Best Diabetic Dog Food : 7 Great Non-Prescription Recipes To Consider

Approximately 1 in every 300 dogs will develop diabetes over the course of their lifetime.

Diabetes is the inability to control blood glucose levels. It occurs for two different reasons: Because the body produces no insulin (Type I) or because the body becomes resistant to insulin (Type II). Although obesity can be one cause of diabetes, some dog breeds are just more prone to diabetes than others.

Although diabetes is a serious and often chronic disease, it can be managed and, with proper treatment, your dog can live a long and happy life.

One of the ways to manage the symptoms and complications of diabetes, is by feeding your dog a healthy, well-balanced diet.

What is Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs?

Diabetes mellitus is a very common condition in humans, especially considering the obesity epidemic that is running rampant through the Western world. Canine diabetes, as it is often called, may not be quite so common but it is still a major concern. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when a dog’s body is unable to produce or adequately utilize the hormone insulin. Here’s what happens with diabetes:

• When your dog eats food, his digestive system begins to digest it, breaking it down into various components such as glucose for energy.
• As the food is broken down, the glucose enters your dog’s bloodstream which will transport it throughout the body for storage or to be used for energy.
• When glucose enters your dog’s bloodstream, it triggers the pancreas to start producing insulin – the purpose of insulin is to help regulate the dog’s blood sugar level, keeping it from skyrocketing too high or dropping too low.
• If the dog’s body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or if his cells become resistant to its effects, it can lead to dangerously high blood sugar levels.

While high blood sugar levels may not sound like a big deal, they can actually be very dangerous – even fatal.

When your dog’s body doesn’t properly produce or utilize insulin, it prevents his cells from getting the glucose (energy) they need which can result in the starvation of vital cells and organs.

In fact, there are a number of serious complications that can result from canine diabetes – one of them is called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This condition results from the cell starvation caused by inadequate insulin production or utilization. When the body cannot properly utilize glucose for energy (due to inadequate insulin use or production), it starts to break down stored fat for fuel in a process that produces ketone bodies which can accumulate in the body and cause some serious health problems.

In addition to diabetic ketoacidosis, there are some other complications which can result from uncontrolled diabetes in dogs.

What are some complications of diabetes in dogs?

Hypoglycemia

This condition is the result of abnormally low blood sugar levels which can deprive the brain of vital energy. Hypoglycemia results in symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, drooling, loss of coordination, and even seizures, coma, or death.

Diabetic Neuropathy

This condition is the result of peripheral nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. Diabetic neuropathy can result in weakness (particularly in the hind limbs) and it typically affects older dogs.

Cataracts

High blood sugar levels can eventually result in the formation of cataracts, an opacity in the lens of the eye which can obstruct vision. Cataracts are generally not painful and most dogs adapt well to a loss of vision.

Uveitis and Glaucoma

These conditions are often secondary to cataracts. When cataracts develop, they sometimes leak protein into the eye which can cause inflammation called uveitis. If left untreated, the uveitis can progress into glaucoma which may result in permanent loss of vision.

Impaired Immunity

When your dog experiences chronic high blood sugar levels it can create an internal environment which is optimal for the growth of bacteria. This, paired with inadequate energy production and utilization, can lead to impaired immunity.

Now that you understand the basics of how diabetes works and you’ve read some vital information regarding the severity of this condition, you may be wondering how to identify this condition and whether or not it can be managed.

How to manage diabetes in dogs

The first thing you need to know is that there are two different types of diabetes that commonly affect dogs.

Type 1 (I) Diabetes results from a total lack of insulin production.

Type 2 (II) Diabetes results from impaired insulin production and/or inadequate response to the hormone.

In most cases, Type 1 Diabetes is a condition that the dog is born with and it cannot be cured, just managed with insulin therapy. Type II Diabetes is something a dog can develop at any point in his life and it is frequently related to obesity and unhealthy dietary habits.

Though Type I and Type II Diabetes are caused by different underlying factors, they present with a similar set of symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of canine diabetes include the following:

• Changes in appetite
• Excessive thirst, increased water consumption
• Unexplained weight loss
• Increased frequency of urination
• Sweet-smelling breath, often fruity smell
• Lethargy or general lack of energy
• Dehydration, and related symptoms
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Chronic skin infections
• Cataract formations, loss of vision

The exact cause of diabetes in dogs remains unknown, but it is thought that genetics, autoimmune disease, chronic pancreatitis, and obesity can all play a role in its development. All dogs can develop diabetes, though it seems to be more common in female dogs and obese dogs.

Which dog breeds are prone to diabetes?

Certain breeds like the Schnauzer, Dachshund, Poodle, Samoyed, Keeshond, and Australian terrier also seem to have a higher risk for the disease.

Diabetes is generally treated with insulin therapy to help regulate blood sugar levels. There are also certain dietary changes which can help to stabilize your dog’s blood sugar.

We take a look at the best dog food for diabetic dogs below.

Recommended Dietary Modifications for Diabetic Dogs

Before getting into the details of what makes diabetic dog food different from traditional dog food, you need to learn the basics about the nutritional needs of dogs.

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not strictly carnivores in the way that cats are. It is true that wild dogs receive most of their nutrition from animal sources, but they will occasionally eat plant foods if meat is not available – they also consume some plant foods in the stomach contents of their prey.

So, while a dog’s body is optimized to digest and absorb nutrition from animal sources, they do have a limited ability to process carbohydrates as long as they are cooked and easily digestible.

The three main nutrients a dog needs (called macronutrients) are protein, fat, and carbohydrate. In addition to these macronutrients, your dog also needs plenty of fresh water and some specific micronutrients – vitamins and minerals.

Protein is the most important nutritional consideration for dogs because it helps them to develop and maintain lean muscle mass, plus it fuels their growth and development.

Fats are a highly concentrated source of energy for dogs. Even though you have been lead to believe that all fats are bad, they are actually an important building block in the healthy diet for dogs.

Carbohydrates provide dietary fiber as well as certain micronutrients, though your dog should only receive a limited amount of carbohydrates in his diet compared to the recommended protein and fat content of a healthy diet for dogs.

What’s different about diabetic dog food?

Now that you understand the basics of dog nutrition, you can start to learn about diabetic dog food.

As you have already learned, diabetes is a condition that affects a dog’s ability to produce and utilize insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas. A diabetic diet, then, is designed to help stabilize your dog’s blood sugar levels – preventing them from getting either too high or too low. In many cases, treatment for canine diabetes involves pairing insulin injections with meals to counteract the potentially negative effects of high blood sugar levels by using insulin as a stabilizer.

In addition to timing your dog’s insulin injects to coincide with his meals, many veterinarians recommend a low-fat, high-fiber diet for diabetic dogs.

Low-fat foods contain fewer calories which can help your dog achieve and maintain a healthy bodyweight while high fiber content helps to slow the entrance of glucose into the bloodstream, preventing dangerous spikes.

In addition to watching what you feed your diabetic dog, you should also be intentional about how much you feed him and when.

To prevent your dog’s blood sugar levels from getting too high or too low, you should plan to feed him several small meals throughout the day, keeping to a regular schedule as much as you are able. Try to time your dog’s insulin injections to coincide with his meals as well, following your veterinarian’s recommendations for dosage.

Not only should you be mindful of your dog’s dietary habits, but you should also make sure that he gets some regular exercise. This will help your dog achieve and maintain a healthy bodyweight while also stabilizing his blood sugar levels.

Just don’t make your dog exercise too hard or too long because it could result in a significant drop in blood sugar levels – about 30 minutes a day is just right.

Tips for Choosing a Quality Diabetic Dog Food

Choosing a diabetic dog food for your dog can be a challenge. Not only are there hundreds of different dog food brands and thousands of recipes out there, but all dog foods are not created equal.

If you make a direct comparison between two dog food products (say one expensive recipe and one inexpensive recipe) you will notice a stark difference in the type and quality of the ingredients used.

Cheap dog foods are rarely quality but a high price tag doesn’t necessarily indicate quality, either. In order to make sure that the diabetic dog food you choose for your dog is of high quality you need to learn the basics about reading a dog food label.

When it comes to evaluating the quality of a dog food product, there are three things you should look for on the label:

• Statement of Nutritional Adequacy – The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is responsible for monitoring the quality and safety of pet foods and animal feed produced in the United States. AAFCO has determined the basic nutritional requirements for adult dogs (this is called the maintenance stage) and for pregnant or lactating dogs and puppies (the growth and reproduction stage). Before they can be sold, dog foods are compared to these nutritional profiles and, if the product meets the basic nutritional requirements, it will carry an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy that looks something like this, “[Product Name] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles”. If the diabetic dog food product you are looking at doesn’t have a statement like this on the package, it is not a quality product and it will not meet your dog’s nutritional needs so you should move on to the next option.
• Guaranteed Analysis – The guaranteed analysis on a pet food label provides you with the minimum or maximum levels of four key nutrients: crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture. You can look at this analysis to make sure that the product meets the basic requirements of dogs for protein and fat – you may also want to make sure that the fiber content is high enough, but not too high. The minimum protein requirement for adult dogs is 18% and the minimum fat requirement is 8% for puppies and 5% for adult dogs. In addition to making sure that the product meets the minimum requirements for dogs, you can also use the guaranteed analysis to make a direct comparison between two diabetic dog food products.
• Ingredients List – Just like the packages of foods you eat yourself, dog food also has a complete list of ingredients on them. The most important thing you need to know is that these lists are compiled in descending order by volume – the ingredients present in the largest quantities are at the top of the list. This being the case, you want to look for high-quality ingredients such as quality animal proteins, digestible carbohydrates, and animal fats near the beginning of the list. You also want to make sure that certain things are NOT on the list such as allergens, low-quality fillers, artificial preservatives, etc.

Now that you know a little more about how to read a dog food label, you should learn the basics about what to look for in a diabetic dog food in particular.

As you have already learned, most veterinarians recommend low-fat, high-fiber dog foods for diabetic dogs. What you want to watch out for, however, is diabetic dog foods that also have low protein content.

Protein is the most important nutritional consideration for all dogs, even for diabetic dogs. Protein is essential to help your dog maintain lean muscle mass and it needs to come from quality, animal-based sources. Your dog also needs some fat in his diet but moderating the amount of fat in a diabetic dog food is the most effective way to reduce calorie content.

Just make sure that, as a means of reducing calorie content, the diabetic dog food you choose doesn’t also reduce protein content.

When it comes to high fiber content in diabetic dog food, you need to be careful about what sources of fiber the product uses.

Corn, wheat, and soy ingredients may provide plenty of dietary fiber, but these ingredients are of low nutritional value for dogs and they also come with a high risk for triggering food allergies or sensitivities.

Whole grains (as long as they are fully cooked) are one of the most beneficial sources of dietary fiber for dogs because they are often low on the glycemic index (this means that they will not cause your dog’s blood sugar level to spike).

Some good options include whole grain oatmeal, brown rice, cracked pearled barley, and the likes. You can also look for gluten-free, grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potato, tapioca, and green peas.

Many quality diabetic dog foods also include fresh fruits and vegetables as supplementary fiber sources and as natural sources for vital nutrients. When shopping for diabetic dog food, just make sure that the fiber content is high enough but not too high – excess fiber content could have the opposite of the desired effect, causing problems with digestion instead of fixing them.

Best Diabetic Dog Foods 2023 (Non-Prescription)

If your dog has diabetes mellitus, your veterinarian may recommend that you make specific changes to his diet in order to help manage his condition. Unfortunately, some of the dietary changes recommended for diabetic dogs are not as easy to accomplish as they sound – in most cases you will be better off finding a commercial diabetic dog food than you would be trying to make a homemade diet for your dog. To help you get started in shopping for a quality diabetic dog food, consider some of the top rated diabetic dog food brands below:

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh, Human-Grade Beef Recipe – The Healthiest
2. Nutro Adult Lite Weight Loss Dog Food Chicken, Whole Brown Rice & Oatmeal Recipe
3. Purina Beyond Grain-Free White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe
4. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Recipe with Chicken & Turkey
5. Acana Heritage Free-Run Poultry Formula Adult Dog Food
6. Orijen Six Fish Grain-Free Adult Dog Food
7. Merrick Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Adult
8. Nulo Freestyle Salmon & Peas Recipe Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food

Summing Up

Choosing a high-quality commercial dog food for your canine companion can be quite the challenge, largely because there are so many options to consider.

If your dog has specific dietary restrictions, however, it becomes even more difficult. If you are looking for a quality diabetic dog food, consider one of the top rated brands reviewed above.