Pets
Diabetic Dog Food – What is Good and What’s Not
As you know, the diagnosis of diabetes means there are going to be some lifestyle changes, the major changes being diet and weight management. This is the same with people and with dogs. If a veterinarian has diagnosed your dog with diabetes, your vet probably has already started advising you on which foods and brands of diabetic dog foods that your pup can eat. Here are some further dos and don’ts, a general rule of thumb, to go by when diabetic dog food is not available per se.
GOOD FOR YOUR DOG
A natural diet of homemade and raw foods. This does not mean table scraps–a natural diet is planned and on purpose. This way you know exactly what your dog is eating. A natural diet doesn’t have to be expensive or hard work and there are many Websites with recipes that make it easy. Low fat meats. Choose high-quality meats with little fat like chicken, turkey, fish and eggs. A few fresh vegetables and raw fruits. Fresh veggies and fruits in moderation (but never grapes or raisins) are high in nutrients and vitamins, and have natural sugars, which are not bad for diabetics like processed and refined sugars are. Some grains. Certain grains like oats, brown rice and millet are beneficial for diabetic dogs. Used sparingly, these provide fiber which helps control insulin levels. Brewer’s yeast. This contains a substance known as ‘glucose tolerance factor’ which helps the body to use blood sugar more efficiently. Vitamin E. This aids in reducing the requirement for insulin.
BAD FOR YOUR DOG
SUGAR. Do not feed your dog ‘people food’ or dog food that has sugar in it. Be sure to check that sugar or its other forms (sucrose, fructose, syrup, etc.) is not on the list of ingredients. Baked goods. Eliminate this from your dog diet, including most dog biscuits. Most fats. For instance, while turkey and chicken are OK, you should remove any skin and fat before giving it to your dog. Generally, you should not be giving your dog any foods that have been prepared in fats. A touch of fat is healthy and is already found naturally in meat. Other OK fats are quality fish oils. An all meat diet. Over time, this type of diet is harmful because of mineral and other imbalances. Dogs need balance found in grains and vegetables as well. Fatty meats. Meats with highly saturated fats like beef, ground beef, and pork should not be given. Most dry dog foods. Most dry dog foods are mainly made up of simple carbohydrates–not what a diabetic dog needs. However, dry diabetic dog foods are generally safe, but you still want make sure it is high in protein and vegetables. You still want to be sure to supplement dry food with quality wet food. Cornmeal. Some nutritionists also advise cornmeal, but sometimes dogs have allergic reactions to wheat and corn.
Just as with people, a dog with diabetes can have a high quality of life with a balanced lifestyle that includes a good diet, medication if necessary and regular exercise.
By: Tracey A Patterson
Diabetic Cat Food Recipes
If you have ever lived with someone developing diabetes as my own father did, you will be aware that they suffer certain symptoms which are:-
1. Excessive Thirst
2. Excessive hunger
3. Excessive urination
4. Weight loss.
Your cat will show just such symptoms, if you notice these you should take it to your vet as soon as possible for a check up. So what IS diabetes?
Briefly just this. The cells in our cat’s body just as in ours, require energy. This energy comes from glucose and we get that from the food we eat. This food gets broken down, some of which becomes glucose and enters the bloodstream and is used by the cells for energy.
Insulin – a hormone, lets this glucose move from the bloodstream and into the cells. Unfortunately in diabetes there is little or no insulin and without that the glucose cannot get from the bloodstream and into the body cells. The cells don’t get glucose and think they are starving just as we would and your cat does.
So what do both we and our cats do? We eat and eat to satisfy our hunger. The situation is made worse because the glucose we store in the fat and muscles of our bodies, normally for emergencies, gets released into the bloodstream to feed the cells. It becomes a vicious circle as more glucose enters the bloodstream but without insulin will not get into the cells. The glucose levels in the blood climb higher, with still no insulin it has nowhere to go.
The cells of course cannot get their sugar so even more fat and muscle are burned to feed them, so we and our cat have a huge appetite but also a weight loss
Why the excessive thirst? As explained, all that extra sugar in the blood has to go somewhere. Our and out cat’s kidneys are designed to prevent glucose been lost in urine. In diabetes there is so much sugar in the urine the kidneys become overwhelmed, so sugar is excreted in the urine. For this to be successful it has to be of the right consistency and in the form of liquid. The result? Large quantities of water are drunk and so of course equal amounts of urine are produced. It will seem as if your poor cat is drinking buckets of water but with no satisfaction.
So rule No 1 is if you see any of these symptoms in your pet take it to your vet. The disease can be treated with diet, exercise, insulin or some combination of these.
Is there anything you can do?
Don’t let your cat become a “couch potato”! Do not give your cat “treats”, most are groaning with calories. Remember the domestic cat came out of the savannahs of Africa and was and still is a natural hunter, its diet raw meat. Sadly the whole lifestyle of the cat is changing, many do not even have a garden, many are literally housebound. The result, as for us, is that they become overweight, eat far too much, become bored and lazy. They have no stimulation and their natural instinct to hunt is suppressed.
Our own two cats exercise outside constantly and hunt too. OK so we do have to clear up some grisly messes once in a while! Cats have a dual personality, a wild side that loves to hunt and roam and a domestic side to them where they just want our companionship. Sadly many owners are now too frightened to let their cats outside the house thinking it is too dangerous. Over all the years we have owned cats we have never lost one except to plain old age or disease (before we found out what went into commercial cat food and started making our own)
You can feed your diabetic cat yourself, we think it’s the best way and always use lean meats, low carbohydrate, NO SUGAR and add a few vegetables
One important thing to consider is to keep meals regular just as would happen to one of us with diabetes. There is hope so don’t despair!
Don’t forget, though, that cats have different nutritional needs to humans so it’s the diet principles ones follows not the actual diet.
By: Frank Temple-Brown
Feline Diabetes Symptoms
Feline diabetes is also commonly known as feline sugar diabetes and affects approximately 1 out of every 400 felines. This condition is caused by inadequate production of insulin by the beta cells in the pancreas or poor response of the cells to insulin. As you may know, insulin is secreted by the pancreas directly into the circulation. It acts upon cell membranes, enabling glucose to enter the cells, where it is utilized for energy. Without insulin, the body can’t utilize glucose, thus leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Once excessive blood sugar is recognized the kidneys slam into high gear to eliminate the excess glucose; producing frequent urination. This leads to excessive thirst in felines with diabetes. Additionally, your feline will initially make an attempt to offset excessive blood glucose levels by eating more food. Later, as the damaging effects of feline diabetes set in a dramatic drop in appetite will occur.??
In summary, the early stages of feline diabetes are:??
* Frequent urination
* Excessive water consumption?
* Increase in appetite followed by a drop in appetite??
If left untreated or if treatment is unsuccessful a myriad of symptoms (some serious) will become apparent.
These would include: ?
* Bad breath
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Weakness
* Dehydration
* Labored breathing
* Fatigue??
You may have noticed that cataracts are not listed above. This is because unlike dogs cats rarely develop cataracts. Also, another indication of feline diabetes is walking down on the hocks instead of up on the toes.??
In summary, early recognition of feline diabetes (feline sugar diabetes) is very important. If you fell your feline may be exhibiting symptoms you should waste no time in having it checked out. Your veterinarian will likely require a blood and urine sample to confirm your suspicions. Once confirmed you will be faced with a number of treatment options including dietary management, prescription medications, insulin injections, or natural treatment alternatives. A combination of diet modification combined with daily insulin injections is the treatment option most likely to be suggested. For mild cases many pet owners are opting for?a natural treatment option for feline diabetes. These all natural formulas can be used both as a primary or supplemental treatment and are very safe.
By: Robert D Hawkins
Diabetic Dog Food Recipes and Dog Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases in which a dog has a high level of glucose in its blood. It can be that the body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells do not respond to the insulin that the pancreas produces. Dog diabetes are classified into three types: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes. The usual treatment usually involves exercise, diabetic dog food, and in severe cases, insulin is administered to control blood sugar levels.
Symptoms
The high blood sugar in a dog with diabetes produces various symptoms like polyuria or frequent urination, polydipsia or increased thirst and polyphagia or increased hunger. To add, diabetic dogs tend to lose weight as they breakdown fat and protein that are stored in the body to make glucose and ketones. Diabetes in animals can also cause cataracts, appetite increase, exercise intolerance and recurring infections.
Treatment
Dog food secrets are not so secret at all. The way you feed your dog is an important part of treating dogs with diabetes. The best dog foods for your diabetic dog are those low carbohydrate types. Here are some recipes that may help you:
Recipe 1:
1 cup brown long grain rice,
1 cup chicken breast,
1/2 cup green beans,
1/2 cup mixed vegetables, 1/2 cup cottage cheese
Recipe 2:
1 cup cooked oatmeal,
1 cup cooked carrots and green beans put through the food processor,
1 hard boiled egg chopped up,
1/4 can Royal Canin Diabetic Special
(ask your vet if they would recommend these supplements)
1/4 Chromium Tablet (400 mcg)
1/2 Cranberry Capsule (475 mg)
1/4 Alpha Lipoic Acid (100 mg)
1/2 Acidophilus (6 mg)
Recipe 3:
1 bag basic recipe (Diet One or Two)
100 i.u. of vitamin E,
1/2 tab of ester C,
1 drop hawthorn
Recipe 4:
3 cups oatmeal uncooked,
1 cup cold filtered water, 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour,
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped,
2 egg yolks,
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Recipe 5:
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, grated
1 apple, cored and diced
2 eggs
2 slices white bread, torn into pieces
1 cup regular rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
4 medium potatoes, cubed
3 carrots, chopped
1 stalk celery, cubed
Your dog may be allergic to some of these ingredients so you better test them out first. You can substitute Hypoallergenic dog food to the recipes here that require the use of ordinary dog food.
Aside from food, a regular exercise routine is much vital. Also, once your dog has been stabilized on insulin treatment, they may live long like other dogs of the same breed. It is also essential for you and your veterinarian to have constant communication and adhere to a scheduled treatment regimen. This will ensure that your pet is healthy.
Diabetic dog food, exercise and regular visits to your veterinarian can help manage your dog’s diabetes; however, your presence and the warmth that you show your pet is the best care a pet owner can give – with or without diabetes.
By: Tanya Jenks
Putting Your Dog On A Diabetic Dog Food Diet
Like humans, dogs too get diabetes. When a dog has diabetes, the best way to keep it in control is by giving it diabetic dog food, which is low in sugar and carbohydrates. Apart from controlling the amount of sugar in a diabetic dog’s food, the amount of food and the frequency in which they are fed also needs to be monitored. The general recommendation is that your diabetic dog should be fed smaller meals twice or thrice a day instead of a single large meal. This is because blood sugar levels can be stabilized by smaller meals, whereas a single large meal results in a high insulin spike, and then for it to drop down in 12 hours. When blood sugar plummets too low, it results in hypoglycemia, which is a series condition.
So what diabetic dog food should you give your dog? Here are a few recommendations that will assist in controlling the diabetic condition of your dog:
Shun Foods That Have Sugar
Most dog owners have very little idea about the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar contained in commercial dog food. Carbohydrates are considered a form of sugar because they are metabolized into glucose by the body. Both soft-moist dog food and dry dog food are considered culprits. If you must feed your dog commercially manufactured dog food, it is better to give them a good quality canned food. It is important to check the ingredients, which are printed on the label.
Homemade Diabetic Dog Food
The best solution is to feed your dog homemade dog foods and raw foods. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of exactly how much carbohydrates and sugar they are getting. Putting your dog on a homemade diabetic dog food diet need not be expensive or hard work. There are plenty of websites on the Internet that have lots of advice and recipes that are nutritious and tasty.
Cut Down On The Fat
Apart from regulating blood sugar and insulin levels in the body, the pancreas also produces enzymes that break down fats. Since it is essential not to put too much stress on the pancreas of a diabetic dog, it is important to choose low-fat meats. Ground beef should not be given, and the extra fat in turkey and chicken should be removed. While some fat is required for good health, according to nutritionists, it is best to minimize the amount as much as possible.
Some Grains Are Good
While you do have to be careful about the quantity of grain you feed your dog, since animals cannot digest grains as easily as humans because their digestive track is shorter, certain grains are beneficial for diabetic dogs. Millet, oats and brown rice provide fiber and also help to control the levels of insulin. Some nutritionists also advise cornmeal, but sometimes dogs have allergic reactions to wheat and corn. But it is best to use grains sparingly, because being carbohydrates they are turned into glucose by the body.
Adding fresh vegetables and raw fruits, which are high in nutrients and vitamins, and have natural sugars (which do not have the detrimental effects on insulin levels that processed sugar does), brewer’s yeast which contains a substance known as ‘glucose tolerance factor’ which helps the body to use blood sugar more efficaciously, and Vitamin E which aids in reducing the requirement for insulin, are some of the other recommendations.
Before making any changes to your dog’s diet, it is important to consult a vet about the diabetic dog food diet your pet needs, and give those foods that your dog tolerates well. But, as a thumb rule, avoid giving baked foods that contain sugar and flour.
By: Alex Dale
Diabetic Dog Food – Homemade Or Commercial?
When a dog has diabetes, special care needs to be given in their diet. If they eat foods that promote too much glucose production, they could develop serious health problems. Sometimes a dog might even die. For this reason, pet owners must immediately switch to diabetic dog food once they get an official diagnosis from their veterinarian.
Yet, what about pet owners that enjoy feeding their dog homemade recipes? Can they continue with what they are doing, or are they forced to switch to commercial brands of diabetic dog food? Honestly, this will depend on their knowledge of the nutritional needs of diabetic dogs. If their knowledge is superior, they will probably be able to create diabetic dog food that is both healthy and delectable. But if their knowledge is limited, chances are their version of diabetic dog food may actually be harmful for their pet.
So, how can a pet owner increase their knowledge of a diabetic dog’s nutritional needs? Well, it’s best to start with their veterinarian. Assuming that their vet is even ‘into’ homemade dog food, they might be able to recommend books and websites offering the best recipes… if they don’t have some on hand themselves. Otherwise, they may say that commercial diabetic dog food is the best choice.
Does that mean pet owners should end their hopes of feeding their pets their own diabetic dog food? Well, if they don’t mind doing a lot of research, they can probably find the information they need on their own. But they should also remember that there’s always the possibility that so-called diabetic recipes aren’t really the best ones for their dog’s health or taste buds.
That leaves another option…finding the best diabetic dog food recipes while keeping one’s pet under their vet’s supervision. Again, some vets may not agree with this approach, but they can’t dictate how you feed your dog. As long as your dog is healthy, there’s not much they can say about the issue. But, if it bothers you, don’t be afraid to consider commercial diabetic dog food. Remember, not all commercial brands are bad… you just have to do your homework.
By: Teddy Paseo