Dog Illness Symptoms

Diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin and is a disease of the endocrine system. Female dogs are more prone to diabetes than males and the rates of diabetes are found in mostly dogs between five and seven years old. To try and stabilize dog diabetes a controlled diet and feeding diabetic dog food may help.

If you think the dog has diabetes they may drink more water than is normal, urinate more frequently and they may also lose weight. Take the dog to the vets for a diagnosis which is usually determined by blood tests.

As there is no cure for diabetes the treatment may also include daily injections of insulin. If this is the case the vet will show you how to do this and also how to check the dog’s insulin levels by testing the urine for sugar levels each day.

The dog’s diet will need to be controlled by a high fiber, complex carbohydrates and protein diet with a reduction in the amount of fats. The dog will also need to be fed at the same times each day and be given plenty of daily exercise. High fibre oats are a good way to try and eliminate sudden rises in blood glucose levels. Adding vegetables to the diet and giving small regular feeds may also help to stabilize glucose levels in the blood for fussy eaters or one substantial meal at the same time every day if the dog has a normal appetite and no food fads.

Everyone in the household should help control the diabetes by not giving any snacks or tip bits as this will upset the balance of the blood sugar levels which are being controlled by diet and exercise.
There is a variety of different diabetic dog food available to buy from pet stores. They are generally the dried biscuit variety which provides the dog with slow releasing complex carbohydrates and also have added vitamins to promote health. Many of these diabetic dog foods are also made with real meat such as chicken and contain no chemical additives. As the dried food absorbs water it swells in the stomach and helps the dog to feel fuller for longer. These diabetic dog foods also help overweight dogs as the majority of dogs with diabetes are overweight this is an ideal solution to control both the diabetes and help with weight lose.
To effectively cut costs of dog diabetes it is also possible to make your own diabetic dog food by giving a variety of protein such as turkey or chicken with the excess fat removed and adding fresh vegetables. Carbohydrates such as oats may also be added into the food. As long as the sugar content is monitored the diabetic dog food can contain many foods that humans eat, including fresh fruit as these contain natural sugars.