In a nutshell, human food with caloric limitation but contains high fiber and average in proteins and carbohydrates is healthy for your diabetic doggie. This food, combined with regular exercise, will assist in controlling the dog’s blood sugar.
Like humans, our canine friends are also prone to most of the health conditions we undergo. Diabetes is one of these problems.
Diabetes refers to a condition where the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose or sugar in the body), or the body’s failure to respond to insulin. This is not a rare condition as at least 1 in 100 dogs develops canine diabetes.
Have you seen symptoms of diabetes in your canine friend? Or do you know that he is suffering from diabetes mellitus? This means that he will need special care unlike other pets in your home.
I know you are worried and maybe asking, “Other than dog food for diabetic dogs, what human food can I feed my diabetic canine friend?” Well, if that is your concern then you have come to the right place.
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Importance of Diet in Diabetes
In diabetes, diet can be used as a treatment to regulate the blood sugar level. How so you may ask? An appropriate and regulated nutrition makes it easy to control the blood sugar levels in your dog. How consistent are you with your canine friend’s feeding?
Other than maintaining the amount and quality of your dog’s food, you need to follow a specific time schedule. With this, you can realize the best insulin level to inject your dog every day.
Caution: Do not feed your dog human foods that contain simple sugar such as table leftovers, white rice, and bread as they are detrimental to diabetic dogs.
What Veggies Are Good for a Diabetic Dog?
One of the mistakes that we make as pet owners is assuming that our canine buddies can eat every human food available. If you have been doing it, sorry to disappoint you but you have been doing it all wrong.
So, what veggies are good for a diabetic dog? Well, fresh veggies make tremendous diabetic dogs treats. This includes cauliflower, broccoli, string beans, cucumber slices, leafy salad greens, carrots, and alpha sprouts.
Let’s see what each of these foods has to offer to your diabetic canine friend!
- Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a green veggie human food that is low in glycemic index. It is very high in fiber and has few sugars. Make sure it mashed well before feeding it to your diabetic dog for digestibility and optimal benefits.
- Broccoli
Like cauliflower, broccoli is yet another green veggie human food that contains low glycemic index. It also is very high in fiber content with limited sugars. Follow the same feeding instructions above.
- String beans
Also referred to as string beans, string beans are low in glycemic index and load. They are considered to be a great food choice for both prevention and management of diabetes. Sounds great, right? They are rich in fiber content and can be served raw, cooked with other veggies, or squashed.
- Cucumber slices
Cucumber is a recommended veggie for patients with Type II diabetes as it helps lower their blood sugar levels. It is nutritious and high in fiber content which is beneficial for dogs with diabetes, and can be served sliced with other veggie foods.
- Leafy salad greens
Feed your diabetic dog with leafy salad greens such as kales, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, collard greens, and mustard greens. Avoid spinach, Swiss and chard.
- Carrots
Carrots maybe sugary, yes, but that is naturally occurring sugar and it has zero effects on insulin levels. In fact, it helps manage glucose levels in your diabetic pooch. You can either serve them raw (pulped for easy swallowing and digestibility) or cooked.
- Alpha sprouts
Also known as alfalfa sprouts, they are high in fiber content and pick bacteria up easily. Alpha sprouts should be served fresh mixed with oats/rice and low-fat meat.
What Grains from Human Food Are Good for a Diabetic Dog?
Whole grains from human foods are a good choice for your diabetic canine pal. That’s because they are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals which gives your diabetic pooch energy and healthy support. Ensure you feed your dog with human food that is rich in whole grains such as:
- Brown rice
- Whole wheat flour
- Millet
- Oatmeal or whole oats
- Whole rye
- Sorghum
- Wild rice
- Whole grain barley
- Whole farro
- Cracked wheat
These whole grains should only be omitted if your diabetic dog has digestion problems and resumed when he restores back. If you want your diabetic dog to gain weight, feed him human whole grain foods that are rich in protein and fiber such as buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa.
FAQs
How to monitor your Pet’s Diabetest at Home
You can check your dog’s blood glucose using over-the-counter trackers you can find on Amazon.
Below is our top recommendations with great reviews on Amazon:
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com
