Taking care of a diabetic dog can be difficult, but your dog doesn’t understand that. More than anything, he just wants to be a normal, carefree dog. Having a diabetic dog can be difficult and sometimes fatal for the dog!
Blood Sugar Levels in Dogs
Diabetes is a disease when an animal cannot produce enough insulin to consume the glucose in the blood. Glucose levels rise when animals consume sure.
Managing a dogs diabetes will extend it’s lifespan and make the life it’s living so much better! Unmanaged diabetes can give your dog the following symptoms:
- Excessive water drinking and increased urination
- Weight loss, even though there may be an increased appetite
- Decreased appetite
- Cloudy eyes (especially in dogs)
- Chronic or recurring infections (including skin infections and urinary infections)
Proper Diet – Good Choices
Leaving diabetes untreated can lead to skin problems, organ problems, and a host of other issues. Feeding your dog diabetic treats can make your dog comfortable and happy! They are a great option to use when training or to reward your dog!
It is rare, if not impossible, to find a pet insurance company willing to cover pets with pre-existing conditions so it’s important to keep them as healthy as you can.
Finding the right diabetic dog food and especially diabetic dog treats to reward them is important. Obviously, regular dog treats are fine for a healthy dog but they throw a diabetic dog’s sugar out of whack and even cause serious problems.
Portion Size
You should give your dog small portions of treats in general to keep sugar intake down. Make sure to limit how many treats you give your dog a day.
It’s important to note that these treats are meant to be used as just that: Treats. Even the best, most nutritious treat isn’t a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Too many treats might result in more health issues.
Make sure you read the label to determine how many treats your dog should get. And of course, consult your dog’s vet before use. Check out this Video for Questions and Answers to Diabetic Dog Information.
When Should I give my Dog A Treat?
In reality, some diabetic pet owners find it easiest to reward their dogs after their insulin dose with a treat. This is to ensure that their blood sugar levels and blood glucose levels are under control.
What Ingredients Should I Look for in Diabetic Dog Treats?
What makes diabetic dog treats unique is they do not spike your dogs sugar levels. Spiking sugar means the dog Body responds by trying to produce insulin.
Complex or Simple Carbohydrates?
Your diabetic dog should only eat complex carbohydrates (veggies and fruits) with a low glycemic index. Simple Carbohydrates are processed like sugar and corn syrup.
Whole Grains
Whole grains have not been processed to remove the Germ and Bran to get the Endosperm which has high starch content. The endosperm is then used as flour. Whole grains have been ground with Everything except the HULL which is the outer husk.
Because whole grains have these additional parts to digest, it has a low glycemic index which means it takes more energy to digest.
Some examples of whole grains are Whole Wheat, Whole Oats, Barley, Brown Rice, Buckwheat, Bulgar, Millet, Oatmeal.
High In Fiber Content
Treats should also be high in fiber content to promote health blood sugar levels. Read more about caring for diabetic dogs here.
Insoluble Fibers
Insoluble fibers cannot be digested and pass through the digestive system in dogs. These are actually healthy for you dog by promoting a healthy digestive system. These fibers keep the digestive track moving along, help against constipation and promotes good digestive health.
Another important role of insoluble fibers is they promote a healthy weight because they have no caloric value. A healthy weight improves symptoms of diabetes by promoting healthy weight in dogs. Some examples of Foods with insoluble fibers are:
- Edible seeds in fruit
- Root vegetables – carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes.
- Celery, cucumbers and courgettes
- Beans like green beans, pulses and lentils.
- Wholegrain foods – wheat bra, brown rice and couscous.
- Nuts and seeds.
Low Fat
Some dogs may need a lower fat diet. Researchers have shown a lower fat diet reduces triglycerides. if your dog is not having any other health symptoms such as pancreatitis, Cushing’s disease, or hyperlipidemia this may not be required .
High Protein
Having a higher protein content provides good calories your dog needs. Your dog can metabolize protein into energy efficiently. It’s wild counterparts have a very high protein and fat diet. Higher protein diets promote lean muscle mass and a healthier weight which helps diabetic dogs as well.
What are the Best Dog Treats?
Now, here are the top 5 diabetic dog treats to reward your friend with:
Ella’s Diabetic Dog Treats
A company called Dogabetix makes Ella’s Diabetic dog treats. The owner, Rob, has a dog named Ella, an adorable rat terrier. Veterinarians diagnosed Ella with diabetes in 2012 and her owners went all in, learning everything they could about canine diabetes. In fact, they even built an online community where other diabetic dog owners can share their stories and learn more about how to help their pets.
The next step was to branch out into making diabetic dog food and treats which were affectionately named after the dog that started it all. We feel like the story behind this diabetic dog treat shows this brand originated with love.
They Also have several Flavors to Choose From:
These pumpkin treats are one of the most popular flavors. Organic dog food is all made with all organic ingredients. Not only that, they’re potato-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free as well. Diabetic dogs love this treat, and those with allergies or sensitive stomachs can look forward to this reward too.
The Old Dog Cookie Company All-Natural Diabetic Dog Treats
The Old Dog Cookie Company has been making special treats for special dogs for over 20 years. Actually, they even sell their products to vets because they’re such a trusted brand. These diabetic dog treats are made with all-natural, herbal-based ingredients. No additives, chemicals, dyes, or by-products are in this product.
One of the best things about this brand is that it grew from the love of a dog. A dog named “Drakes Island Jetty” had owners who noticed that he was showing signs of aging. Because of this, they started researching pet nutrition to help him stay healthy. Not long after, he developed diabetes and, fortunately, his owners already knew exactly what he needed.
These treats are made right here in the USA and a lot of what’s in it is certified organic. In particular, ingredients include stone ground whole wheat flour, rolled oats, apples, squash, alfalfa, kelp, and dandelion. These ingredients will help lower blood sugar, slow metabolism, and manage your dog’s insulin requirements. Furthermore, this bag contains about 40 bone-shaped treats. Be sure to cover pets with the right kind of treats.
Paw to Tail Dog Chicken Jerky Treats
The coolest thing about these treats is how they manage to make a delicious, nutritious treat for your diabetic pup while using minimal ingredients. Paw to Tail Dog Treats makes These chicken jerky bites from USDA Grade A chicken breasts fit for human consumption. They’re sourced from USA farmers. Moreover, they have no gluten, soy, corn, rice, animal by-products, or any artificial flavors, colors, additives, or hormones. And most importantly, these are made with a lot of care and in small batches.
Get this: They actually smoke this jerky with hickory for 3 hours to give it an amazing taste and smell that your dog won’t be able to resist. They’re simple, nutritious, and tasty. In other words, your dog will love them!
Dia-Treaties
Admittedly, what drew us to these treats was the amazing name. A closer look showed that they’re a diabetic dog treat that you shouldn’t pass up.
These treats are a little different because they are specially designed for diabetic dogs. More specifically, if you think your dog’s sugar might be too high or he’s starting to show signs of hyperglycemia, then these are the perfect treats.
The brand recommends you use them under the supervision of your vet. Also, owners should only give these twice a day along with your dog’s insulin injection. This actually makes them the perfect reward for your pup for tolerating another shot.
In 2017, they made some improvements and now they are already patented. These treats are made in an inspected food grade facility in the USA, and support dogs’ energy and fatty acid needs. Additionally, soft and chewable so if your diabetic dog has sore teeth or gums, he won’t have a problem chewing these treats.
Hills Dog Treats – Jerky Strips
Hills makes a lot of healthy dog products. They focus on specialty foods and treats for dogs with various health related issues. They also make a great healthy dog treat with no sugar!
These treats for diabetic dogs contain only low glycemic index carbs and are also packed with lots of great nutritional foods to keep your dog as healthy as can be. They contain ingredients only from North America.
These treats also taste good to keep you dog excited every time you give them one!
Looking for Homemade Options for Your Diabetic Dog?
Are you looking for other dog food options? If your interested in some homemade dog food treats to reward your dog? Try reading our article on “Homemade Dog Treats”. It provides a good recipe you can use to make your own dog treats!
