucose levels low. It is done by providing a diet with a lot of protein and not many carbs or fats. Your dog will also need insulin injections to help them stay healthy. About 30-40% of their daily food should be protein, while the other 60-70% should come from carbs and fat.
Nutrition Facts to Consider
Protein
Dogs that have diabetes should eat a lot of high-quality protein. About one-third of their food should be from protein. Whole meats, not meat byproducts, provide their most satisfactory nourishment.
Fat
Fat should make up about 30% of your dog’s daily diet. Fat is essential to a dog’s diet because it gives them energy and helps them stay healthy. If your dog eats too many carbs or is overfed, it may become overweight, but fat itself will not make them gain weight.
Carbohydrates
It would help if you gave your diabetic dog low glycemic carbs. It means that you should provide them with barley or sorghum. Carbs can interfere with your dog’s blood sugar balance, so it is essential to monitor them closely.
Fiber
A high-fiber diet has no proven benefit or harm to a diabetic dog. According to research, there may be some advantages for some dogs. Still, the same diet could also cause intestinal side effects or weight loss. Weight loss can sometimes be good, but it can be inappropriate for already thin diabetic dogs.
What to Avoid
You should avoid feeding your dog items with a high glycemic index. These can raise your dog’s blood sugar levels. You want to avoid this, so stick to a diet that is strong in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates.
Each day, you give your dog the same amount of food at the same time. It will keep them healthy and prevent blood sugar surges. Ensure they receive their insulin injection within an hour of their meal.
Tips When Buying
It would be beneficial if you looked for diabetic dog food. This food will have the right ingredients to help them stay healthy. However, you should still research the elements and the brand to ensure it is suitable for your dog.
If you find good dog food for your dog, stick with it. It’s essential to keep your dog on a consistent diet, which includes using the same food each time. This way, your dog gets the same balance of ingredients and the same number of calories at each meal.
The Best Dog Food for Dogs with Diabetes
The goal of choosing dog food for dogs with diabetes is not to cure the dog. But to minimize the signs and complications in a diabetic dog. The way to do this is by ensuring the food is consistent, so their blood sugar levels stay stable.
What Exactly Is Canine Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects both humans and pets. Diabetes mellitus is the most frequent kind of diabetes in dogs, which impairs their capacity to transport glucose from their blood to other regions of their body. Glucose, produced when the body breaks down food, provides energy for the body’s organs and cells. An insulin hormone helps deliver that fuel from the bloodstream to the cells.
Canine diabetes is a health issue that is becoming more common. It affects about 1 in every 300 dogs, an 80% increase since 2006. Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be managed with the proper steps. It starts with understanding the nutrition, exercise, and medical care that diabetic dogs need to stay healthy.
Managing Your Dog’s Diabetes
Although some cases of canine diabetes can be challenging to treat, significant health complications are usually avoidable. You can regulate their blood sugar by giving them the following:
Insulin Injections
Many veterinarians prescribe insulin to diabetic dogs. I was done by giving the dog a shot with a small needle. It might seem scary initially, but it is straightforward to do. Your vet will help you get started and give you all the guidance you need.
Diet
Healthy meals help to keep your dog healthy when they have diabetes. If you give them the same food at the same time every day, their body will get used to it, and they will absorb the sugar better. It means that their insulin will work better. Diabetic dogs usually need high-quality protein and fiber in their diet and complex carbohydrates.
Daily Exercise
Exercising your dog is an excellent way to stabilize its blood sugar level. Moderate exercise is usually the best for diabetic dogs. Still, you should always consult your veterinarian to find out what type and how much exercise is best for your specific pet.
Dietary Tips for Managing Canine Diabetes
Making a few minor dietary changes for your dog can have a significant impact if they have diabetes. Here are some tips from certified veterinarians:
Adopt a new feeding schedule — Most insulin treatments are administered twice daily. That means you have to give yourself your shots and eat all your meals simultaneously every day. Choose times that you will be able to maintain every day. Substitute high-fiber food — Talk to your vet about switching your pup to a prescription food that is high in fiber. It can help manage diabetes because the body cannot absorb and break down yarn, preventing it from spiking blood sugar like other carbohydrates.
Diet Composition for Diabetic Dogs
The optimum diet for a diabetic dog can vary based on other health issues and the dog’s weight. It means that there are a lot of “exceptions” to general recommendations for food for dogs with diabetes.
Typically, we want diabetic dogs that are at a healthy weight and don’t have any other health conditions to eat foods that are high in protein, moderate in fat, and high in fiber.
Simple carbs, sweeteners such as honey, semi-moist foods which contain humectants, open-label diets that lack consistency in products, and dogs should avoid additional flavors with diabetes.
If you have a diabetic dog, it is essential to keep a consistent routine. It includes two walks or exercises, two daily meals, and small snacks of fibrous vegetables, fruit, or lean proteins.
Protein in Dog Food for Dogs with Diabetes
If you can manage it, diabetic dogs should eat a diet high in protein and easy to digest. It is because many diabetic dogs have problems with amino acid metabolism. It happens when the disease process changes how their bodies work. It can make it hard for them to build and keep muscle mass.
Older dogs, around 7-9 years old, have a higher risk of diabetes. It is because their ability to use protein and amino acids is lowered.
If your dog is overweight and diabetic, you may be recommended to give them a high protein, low fat, high fiber diet. It can help with their appetite and lead to weight loss over time. Excess body fat can also cause insulin resistance in dogs, so working towards an ideal body condition for blood glucose regulation is essential.
There are some reasons why we might need to lower the amount of protein in our diet. It includes severe pancreatitis, kidney disease, or liver disease. If you don’t have other concurrent health conditions, aim for a diet with 30-35% protein on a caloric basis and a dry matter protein digestibility of over 82%.
Fat in Dog Food for Dogs with Diabetes
Many diabetic dogs are advised to consume low-fat meals. It is because many diabetic dogs also have pancreatitis or are overweight. According to certain studies, feeding a diabetic dog high-fat food can lead to insulin resistance and an increase in fat metabolites. However, for diabetic dogs who need to gain weight, high-fat, calorie-dense food may be advised to help them gain weight.
Dogs with diabetes should not get more than 25% of their diet from dry matter or 45% of their calories from fat.
Pancreatitis and Diabetes in Dogs
Dogs with medical conditions like pancreatitis or obesity should have a fat content below 10-15% dry matter or 20-30% on a caloric basis. For dogs with diabetes and pancreatitis, a lowered fat content can help decrease the stimulus of pancreatic secretion of enzymes, which can help with inflammation.
Obesity and Diabetes in Dogs
If your dog is obese, we might give them a diet with less fat. Fat has a lot of calories, so if we lower the amount of fat in their diet, it will help reduce how many calories they eat. We might also increase the amount of protein in their diet to help them build muscle and increase the amount of fiber to help them feel full. If your dog is diabetic, getting them to a healthy weight is essential because too much body fat can make their diabetes worse.
Important Note about Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplementation:
There is no research on the use of omega-3s for diabetic dogs. Some dogs with diabetes may find omega-3s beneficial, but others may find that adding more fat to their diet worsens their condition. In humans, adding omega-3 fatty acids showed increased blood glucose levels. So always discuss if supplementation is in your pet’s best interest with your vet.
Carbohydrates in Dog Food for Dogs with Diabetes
There is a lot of controversy around the best way to feed carbohydrates to diabetic dogs. We have not yet done enough research to say which is better – low or high carbohydrate diets.
There is some confusion about the different types of diabetes and how they are managed. Some people think cats and dogs do better on a low-carbohydrate diet. It applies to cats. However, it is crucial to highlight that the form of diabetes seen in cats (type 2 diabetes) differs from that in dogs (type 1 diabetes). So nutritional management strategies will likely be different for them.
The Best Low-Fat Food for Dogs
1. Purina Pro Plan Weight Management
Dogs that have diabetes can gain weight quickly. Purina Pro Plan Weight Management recipe aids in weight loss while maintaining lean muscle mass in these pets. This dry food is also more affordable than other options designed for diabetic dogs. However, it is still recommended by most vets.
Some dog owners have found that their dogs produce more gas after eating this food. Additionally, some dogs may have trouble digesting the grains and wheat in the food.
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2. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula
You don’t have to wait until your dog develops diabetes to change his diet. Taste of the High Prairie Wild is a dry food with good protein sources, like bison and lamb. It has no grain, wheat, soy, or other additives that can harm a small puppy’s sensitive stomach.
However, be aware that a grain-free diet may not suit your pet unless your veterinarian has specially recommended it. To avoid spending money on inappropriate puppy chow, get his approval before purchasing this brand.
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3. Visionary Pet Foods Keto
Dogs can follow the keto diet just like humans! This diet is very effective for dogs with diabetes because it helps stabilize blood sugar levels. The dry food from Visionary Pet Foods doesn’t have any grains, wheat, fruits, sugars, or other fillers. The ingredient list is short, sweet, and doesn’t contain any impossible-to-pronounce names.
However, this meal might induce bloating in dogs, particularly if the diet changes abruptly. Additionally, some dogs might drink a lot of water when they start eating this food, a common and normal effect of ketogenic diets. But before you switch your dog to this diet, talk to your vet to ensure it’s the right choice for them.
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4. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free
Orijen is a famous food brand for dogs. It has a grain-free version that has a lot of high-quality protein. It makes it a good option for diabetic dogs because they need protein.
Even though this food is expensive, its high quality may make some potential buyers turn away. Additionally, some dogs might not like the taste of this food, while others will gobble it up. To be safe, buy a smaller bag to test it out with your dog before making a more significant purchase.
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5. ACANA Red Meat Recipe
Acana is a brand of food that many dog owners and their pets love. This Red Meat Recipe consists of high-quality protein sources, including beef and pork. Vegetables, legumes, and fruits contribute to the recipe’s high fiber content. However, it has a larger carbohydrate content than the other alternatives, which may not be suitable for a diabetic dog.
This food is expensive compared to other brands recommended by vets. Some dog owners say their dogs do not like this food, but it is probably just a matter of taste.
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6. Dave’s Pet Food 95% Premium Chicken
Dave’s Pet Food is a wet food that can be fed to dogs with high protein requirements. The list of ingredients is excellent: only chicken, water, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, the high-water content is ideal for diabetic dogs with excessive thirst.
However, this product contains very little fiber and more fat than the other options, which might not be suitable for dogs with excess weight. Besides, this diet is expensive, mainly if you use this option as your dog’s primary food source.
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Safe Treats for Dogs with Diabetes
There are different types of prescription treats for dogs that have diabetes. Two companies that make these treats are Royal Canin and Hill’s. However, it would help if you kept a few things in mind regarding treats.
Keep All Treats to 10% of daily caloric needs
Avoid simple and “naked” carbohydrates. Try pairing complex carbohydrates with fibrous vegetables, fat, or protein to slow glucose release into the bloodstream.
Avoid added sugars – such as corn syrup, honey, and coconut sugar.
Avoid semi-moist treats.
Give treats 4-8 hrs after insulin or with a meal.
Fresh Dog Food for Dogs with Diabetes
Foods that are okay to give to dogs with diabetes tend to be lower in calories and high in fiber. This combination usually works well because blood glucose levels will not be, or will be, minimally affected by their ingestion.
If you like your dog to acquire weight, you may offer it a high-calorie treat made of lean meat. But monitoring its blood sugar levels is essential, and you might need to make some adjustments. It would be best if you also tracked how many calories they eat, so you don’t accidentally overfeed them.o
Vegetables:
- Green Beans
- Cucumber
- Brussel Sprouts
- Celery
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Bell Pepper
- Zucchini
- Mushrooms (button, portobello, turkey tail, or lions mane)
- Spinach
- Kale
Fruits:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Cranberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Apples (with skin)
Should Diabetic Dogs Eat Food Made at Home?
Although more and more people are making pet food, it is not usually a good idea. It is tough to ensure the food has all the proper nutrients, and most people will not be able to do as good of a job as commercial pet food.
Over time, the sorts of nutritional imbalances typical in most home diets will frequently result in shortages and long-term health problems that are difficult to cure. However, homemade diets are even more harmful to diabetic dogs, owing to their specialized dietary requirements. Inadequately balanced carbohydrates and fibers might cause your dog’s blood sugar levels to fluctuate violently, posing an immediate risk to its well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Food for Diabetic Dogs
There are special diets for dogs with diabetes. These diets have more fiber, which can help with weight loss and blood sugar control. Consult your vet to determine the appropriate diet for your dog.
If your dog is diabetic, has a tummy pooch, or is trying to lose weight, carrots can be a healthy treatment option. Carrots are minimal in fat and calories, containing only about four calories per baby carrot.
In general, diabetic dogs perform better on canned dog food. It is because canned dog food does not usually contain fillers, which are ingredients that are not good for dogs with diabetes. Dry dog food often contains high carbohydrate levels, which can harm dogs with diabetes.
Good diabetic dog food consists of many foods with a low glycemic index, such as meat, fish, vegetables, and grains. You want to avoid foods with a high glycemic index, such as corn syrup. And if your dog is sensitive to grain, you will need to look for diabetic dog food that does not contain grain.
To give energy, the Australian Shepherd, like all dogs, requires a high-quality diet rich in animal protein with a good balance of vital fatty acids. The breed also needs additional support because of its thick double coat.
To give energy, the Australian Shepherd, like all dogs, requires a high-quality diet rich in animal protein with a good balance of vital fatty acids. The breed also needs additional support because of its thick double coat.
Whole grains, legumes, the majority of veggies, and fruits are a few of the things you may use in homemade diabetic dog food recipes. Honey, sweet potatoes and brown rice have a moderate glycemic index.
On average, dogs with diabetes have a lifespan of two years. However, many dogs live much longer than that if they receive proper treatment and are regularly assessed by a veterinarian. Dogs with diabetes can generally lead happy lives without symptoms if given the appropriate treatment.
