Diabetes is not really just limited to humans anymore – even man’s best friend, our dog, can become a target of such a disease.
It is a serious threat to anyone’s health and it may hinder your dog’s good health condition if left unchecked.
Dogs who get diabetes may develop similar symptoms as humans, such as cataracts, which can lead to blindness.
Dogs who eat too many sugary foods as well as consume a lot of rice or carbohydrates may become more prone to diabetes, especially if they don’t get a lot of exercises.
This is why they should be fed with the right kind of diet other than administering the insulin as advised by their vet.
Therefore, finding the best dog food for diabetic dogs may be important for you.
Keeping their diet well-balanced in terms of glycemic levels makes sure that they can somehow recover from their diabetic state and they can play with you again like good old times.
Below are Our Picks for the Best Dog Food for Diabetic Dogs
1. Weruva Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages
Because this dog food is dry, it will be ideal for dogs who have diabetic conditions. It does not contain fillers such as soy, corn, and wheat, so it is also low on carbohydrates.
Cage-free chicken is used for its protein content and sustainably-harvested salmon oil can also help them recover their coat shine. It is easy to digest as a chicken dinner for most dogs that comes with pumpkin.
The dry dog food comes in a 4-lb bag but you can also order in larger amounts, such as 24 lbs. and 12 lbs. for bulk feeding.
There is also a version of this product that comes with turkey and salmon, other than chicken and pumpkin if your vet prescribed it.
2. Ketogenic Pet Foods Keto-Kibble
If your vet prescribed kibble or to get them into a ketogenic diet, this one can be a possible choice. It is low on carbs and starch so it is definitely ideal for diabetic dogs.
It even has high protein, which dogs need most. You can order a bag of either 8 lbs. or 18 lbs. for this pet food.
Its protein content is 60% or more so it may be good for your dog if your vet advised them to boost their protein intake while keeping a low carb diet.
3. Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Canine Low Fat
Yet another low-fat dog food, this one can help to manage the glucose levels of your dog, which can aid them in their diabetes management.
It also has gastrointestinal benefits, which can help your dog’s tummy to digest food evenly. One pack contains 27.5 lbs. of dog food which contains chicken.
You can easily mix this with your dog’s normal food so your dog won’t have to lose their appetite when they are eating this diabetic food.
4. WholeHearted Lamb and Pea Recipe Dry Dog Food
Another dry dog food on the list, this one is a combination of lamb and pea recipe so it may be good for those dogs who want something aside from chicken.
It comes in either 5 lbs. or 25 lbs. and it can be eaten by all dog breeds in their adult stage. It has no grain, corn, or wheat, so it can help with dogs who have diabetes.
Aside from the low-carb benefit, it also has L-carnitine for helping them keep in shape while the fiber also helps in their overall digestion without too much fat content. Its lamb recipe also helps in terms of giving your dog enough protein.
5. Ketogenic Pet Foods – Keto-Treats
This pet food is also dry and can be given as fun treats for your dog when they need a snack. It contains zero sugar, corn syrup, and other artificial flavors so it is definitely a must-try for diabetic dogs.
It comes in a 4.9-ounce bag or a 30-ounce bag and is ready to be fed to your dog. It is also starch-free to help dogs manage their blood sugar levels.
6. Hill’s Prescription Diet I/D Canine Digestive Care
Made with chicken flavor, this one is a 27.5-lb bag of dog food that is okay for diabetic dogs, especially for those who have sensitive stomachs when it comes to different dry food.
If you can’t find a dry food that’s okay for your pet, you can try this one since it’s known to not cause digestive upsets for them. The fiber content in this dog food is helpful for those with high sugar levels.
7. Bacon Bark – All-Natural Bacon Treats for Dogs
If you want to give your dog treats, you can try this whole pork tenderloin treat for giving them enough protein, if they are missing protein in their diet according to the vet.
Since it is purely bacon without preservatives, additives, and by-products, it will be safe to consume for dogs who have diabetes.
The treats are all thinly-sliced so they can be just right for different dog breeds, sizes, and ages. It contains only one ingredient that dogs will love – bacon!
Things to Consider Before Buying
If you want to buy the best dog food for diabetic dogs, you should consider these facts before you proceed.
How do you choose the best dog food for diabetic dogs?
If you want to choose the ideal diabetic food for your dog, you should consider the following criteria:
1. What is the food’s glycemic index?
This is the measurement of the sugar content in the said food, which can affect the overall health of your dog.
The glycemic index in most healthy food, such as veggies and fruits, are usually low because they don’t have a lot of sugar.
On the other hand, wheat products such as rice usually have more sugar and thus, they have a high glycemic index and should be lessened for your dog. Bread is also included in the high glycemic index scale.
2. How much can you give to your dog per day?
As a rule of thumb, diabetic food should only be at least 1/3 of their daily meals so that dogs won’t lose their appetite when they are eating their favorite food.
Usually, most manufacturers have printed guides on how much of the chosen diabetic food to serve to your dog.
3. How much is the fiber content?
While fiber is definitely needed by any living organism in terms of cleansing and helping the digestive system stay active.
It also decreases the release of glucose, which, in turn, lessens the likelihood of diabetes on your dog.
This is why many wheat-based products (both for dogs and humans) nowadays have fiber so that they will lessen the glucose activity in your dog (or in humans, for that matter).
4. How much carbohydrates are there?
Most people fear the carbs because they are usually at fault with blood sugar levels rising – the same is true for dogs.
You should buy food for dogs who have diabetes considerably with fewer carbohydrates so that they can minimize their blood sugar levels.
5. How much fat content is there on the food?
While fat is needed by the body, it should be in balanced amounts to avoid being overweight or underweight.
The fat content should be outnumbered by the protein content, in this case, since dogs need more protein for their muscles to do more physical activities every single day.
6. Are there plant-based ingredients?
Contrary to popular belief, some dogs nowadays will actually eat a bit of plant-based ingredients, even though they are mainly carnivorous who only eat meat products.
Plant-based ingredients can help their immune system get through most illnesses and can help them to live longer.
7. Does it contain artificial ingredients?
Most dog food nowadays can have additives, which usually speed up the manufacturing process and keep them fresh longer.
However, this may sometimes hinder your dog’s health, just as human food preservatives do the same to humans. As much as possible, avoid dog food with artificial ingredients.
8. Is it a well-known brand?
Dog food brands that are well-known include Pedigree and it’s usually more ideal to stick to a better-known brand that has been trusted for years and by many dog-lovers and pet owners out there.
This is because they usually stand up to their product and you’ll know that they will have more likelihood of giving quality food to your dog.
9. Are there other byproducts in the ingredients list?
Chicken by-products are okay for most dog food, but keep in mind that if the ingredient is simply listed as “meat”, then it can be questionable. You have to know where this “meat” is from or it could compromise your dog’s health.
10. Is the dog food semi-moist or soft?
Usually, these dog foods should be avoided if your dog has diabetes. This is because these kinds of dog foods are known to have more sugar content than dry ones, possibly due to the number of preservatives.
11. What is the recommendation of your vet?
Don’t just buy whatever diabetic dog food you see on the market – you should at least get an idea from your dog nutritionist or your vet to make sure that your dog is on the right track.
Your vet knows which food ingredients your dog needs the most, whether they need a boost on protein or need to balance their weight as well other than managing their diabetic problems.
How do I know my dog has diabetes?
Unlike humans, dogs can’t speak, so we have to observe them as we do with our little kids when they get sick. Here are some signs and symptoms that Fido might have high blood sugar levels:
- They pee more often.
- They get thirsty more often.
- They usually get tired more often.
- They could eat more than their usual diet.
- They may feel depressed or down.
- They may have significant weight loss.
- Their skin may have yeast infections.
- Their breath may smell too sweet.
- They may develop cataracts in their eye(s).
- They may have urinary tract infection.
What are the benefits of dog food for diabetic dogs?
Choosing diabetic food for your dogs puts your buddy to a good healthy state. It has the following benefits:
It keeps their blood sugar levels balanced.
Dogs who have diabetes need a balanced diet, just as humans do. Therefore, you should feed them with something that is not too high or too low on sugar levels to help them with their diabetic state.
Not all foods have the same glycemic index, so you should consider getting the help of a pet nutritionist or your vet to know which foods are applicable for your dog and his/her condition.
They will not lose their appetite.
Because you are still feeding your dog something, even if it doesn’t necessarily taste good, and because it can be mixed along with your dog’s regular meal.
It can help them to not lose their appetite as compared to only feeding them strictly with non-sugar food, which can turn them off (just as any human would).
Their weight will be well-maintained.
Dogs who have diabetes need to balance their diet and eat right. Even if they have diabetes, this does not mean that they should starve – they should just eat the right kind of foods, and by giving them specific foods for diabetes, you can help them recover.
Conclusion
Wrapping it up, our best dog food for diabetic dogs is the Weruva Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food for All Life Stages because it is okay to be fed on different dog ages and comes with no fillers such as wheat, corn, and soy, which is good news for diabetic dogs.
It is also low on carbs and contains cage-free chicken so it’s not only good for those with ethical concerns about livestock but it’s also quite organic in its food content.
Since it also has a plant-based product (pumpkin), it may help your dog’s immune system and overall health.
