Canine Diabetes Diet

There are two schools of thought for feeding a dog with diabetes.

I'll explain both and suggest a few specific supplements to improve his health and help his organs.

Foods to Avoid

In both cases, the main goal of a healthy special diet is to reduce the stress placed on the dog pancreas.

That includes strict avoidance of all simple carbohydrates such as sugar and white flour (often listed as wheat flour), and chemical preservatives.

Diabetic Dog Diet

Specific food groups and percentages of each type are an important part of canine diabetes treatment, along with the right amount of insulin.

In addition, serving food to your canine spread out in four to six mini-meals on a daily schedule is best.

Feeding Protocol #1

In Dr. Marty Goldstein's book, The Nature of Animal Healing he promotes a basic diet with the following percentages in a homemade meal:

• 50% complex carbohydrates

  Such as cooked brown rice, millet, buckwheat and rye.

• 25% vegetables

  Either chopped and steamed or raw and pulvarized.

  Some good examples are; carrots, alfalfa sprouts, green beans (whose pods contain an insulin-like hormonal substance), parsley, winter squash, broccoli and dandelion greens.
  

• 25% protein

  Such as lean organic chicken, lean beef, eggs and steamed fish.

Now I have to disagree with Dr. Marty on this one and its probably the only thing I disagree with in his book. Maybe his protocol has changed since its publication.

Since an abundance of carbohydrates is what got our dogs into such a pickle in the first place, (see INSULIN RESISTANCE ) why should we continue feeding them?

Complex carbohydrates like whole grains are food for humans, and can be to a lesser extent for dogs who are healthy. Why don't we feed like this for the canine diabetes diet:

Feeding Protocol #2

Note there is now only 20% complex carbohydrates and the protein is raw, which leaves vitamins and enzymes still intact so it should be much easier to assimilate.

• 80% protein

  Such as lean organic chicken, lean beef, eggs and fish (either ground bone or added calcium should be included)

• 20% vegetables

  Raw pulverized vegetables are still complex carbohydrates but if organic, they are full of useable vitamins and phyto nutrients.

  Give low glycemic vegetables such as fresh parsley (for kidneys and liver cleansing and high vitamin, mineral, phyto nutrient composition) and carrots or sweet potato for other nutrients such as beta carotene.

The bottom line is...dogs are carnivores, and have no dietary requirements for carbohydrates at all!

Now if you add the following to your dog's daily intake, here's what it will do:

Target P14 (stock # 2810-1) Contains 14 herbs to support pancreatic function, maintaining blood sugar levels and the function of B vitamins.

CoQ10 - (stock #4109-8) To reduce oxidative stress in the cells of other organs, since diabetes affects heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas.

And now you have a recipe for the canine diabetes diet!

Garlic is also an excellent addition. Among many other benefits, garlic helps increase digestive organ function.

Varying the sources in each category gives your pet a variety of nutrients and avoids the chances of food intolerances or allergies.

For more information, here are some related pages:

Symptoms of Canine Diabetes

Canine Diabetes Treatment

Canine pancreatitis

Back to Canine Health Problems

Back from Canine Diabetes Diet to Homemade Dog Food

Back from Canine Diabetes Diet to Home Page of
Three Little Pitties Dog Health

New! Comments