All You Need to Know About Dog Diabetes

Our dogs are more like us then we think, not only are they loyal friends and companions to us humans, but also they are susceptible to some of the same ailments and diseases that their human masters suffer from, diabetes is one of them. In dogs, diabetes is life-threatening if not detected in early stages and treated, although with proper treatment diabetes can be controlled and your pet can lead a normal life. Diabetes in dogs is more common in obese dogs. Some breeds of dogs are more likely to have diabetes than others, these breeds are Poodles, Schnauzers, Keeshounds, Cairn Terriers, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, and Beagles. An early detection of diabetes in dogs can get the dog proper treatment and they can live for years once their blood sugar levels are regulated.

Sugar is, of course, the main source of diabetes, which your dog may not exactly be asking for extra cubes of sugar to go with their kibble. The treats you hand out unwittingly can be loaded with sugar or products that when broken down become sugar. Make it a habit to read the label of commercial pet foods before making a purchase. As a general rule carbohydrates when broken down gets converted into sugar.

What are the symptoms of diabetes in dogs? Symptoms to watch out for and perhaps should make you consider switching to diabetic dog diet or diabetic dog food are: when you pet which is constantly thirsty and drinks more water than a camel, laziness, an increase in appetite, constant peeing and an overall weakness. Somehow this list points more and more to that orange cat and not to the dog. For one thing, he's not even consuming commercial pet foods, hence you can imagine the sugar imbalance he now has. Perhaps its time for John to put him on a diet for diabetic dogs!

What you generally feed your pet will last for the rest of his adult life. With the wide variety of diabetic dog food available, choosing food for your diabetes inflicted pooch should not be difficult. Obviously, you want to make sure you do not feed your dog any more sugar. What is the best diet for diabetic dogs then?

The best-recommended diet for diabetic dogs, whether it is a specially formulated diabetic dog food or a homemade alternative requires you to feed 2 to 3 times a day instead of one big meal. With these rations, you could control the level of sugar in your pet's bloodstream. Choose only diabetic dog food kibble rather than its semi-moist counterparts. There's nothing wrong with commercial pet foods as long as you choose one that is right for your dog. Also starting your pooch on a similar diet for diabetic dogs is not a bad option as it encourages a healthier lifestyle at an early age.

Imbalanced blood sugar levels can cause kidney problems, cataracts, intestinal disorders, and liver failure. A diabetic dog diet or any diet for the matter is always more effective when combined with exercise. One can also count on exercise to help prevent diabetes in dogs. Daily walks or jogs around the park will keep blood sugar levels at a healthy rate. Take your dog for swimming, play fetch, or indulge in some Frisbee action.

Overweight dogs are targets of diabetes. Before diabetes strikes your pet, make sure to keep him healthy with the proper diet. Preventive diabetic dog food can be used or simply controlling what your pet consumes should keep your pet fit for life.