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Diets for pets with diabetes

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  • Diets for pets with diabetes

    What diet are you feeding your cat/dog now that he/she was diagnosed with diabetes?

  • #2
    I'd like to broaden this and ask if anyone thinks a certain dog food is better than another as far as being healthy. Us Iams or Science Diet, for example, really that much healthier, for example, than something like Pedigree or Kibbles 'n Bits?

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    • #3
      Often, the pet food prescribed for a pet with diabetes will be a prescription only diet

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      • #4
        Luckily my pet is not found to be having diabetes.If the diabetes is found it is always safe to consult a pet doctor before moving on food schedules.

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        • #5
          Food for the diabetic pet

          Being an owner of a diabetic dog I have to say I never knew there was so much information that needs to be absorbed. What I have learned is how very important food is in the whole thing. Because my dog also has food allergies I have spent alot of time researching dog foods and their ingredients. I recently changed his dog food to a hypoallergenic food and his blood glucose levels dropped drastically. Even though the food I changed to was same flavor lamb and rice, the difference in the other ingredients caused him to drop to low 70s just 4 hours after receiving his insulin. If you are the owner of a diabetic pet please do your pet a favor and research the pet foods out there. Its important that you find a good healthy food and stick with it or else you will find your pets blood glucose levels going all over the place. I consider myself fortunate that I caught my pets diabetes early enough, I have known of other pets going blind, having seizures, and a number of other conditions that could have been avoided. The insulin you give your pet is just as important as the food given. The challenge is figuring the right combination and dose.

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          • #6
            I've done a lot of research on dog food and diabetes for my dog Bender.

            Most major regular commercial dog foods aren't good for diabetic dogs because they have high sugar foods (corn, white rice), fillers (any thing processed), higher fat and carb content, and preservatives.

            It's been a struggle to find a good food for him that keeps insulin unit amounts low and glucose in the normal range (100-200).

            When he was first diagnosed with diabetes he was on Hills Science Diet, Adult. His sugar levels were any where from 300-500+ with twice daily shots of Humilin N, 15 units on a u100 needle. then when that wasn't enough to bring his diabetes under control the dose was slowed upped to 22 or so.

            Next I switched Bender over to Hills Science Diet W/D (A prescription food) and shortly after Vetsulin. It was better. His levels were 200-300s. But still not good. And over time I had to up his dose again to the point he was getting 37 units per shot on a u100. Still not good.

            I looked at other commercial brands but didn't find any thing better, cheaper, and readily available. So I started cooking his food.

            I did a lot of research because what is good for humans isn't always good for dogs. Such as Garlic and onions. Very bad for Dogs! Raw meat is also a no no!

            I ended up after a few months of tweaking feeding Bender this...

            I would make a 40-45 day amount each time.
            Per batch which would give me about 10-12 days worth
            48oz/3lbs of cooked chicken breast (no bone) - about 4lbs of raw chicken
            64oz of brown rice
            4oz of oats
            16oz of carrots
            64oz of broccoli
            30oz of black beans
            32oz of green beans
            1 hard boiled egg per meal
            12 scrambled eggs
            1oz of oil
            1 calcium and vitamin tablet a day (Pettabs)

            That should equal out to 3.2-3.5 cups per meal.
            Cook the chicken on the grill or broil it in the oven.
            The rest if fresh/frozen, I only use canned Black beans.

            I would food process every thing so it would be cut up into about rice to small pea sized pieces.

            I would package each meal in a container and freeze it. I bought a chest freezer.

            Making a 45 day batch of food would take about 8 hours between cooking the chicken, mixing it, packing it, and clean up. It would also fill my 7cu ft freezer.


            My vet was ok with the food. But we were never sure if this was the best recipe for Bender. And after a few months I noticed weight lose. Plus he wasn't digesting every thing.

            The amount of insulin I was giving Bender dropped to 22 units. Then switched him over to ReliOn N which is the same price as Vetsulin. And he dropped down to 11 units.

            But the cost was starting to get around $80-90. Even with buying every thing where ever it was the cheapest but still quality.

            For that price I knew I could find a high quality food I wouldn't have to mess with.

            Making food is a lot of work and planning. You have to make sure you have food on hand at all times. You have to be consistent. I'd make the 45 day supply but I'd never have less than a weeks worth of made up food just in case some thing happened and I can't make food. I'd at least have a week to make another 45 day supply.


            After 10 months of making Bender's food I decided to look up commercial foods again.


            I look at specialty brands and specific formula types. Out of all the ones I looked at it came down to two kinds.

            Wellness Super5Mix Healthy Weight
            Blue Buffalo Chicken & Brown Rice Adult Dog Food

            Both were really good food but I went with Wellness Super5Mix Healthy Weight (chicken) because it had better ingredients for a diabetic dog and it was all natural with natural preservatives.

            Bender has been on the food for about a month now. His sugar is slightly higher than on a home made food diet but well within normal range (100-200). And he is still getting only 11 units.


            With home made food the worst part is making sure your dog gets the best nutrition, the preparation and consistency.

            I would seriously look at some of the all natural higher end specialty brands and specific formula types dog foods.

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            • #7
              Food for diabetic animals

              I have a 10.5 year old diabetic dog. I've had her for 4 years. She was a rescue. She's been on Hills prescription diet W/D and a bit of raw Primal but I am switching her. She has been pretty stable but these prescription foods are crap! I've been doing a lot of research. They are full of fillers and things that are not good for our pets. I got a nutrition consult for my dog and they recommended raw food and some other kibble brands that are much better. The vets get kick backs for selling Hills and scrip diets. I love my vet but they don't know a lot about nutrition. Also check out www.dogfoodadvisor.com

              Use grain free diets. Dry-Fromm, Canidae Pure, Spring Naturals, Pure Vita

              Raw-Primal, Nature's Variety, Stella and Chewy's

              Freeze dried/dehhydrated-Honest Kitchen, Grandma Lucy's

              Supplements as well including Nzymes granules

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