Tidylife

Interior & Lifestyle

  • Home
  • Shopping
    • My Directory
  • About
    • Work With Me
  • Home Inspiration
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedroom
    • Flooring
    • Furniture
    • Home Office
    • Lighting
  • Home Improvements
    • Furniture Makeovers
    • DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty
    • Cars & Motoring
    • Eco
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Finance
    • Fitness/Running
    • House Plants
    • Kids stuff
    • Money Saving
  • Home Maintenance
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pets · March 16, 2022

Top Tips to Support Your Diabetic Dog 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Diabetes isn’t just a condition for humans. Dogs can also become diabetic and it can be a serious health condition for them. Ultimate Pet Nutrition reviews.

Diabetes is more common in older dogs but it can still occur in your dog’s younger years. Identifying that your pet has diabetes as early as possible is key to managing the condition. 

When you spot the signs of diabetes in your dog and you get a diagnosis, they can access treatment and prevent the condition from worsening. Management of your pet’s diabetes will enable them to live a long and happy life. 

In this article, we’re going to give you some top tips on how you can support your dog if they are diabetic. First, let’s take a look at what diabetes is and the common symptoms of diabetes. 

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus (often shortened to diabetes) is a metabolic condition that occurs when the body is unable to regulate the amount of glucose that is in the blood. It is caused by either inadequate insulin production or reduced insulin sensitivity. 

Glucose is the body’s primary source of energy and insulin is the hormone that normally regulates its concentration in the blood. When a dog eats food, their blood glucose levels rise and insulin is released. This insulin stimulates cells to take up more glucose from the blood. 

However, when your dog has diabetes, this process is impaired and this can lead to very high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia). When the blood glucose levels exceed a particular threshold, excess glucose is excreted in the urine. 

In humans, diabetes is usually categorised as type one or type two. However, there is less of a distinction in the diagnosis of diabetes in animals. 

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs

You may not know that your dog has diabetes until they begin showing symptoms. Some of the common signs and symptoms of diabetes in dogs are: 

  • Lethargy 
  • Drinking water more frequently than usual 
  • Weight loss 
  • Changes in appetite 
  • Persistent skin infections or urinary infections 

How to Support a Dog with Diabetes

Caring for a dog with diabetes can be a challenge. However, the more you know about the condition and the more practice that you get supporting your diabetic dog, the easier it will become to look after them. 

Most of the time, simple dietary and lifestyle changes can be adequate to manage the condition. Here are some top tips to help you best support your diabetic dog. 

 Feed Them the Right Diet 

The foods that you give to your dog impact their blood glucose levels so there is lots to consider when feeding your dog each day. 

There is a lot of great dog food for diabetes available in most pet stores nowadays. Make sure to read the labels when you buy a new type of food and ensure that it doesn’t contain too many simple sugars or saturated fats. 

High-fibre diet that is full of complex carbohydrates is recommended for dogs with diabetes. Aim to feed your dog lots of different vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cucumber. This might sound odd and your dog might turn their nose up to the veggies initially. 

However, vegetables are full of micronutrients that can benefit your dog’s health. They also contain lots of healthy fibre that can aid your dog’s digestion and regulate blood glucose levels. 

Avoid Overfeeding Them

Just like humans, dogs should not be overfed if they have diabetes. There are two main reasons for this. 

Firstly, the overconsumption of food, especially carbohydrate-rich foods, can lead to large spikes in blood glucose levels. When the levels of sugars in the blood are chronically rising to very high concentrations, it makes it harder for your dog to regulate their condition. 

Secondly, overfeeding your dog makes them more likely to become overweight or obese. Carrying extra weight can decrease insulin sensitivity and increase insulin resistance, which makes it harder for your dog to manage their blood glucose levels. 

The exact amount of food that your dog needs will depend on a variety of factors, such as their size, age, breed, and physical activity levels. If you want to give your dog a supplement for health, do your research with the help of resources like these Ultimate Pet Nutrition reviews.

Take special note of how many treats you feed to your dog and how often you are feeding them. Giving them the odd treat every few hours might not feel significant but they can easily add up over the course of the day. 

Similarly, keep an eye on the amount of leftovers that you feed to your dog. Giving them tidbits at the table or putting your leftovers on the floor after dinner can contribute to your dog’s carbohydrate intake and may affect their blood sugar levels. 

Stick to a Regular Feeding Schedule

If possible, stick to a regular schedule when you are feeding your diabetic dog. Don’t leave several hours in between meals as this can cause your dog’s blood glucose levels to become too low. 

Stick to a feeding schedule of every 3-4 hours to help your dog maintain steady blood sugar levels. Giving them smaller, more frequent meals will provide them with ongoing energy for the whole day too. 

Make Exercise a Daily Activity 

Every dog requires regular exercise, regardless of its health status but it’s especially important for dogs with diabetes or overweight dogs. Regular movement is just as essential as diet when it comes to supporting your diabetic dog for a number of reasons. 

Exercise helps your dog to maintain its weight and muscle mass. This can reduce insulin resistance and improve overall health and well-being. 

Whatever kind of exercise your dog is doing, it can all contribute to better blood glucose regulation and insulin control. Walking, running, and playing are all great ways to get your dog moving. 

Daily exercise is always recommended for any dog but depending on their size, age, and breed, they may require more or less exercise. If you’re unsure how much movement your dog needs, ask your vet for some advice. 

© Copyright 2022 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Posted By: Antonia · In: Pets

Five Ways to Give Your Car That ‘Luxury’ Feel 
Bathroom Tiles: Practical Alternatives To Natural Stone

You’ll Also Love

Choosing The Right Dog For You And Your Lifestyle: What You Should Consider Before Adopting
How to Pet Proof Your Home for a Senior Dog
How You Can Have Pets And Still Keep A Fabulous House

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Primary Sidebar

Hello! I'M ANTONIA I launched Tidylife to provide interior, garden & lifestyle inspiration. Love home decor and budget friendly improvements? Me too! You'll find them all here. Plus decorating, styling & upcycling ideas. I also love to share fitness, fashion & beauty features, so I hope you enjoy visiting Tidylife.

Subscribe to my newsletter

Name

Email


Copyright © 2025 Tidylife · Theme by 17th Avenue

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept All Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT