Canine diabetes may not be curable, but it is manageable in most dogs–if the condition is diagnosed early and treated properly. Only a veterinarian can diagnose this condition in dogs, but treatment will largely fall on the lap of the dog’s owners and it is no small thing. Treating any medical condition is a daily responsibility to be carried out consistently for the rest of the dog’s life. However, knowing the knowing the three components of at-home care  for a diabetic dog–food, medication, and exercise–you can create a schedule that is balanced, not overwhelming.

Diabetic Dog Food
Diet is a critical component of treatment of canine diabetes. The foundations of this diet is lower carbohydrate and higher fiber. Carbohydrates are considered a form of sugar because the body converts it into glucose. When blood sugar plummets too low, it results in hypoglycemia, which is a serious condition. A diet with low carbohydrate/glucose reduces the amount of insulin needed, keeping blood sugar low.

High quality fats and proteins are also turned into blood glucose much more slowly and evenly than carbohydrates, reducing blood-sugar highs right after mealtimes.

You might be amazed about the amounts of carbohydrates and sugar contained in commercial dog food with dry food being the biggest culprit. You can either buy diabetic dog food or make homemade food for your dog. Remember these when points developing your dog’s diet.

1. Natural food is best. You would know much better how much carbohydrates and sugar your dog is getting. A homemade diet of natural foods isn’t as expensive or as much work as you might think.
2. Or use high quality dog food. If you cannot avoid commercially manufactured dog food altogether, it is better to give your dog quality canned food that is low in carbohydrates and low in sodium. Diabetic dog food is better. Organic dog food is usually good too.
3. Avoid most dry dog foods. These are largely made up of simple carbohydrates (sugars and/or starches), something you really want to decrease if you dog is diagnosed with diabetes. Some are OK when the ingredients are high in protein and vegetables. No matter what dry dog food you use, it should never be the sole form of food–there is just not enough nutrition in it.

Medication for Your Diabetic Dog

If  your veterinarian has prescribed medication for your diabetic dog, she must receive twice-daily, precisely prescribed subcutaneous shots of insulin–one in the morning, another in the evening. Administering these injections without fail will be the job of its owners.

Exercise and the Diabetic

A diabetic dog must be exercised according to a rigorously maintained schedule. This helps keeps your dog’s insulin levels stable. And by exercise, I do not mean running your dog five miles one day, then letting him lie on a couch for the rest of the week. His exercise, at whatever level, must be consistent. And for you and him to stay consistent it is usually better to opt for short stints (even 10 minutes) every day, then ambitious sessions (30 minutes Frisbee practice or 2 mile jogs) that you can only manage to maintain a few days a week. See more in the article Exercise for Dogs with Diabetes.

While measuring insulin levels will be done periodically by a veterinarian, only a dog’s owner can  manage an animal’s daily workout program that levels out these levels.

My stepmother wasn’t feeling well a couple of weeks ago and she asked me to pick her dog up from the vet. PIg had been a little lethargic and was drinking a lot of water. My S-Mom thought Pig might have picked up something from the boarding kennel when she and Dad were in Mexico last month. The vet told me nope, the dog has diabetes and started rattling off instructions and a follow-up appointment. When I got Pig home, I don’t think my stepmother really believed a dog could be diabetic and called the vet. I wanted to say–but didn’t–well, S-Mom with a name like Pig….

Even veterinarians are also seeing more pets with diabetes. And one of the major causes is obesity. Diabetes in pets is often controlled with a specific diet and medication including insulin. Careful portion control and timing of food intake is important. But exercise is crucial for a three reasons:

• weight loss – Eating healthy and moving more is the basic formula for losing weight. Weight loss helps lower elevated blood glucose levels.
• weight control – Weight control with diabetes is an essential part of successful treatment. Naturally, any weight gain can make diabetes worse. Managing a good weight helps keeps all the body’s systems, including blood sugar levels, in balance.
• better blood circulation – exercise generally causes the blood glucose to decrease as muscles pull energy from blood glucose. So, as the dog exercises, the blood glucose decreases. Exercise also helps your dog to absorb insulin better which also causes the blood glucose to drop. In fact, exercise can increase the rate at which insulin is absorbed.

Exercise Tips for Dogs with Diabetes

These are general tips, but please, always talk to your dog’s vet for the best course of action for your pet.

Pick an exercise your dog will find fun, but is low-key. The activity should be reasonable for your dog’s temperament, age, and health. Walking is always a safe bet, but hiking, swimming, and other low-key activities are fine and provide variety. A low-key activity is something you dog can do without panting.

But don’t go overboard with weight loss–a little bit of activity goes a surprisingly long way. If your dog has been inactive, you definitely need to start small, 10 to 15 minutes at a time. It is better to do a little bit most days, than to cram 30 minutes of workout in a couple of days.

It is important to keep their activity level the same from day to day. Try to exercise at the time of day for the same length of time. It helps you both get into the habit, but it also gives her body time to adjust to the changes. In fact, if your dog’s activity changes drastically one day from the previous, her blood glucose levels can surge and really endanger your dog’s health.

Always, take a little sweetener like Karo syrup with you when you walk or exercise. If your dog over-exercises and her blood sugar drops, you will see strange behavior, anything from dizziness to fatigue to convulsions. If so, give your dog a little sugar, and you should see a difference right away.

Remember, make changes one at a time. Go slow, go gradual. But do go! And watch the diet (Check out this video for ideas).