Just like humans, dogs too can acquire diabetes. The most common type of diabetes affecting dogs would be Diabetes Mellitus. An estimated 1 in 500 dogs has this canine disease.
The normal glucose level metabolism in the body is when glucose is absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream. It them provides the cells the energy to function. Glucose can only enter the cells with the help of insulin. Diabetes Mellitus is, in turn, caused by insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or the cells inside the body fails to respond to insulin. These are the types 1 and 2 of Diabetes Mellitus. There is also another type that usually occur when a dog is pregnant. This is called gestational diabetes.
Diabetes typically affects older dogs. There are also specific breeds that appear to be at risk in developing diabetes. They are: Keeshond, Poodles, Samoyed, Daschund, Alaskan malamute, Miniature Schnauzer, Chow chow, Beagle, Doberman, Labrador retriever, Hungarian pulli, Golden retriever, Miniature pinscher, Old English sheepdog, Springer spaniel, Schipperke, Finnish spitz, West Highland white terrier and Cairn terrier.
If you have a dog or dogs with diabetes, it is essential that you provide him or her with the right diet dog food to help manage or normalize the glucose levels in his or her body. The right kind of food for your dog with diabetes should provide him or her with the energy he or she needs.
Here are some amazing tips on how to select the right diabetic canine dog food to help you prepare your diabetic dog's meal:
1. Dried canned food are best for your pet. Fact is that the more moisture present on the feed, the higher the carbohydrates and glucose levels are on it. You should keep this in mind when buying stocks of dog food.
2. If your pet is overweight and has diabetes, then you should feed him with low-fat and low-calorie foods. These will limit glucose intakes that make blood sugar levels go up and may cause diabetic attacks.
3. Fiber is also essential in dealing with canine diabetes. Fiber is a particular type of carbohydrate. High fiber dog foods have complex carbs that won't upset your dog's blood glucose levels. On the other hand. Ordinary dog food with simple carbohydrates tend to shoot up your dogs blood sugar levels that result in diabetes. Fiber is a complex carbohydrate and is not easily broken down. This results to a slow and steady glucose injection into the bloodstream that keeps the blood glucose levels to a normal level.
4. Homemade dog food is also the best when dealing with canine diabetes. Preparing your dog's meal ensures that you know what you are putting in there. You can prepare meals that are high in fiber, low in carbohydrates and the best thing is that you don't have to put preservatives.
5. Since diabetes is a pancreatic disorder, low fat diets are also essential. Too much fat can stress the pancreas resulting in insulin tolerance in the long run.
Here are some tips to help you select the right diabetic dog food. If you don't have the time to prepare your dog's meal, or look into labels, then there are some pre-made formulas from manufacturers such as Royal Canin, Canidae and Purina.
