How to Cook Diabetic Dog Food

Our special canine companions can suffer from diabetes, just like humans.

Like humans, dogs with diabetes must follow a diet that regulates their blood glucose level. According to animal endocrinologist Dr. Richard Nelson at the University of California, this diet will usually be high in fiber and complex carbohydrates and low in fat. In most cases, this diet will also help lower and then maintain your dog's weight. Although there are commercially available dog foods specially formulated for diabetic dogs, many dog owners prefer to cook their own. Always consult your vet when changing your dog's diet.

Things You'll Need

• Whole grains (e.g., pearl barley, brown rice) Lean meat (e.g., skinless chicken, turkey, lean beef) Raw vegetables (e.g., carrots, green beans, broccoli cauliflower) Low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt

Instructions

1. Cook the whole grain by following the directions on the package. Choose grains cooked just with water.

2. Cook the meat thoroughly. Dice it into chunks it for larger dogs or grind it for smaller dogs. Brown it in a skillet and drain off any rendered fat.

3. Chop or grate the vegetables, but leave them raw. Heat destroys or alters many vegetables' nutrients.

4. Combine equal parts of the cooked grain, browned meat and raw vegetables with a quarter part of cottage cheese or yogurt. For example, combine 1 cup of cooked grain, 1 cup of cooked meat, 1 cup of raw vegetable and 1/4 cup cottage cheese or yogurt. The serving size depends on your dog's caloric needs, which your vet will help you determine.

5. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers. Cooked parts can be stored for up to three days in the fridge or for a few months in the freezer. Most vegetables can be safely frozen. In general, vegetables and cottage cheese should be stored separately in the fridge and used before they spoil.

Tips & Warnings

• Always work with your vet when formulating a homemade diet for your diabetic dog. Your vet will make sure that your dog is getting all the necessary nutrients and will prescribe supplements and medicinal treatments based on this specific diet. Canned or frozen vegetables can often be substituted for fresh, especially during the off-season.

• Consistency is important to a healthy diet, especially for a diabetic dog. A change in diet will change the blood sugar levels with which your dog's insulin prescription is measured to work. If you need to change your dog's diet for any reason, alert your vet. Dogs cannot eat all the things that people can. Avocado, garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate, coffee, yeast dough and food containing the sweetener xylitol can be toxic to dogs.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Foods toxic to dogs, from Dig First Aid 101
• Drs. Nelson and Feldman answer questions about diabetic pets
• More information about diabetes in dogs