Mary Allen
The diet of dogs and cats with diabetes is just as important for the success of the therapy as it is for human diabetics. However, it is not only important what you feed but also how you feed it…
The primary goal in treating your diabetic pet is to keep their blood sugar levels within normal limits. It increases after eating and decreases when insulin is injected.
The best way to avoid dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar levels is to give your dog or cat:
Always Feed at the Same Times of the Day
Regularity is the be-all and end-all for diabetics. The more closely you stick to fixed feeding times, the better your dog or cat can adjust to them. Therefore, for activities that are out of schedule —— e.g. a weekend trip, vacation, or the like —— you should plan in advance how you can still stick to the usual feeding rhythm.
Always Feed Before an Insulin Injection.
This way you can be sure that your dog or cat has eaten enough. Because if you first give the insulin and the animal then for some reason eats little or nothing, a life-threatening low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) can occur.
Feed Small Portions Several Times a Day.
After a small meal, the blood sugar level does not rise as much. However, you should give the same number of meals every day, i.e. not only feeding in the morning and evening during the week and suddenly giving your dog or cat four small portions at the weekend.
Feed a Special Diabetic Food.
Diet food for dogs and cats suffering from diabetes is composed in such a way that blood sugar fluctuations are less severe than normal food. When using a diabetic feed, the insulin dose can usually be reduced, and some animals can even manage without insulin injections with the diet.
For the diet to work, your dog or cat should only be fed the diabetic food and nothing else——no other treats, chews, or supplements, unless you have discussed this with the treating veterinarian. If you want to give your pet rewards, you can reserve a small amount of the diabetic diet for this, but you need to take this into account when dosing insulin.
If your animal suffers from other diseases, for example, kidney failure or a food allergy, you may have to do without the diabetic food. It is precisely then that the right feeding technique and the consistent administration of insulin are vital.