Diabetic Dog Food
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Just like with humans, our furry friends can develop canine diabetes. This is caused by the body’s inability to produce a hormone called Insulin, which controls the levels of sugar absorbed into the blood after eating. Dogs need this sugar as it provides cells around the body with energy so they can function normally.
Most dogs will suffer from type 1 diabetes, which means their body does not produce any Insulin at all. They will need to be on insulin treatment daily, usually by injection that the owner can do at home. Very rarely, a dog may suffer from type 2 diabetes. This variation of the disease means they can produce small amounts of insulin, but not enough or their body does not react correctly to the amounts they do produce.
Canine diabetes is likely caused by the dog’s body mistaking its own insulin cells for something else. The immune system’s natural reaction to a threat is to destroy those cells. In some cases, dogs who have suffered with pancreatitis may later develop canine diabetes.
What is the Best Diabetic Dog Food?
As our doctors would tell us, diet is especially important in maintaining safe glucose levels. This is the same for a diabetic dog. Since their bodies are not able to absorb sugars into the blood, they will need specially formulated food to counteract this. It is best to stick with one brand once you have chosen as any changes in diet can affect blood glucose and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
Most often recommended is a high fibre diet, as this can help to limit any blood sugar increases. The vet will also advise that you do not give any treats of human food as this can alter your dog’s glucose levels.
Specially formulated recipes such as those by Royal Canin, Purina and Trovet are designed to provide low starch levels, ingredients with slow releasing glucose and high protein. This ensures that your dog gets all the calories he needs, while the ingredients in his food do not cause sudden fluctuations in blood sugar levels. When choosing a diabetic dog food, it is…
