Diabetes in Dogs: Food Related?

Diabetes in dogs may occur when your dog ages or is given the wrong dog food. The biggest culprit would be the commercial type dog food.

Typical dog foods contains fillers that may contribute or even be the direct cause of diabetes. Ingredients in dog food that may lead to diabetes are sugar, rice (including rice flour and rice gluten) dried beet pulp, maple syrup and corn syrup .

Affected dogs develop increased appetite and thirst, increased urination, fatigue, weight loss and/or infections that are hard to heal. They normally have high sugar levels in the blood and also sugar in their urine.

There is no cure if your dog has developed diabetes. You can only control it. Controlling Diabetes in your dog includes changing your dog diet, regular exercise routine and in some severe cases may include daily insulin injection.

Diabetic Dog Food is high in fibre. Such type of dog food contains many grains such as millet, oats, cornmeal and brewer's yeast. Food that are high in fibre and complex carbohydrate will help to lower the blood sugar level.

Diabetic dog food are not cheap and cost very much more than normal dog food.
Some pet owners choose to go the natural route and feed their dog, homemade dog food or as some may call it, natural dog food. You can ensure that there is no risk of fillers that can enhance the illness. You select the food that are high in fibre and yet at the same time offer your dog variety. These type of homemade dog food or natural dog food is cost much cheaper than the commercially available diabetic dog food. Ensure that more than 40% of the calories comes from complex carbohydrate and less than 20% from fats.

Exercise is essential to dog health. Daily exercise routines such as long walks is necessary . This type of activity can help keep dog health in the best condition possible, even when diabetes is present. If your dog has good enough health, you will want to let them spend time outside running and playing, even if you cannot go on walks. You do not have to wait until your dog has diabetes to change his diet. Make the switch now to homemade dog food .

Do also remember that diabetic dogs may also develop cataracts ( in addition to other problems such as heart disease) which eventually leads to blindness . Keep your vet appointment do the necessary blood and urine test so that your dog health can be monitored properly.If you truly love your dog , do you want your dog to be healthy and with you as long as possible ?

Aprilliza Varsya http://domesticdogs.net