Feeding your diabetic dog

Diet is extremely important in the successful management of diabetes mellitus. Ideally the diet should be exactly the same every day and given at the same time.

Tidbits and snacking between meals should be avoided. This doesn't mean that your dog cannot have any treats. Your veterinarian will be able to suggest snacks suitable for diabetic dogs that can be given occasionally.

The ideal diet for a diabetic dog

After a meal is digested glucose is released into the bloodstream. The type of food that your diabetic dog eats can have a significant effect on this:

• A meal full of sugar causes a sudden increase in blood glucose.
• If a meal is high in complex carbohydrates (starch and fibre) glucose is released over a longer period in a more controlled way.

An ideal diet is usually:

• restricted in fat content
• has a high complex carbohydrate content
• is high in fibre

More information

Read more about:

• Complete prescription diets
• The consequences of obesity in dogs with diabetes.
• Timing of meals and insulin injections