The Diabetic Dog: Food + Exercise = Healthy

Even veterinarians are also seeing more pets with diabetes. And one of the major causes is obesity. Naturally you need to change and monitor her diet, but in addition to a diabetic dog food diet and medication, it is crucial that you diabetic dog get up and moving regularly.

The good news is that canine diabetes, though incurable, is eminently manageable in most dogs if the condition is diagnosed early and treated properly. Although a veterinarian would provide the diagnosis, treatment, however, falls to the dog's owners.

Diet is significant factor in managing diabetes. The importance of diet cannot be over emphasized.

First, your dog's daily diet must be consistent in both quality and quantity. Changing it from day to day can be troublesome to a diabetic dog's gastrointestinal tract.

Next, a high fiber diet, low in fat and sugar, is vital. Fiber in the system will slow down digestion and reduce the glucose surge that normally comes after eating. This greatly helps steady the insulin activity in the animal's body.

Soluble fibers, the type you find in fruits and some cereal grains, slow down absorption of glucose. This is good for diabetic dogs who need some amount of sugar absorption.

Some very good formulas for diabetic dogs are commercially available, but you have to consult your vet to make sure which brand is suitable for your dog. Home-prepared diets for diabetic dogs are also good and there are many places to find recipes but again, make sure you consult with a vet to make sure the ingredients are right for your dog.

And, never give your dog table scraps.

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, something your dog can do without panting. Walking is always a safe bet, but hiking, swimming, and other low-key activities are fine and provide variety. .

Weight loss is important for obese dogs with diabetes, but don't rush it! In fact, if your dog’s activity changes drastically, her blood glucose levels can surge and really endanger your dog’s health.A surprising little bit of activity goes a long way. If your dog has been inactive, you definitely need to start small, 10 to 15 minutes, at least once a day, twice is better. It is better to do a little bit most days, than to cram 30 minutes of workout only a couple days a week.

It is also important to keep your dog's level of activity the same from day to day. And 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.

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 an annual checkup by a qualified professional is also an important part of proper pet care. Overall successful management of the condition--proper diabetic dog food, medication, and regular exercise--helps prolong the quality of life for that pet.