Thankfully Bender is not a picky eater. He eats all his food at every meal. But what happens if he didn’t? Our other dog Luna will eat any from a 1/4th of her food to all of her food every meal. Its never the same.
Imagining Luna on diabetes, I would think she would be difficult to regulate with an eating habit like that. So what could you do?
Testing after every meal would be a pain, stressful for the dog, and would cause major micro adjusting for the dosages. Some thing I don’t recommend.
The easiest thing would be to switch to a food that your dog loves and will eat all of it up. But what happens if that doesn’t work?
Coming up with a sliding dosage scale might work based on food consumption. Some thing like this.
- Ate all the food – Full shot
- Ate 3/4th of the food – Subtract 1-2 units
- Ate 1/2 of the food – Subtract 2-4 units
- Etc.
In theory this seems like it would work. Of course the amount of insulin units subtracted would be based on your dog and how much insulin they get. It would be different for each dog. And also going on the assumption that the dog is being fed the same amount at ever meal (like you should be doing for your diabetic dog).
Its an interesting thought and some thing to ask my vet about. What are your thoughts?
Hi ,
I have a 13 year old Bichon who was diagnosed 11 monta ago with diabetes , he is on 6units of caninsul ever twelve hours with food …. it has taken a long while to get him anywhere near normal BG … at the moment he goes from 18 in the morning before good , then it dips by 11am to 5/4 ( recently reduced his insulin) and then climbs again to about 12 /20 before food
Recently he developed pancreatitis …..
My concern is , he is on Hills WD with minced turkey and warm water … but he Poo’s at least four if not six times a day and it’s very dry !! He was recently dehydrated !! And I keep asking the vet if it could be the hills ? …., absorbing all the fluid in him ??? Or is that mad ???
I’m am thinking about gradually changing over to making my own fresh cooked food , please can any help if they have had the same experience with hills and if they changed diet …, what did they change too?
Thank you
There is a wonderful Facebook group called Canine Diabetes Support and Information. My 12 year old lab has been diabetic about the same amount of time as your baby. This group someone is ALWAYS available to lend an ear or a helping hand. They have helped me out tremendously. Good luck.
@Stev
You can feed your dog a different food. Please read the food section on this post: http://www.diabeticdogblog.com/getting-started/ Most Vet’s recommend prescription food because that is what their books tell them or what the dog food reps have sold them on. Some of the foods are ok for diabetics some are not.
@Jackie
I would find a different food. There are plenty of good commercial brand foods out there that are diabetic friendly. Please read the food section in my Getting Started post: http://www.diabeticdogblog.com/getting-started/
@Denise
Thanks for the information.
i purchased food from a pet store by me called centenella petsupply and it is manufactured by a company called My perfect pet(myperfectpet.com) and they make a food that is for dogs with health issues and they Low glycemic foods that have helped my dog with diabetes of course i like all of you have experience that pickiness but the way i mix this food is i thaw it out and then warm it 30seconds and ad some grill chicken or etc and no issues you just have to be patient.
Thanks for your content. However, the issue is my dog NOT eating. With all do respect and no malice intended please realize this. Unless you have encountered this problem you couldn’t possibly understand the frustration and helplessness this critical situation creates. My search led me here. I’m incredibly disappointed to find the opposite situation. Im sooo happy to know you too are not faced with this problem. Our baby is sick and there is nothing we wouldn’t try on the advice of tried and true owners of finicky diabetic dogs. Thanks again. I know your post was meant with good intentions. Sincerely, heartbroken Mama and Daddy Doxie owner.