Dogs can suffer from many similar health diseases that human beings do. The first and typical example is canine diabetes caused by improper functioning of the pancreas; today, it affects about 1 in every 160 dogs. The diet does not cause diabetes, but it can be managed with a diet. We list the 10 best food for diabetic dogs to help you recover your dog from diabetes.
In diabetes, the pancreas does not make the required amount of insulin, so now you need to feed the food that induces insulin creation. Develop an understanding of a healthy dog diet will do your job easily, and to help you, we provide a list of the 10 best food for diabetic dogs. Ideal diabetic dog food should have carbs below 20%, a range between 20 to 25% is also somewhat considered normal, and anything above 30% is considered dangerous for diabetic dogs.
The only requirement to deal with diabetes is carbs; your dog needs to stay away from carbs as much as possible. More carbs mean the body will produce more sugar that can spike the blood sugar level in the body. Secondly, look for rich food in fiber and protein that will make digestion easy and give your dog energy to perform day-to-day activities. Let’s move on to the list of Best dog food for diabetic dogs.
You might also like our recent blog post on Is Purina Pro Plan a Good Dog Food available on a separate page.
1. Ketona Chicken Recipe Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Pea Protein, Ground Green Peas, Oat Hulls, Chicken Fat
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: For Adults
- Best For: All Breeds
Ketona Chicken Recipe Dog Food is our top choice because it contains 85% fewer carbohydrates than other grain-free food. Carbs are only less than 5% that makes this food the best diet for diabetic dogs.
It can effectively control the blood sugar level as it contains 0.5% sugar and the starch quantity is less than 5%. Protein is 46% of this food that Ketona gets from the quality chicken raised by the American ranchers who use sustainable practices; all chicken is antibiotic-free and non-GMO.
The only drawback that we find is its price that makes it expensive among its category. But in dog foods, the most expensive ingredient is protein, and a quality source of protein is always expensive. So it is an expensive food but a balanced protein-rich recipe that can help you stretch your dog’s life in many ways.
Ketona Chicken Recipe Dog Food is a balanced formula that contains all nutrients and low in carbohydrates. We are convinced that it’s scientifically formulated.
It is the best food for diabetic dogs if we consider what a dog needs to stay active and live longer with diabetes. All of that requirements are fulfilled in Ketona Chicken Recipe Best Food for Diabetic Dogs.
It will also help you deal with the biggest problem: an increase in your dog’s blood sugar levels after eating food. Its balanced contents keep the blood level on the optimal level. If you feed your dog three times and day, then he wills normal, and you can tackle the disease without insulin.
2. Orijen Grain-Free
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Atlantic Flounder, Whole Eggs, Whole Atlantic Macherel
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: All life Stage
- Best For: All breeds
Orijen Grain-Free is a diet that nourishes dogs by fulfilling their biological needs and the best combination of raw and fresh animal ingredients. It contains every nutrient that your diabetic pooch needs to live longer, like meat, cartilage, organs, and bone supply.
Orijen crafted this recipe with a high amount of protein from a quality and low carbohydrate percentage. That is required and supportive of extending the life of a diabetic dog and curing the disease.
The protein content is 38% of food from meat and vegetables, like 15% protein from low glycemic vegetables for dogs and 85% meat. So no grain or protein plants are a feature that makes it best for diabetes.
Your diabetic dog needs much protein to maintain muscle mass and get energy for day-to-day activities and a diet with reduced carbs. A diet like Orijen Grain-Free, featured with animal ingredients, can fulfill these two requirements.
It is also easy to digest and makes the immune system strong to control diabetes and regulate blood sugar. So if you switch to this food in the early stage of the disease, you can avoid insulin.
Moreover, it’s a life stages formula that you can feed to any breed. If you have multiple dogs at home, then you can feed this single food to all of them. The biologically appropriate and 0% grain formula keeps your pups healthy, active and gives them the power to chase.
3. Merrick Grain Free Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Buffalo, Chicken Meal, Sweet potatoes, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All Breeds
Merrick Grain Free Dog Food recipe is crafted with no Gluten ingredient to make digestion easy for diabetic dogs. Deboned buffalo is a number one ingredient and a primary source of protein. In addition, Merrick’s Best Food for Diabetic Dogs contains an industry-leading level of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids that provides a lush coat and healthy skin.
Merrick Grain Free Dog Food is a completely balanced diet with chondroitin and Glucosamine to support your dog’s joints and hip.
It is a portion of well-balanced dog food, best for diabetes, made with an excellent protein source, vegetable & fruits, and supportive supplements.
Its grain-free feature makes it easy to digest and healthy for dogs with allergies; switching on Merrick Grain Free Dog Food means you start curing the diabetes of your dog.
4. Nulo Adult Salmon & Peas
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Whole peas, Sweet Potato
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: All Life Stages
- Best For: All Breeds
Nulo Adult Salmon & Peas featured 100% natural with no toxic or artificial ingredients like colors and preservatives. Its premium blend tastes great and is made without tapioca and other fillers.
Nulo Adult Salmon & Peas depend on the animal source for the protein, making it nutritious food for pups.
It is a complete grain-free non-prescription diabetic dog food with no cheap substitute for protein. Nulo only includes real things in this recipe like salmon, peas, chickpeas, lamb, etc. It is good to support the healthy lifestyle of your dog.
It is an all breeds and all ages formula. If you have several dogs at home, switching on to this food will make your job easy. You can feed this food to all your dogs, whatever breed and age they are. Nulo Adult Salmon & Peas crafted as small bite kibble with patented BC30 probiotics for natural digestion in all races and ages.
When a dog suffers from diabetes coat becomes dull, and the skin turns ruff. Nulo Adult Salmon & Peas contain fatty acids to support healthy skin and shiny coats. In addition, its fatty acids are supportive of reducing triglyceride levels and making the joints easy.
It contains 30% of protein and gets most of its protein from animal sources, not plants.
5. Acana Appalachian Ranch
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Deboned Pork, Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whole Red lentils
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: All Life Stages
- Best For: All Breeds
If your dog love to eat beef that this is a blend that he loves most, it’s crafted with ranch-raised beef, grass-fed lamb, and pork, along as well catfish from freshwater. It is a premium balanced formula. It is a recipe that focuses on the dogs’ biological needs and designed to nourish your dog.
No potato, tapioca, or gluten make it the best food to feed in diabetes. This Best Food for Diabetic Dogs is made with 70% fresh, dried, or raw animal ingredients that your pooch tastes like most.
Acana Appalachian Ranch is designed to mirror the revolutionary diet of your dog. The five unique protein sources make it protein-rich food and 70% of total food. Many dog owners believe that Acana Appalachian Ranch is a natural food for the dog because the five protein sources are not used in any other food.
For a diabetic dog, consistency matter a lot. Just make a schedule for feeding your dog and strictly following that schedule. In the early stage of the disease, this food is enough to cure the disease.
6. Hill's Prescription Diet
- First 5 Ingredients: Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Corn, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal
- Type: Non-Grain Free
- Profile: For Adults
- Best For: All Breeds
Another famous food to cure diabetes, but its ingredients list is not impressive, Hill’s craft this recipe with multiple protein sources. Like chicken and whole grains. Here one is necessary to mention that Whole grains are not harmful to diabetes, and it can be used generally during diabetes.
Hill’s Prescription Diet W/D is a recipe containing extra carnitine and protein that supports healthy metabolism and a robust immune system. In addition, it can regulate blood sugar, and its extra fiber promotes feelings of fullness.
Hill’s Prescription Diet W/D is a prescription dog food specially made for diabetic dogs with digestive difficulties or blood sugar issues.
You will need a prescription to buy this food.
7. Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Chicken Meal, Turkey Liver
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: For Adults
- Best For: All Breeds
We are well aware that more than 80% of commercial dog foods contain grains; wet canned grain-free foods are new philosophy to provide an extremely high level of meat to your pooch.
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Wet Canned is free of grains and animal by-products, and this feature makes it the Best Food for Diabetic Dogs. It’s full of lean protein tastes great. Your pooch will love to have it at dinner.
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Wet Canned carefully crafted with all the nutrients in a balanced blend. It regulates the metabolic function and excellent support for the immune system necessary for a dog suffering from diabetes. In addition, premium fish and Flax Omega are used to provide healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Made with different proteins and better results, Wellness core keeps it low in carbs, nutritious fruits, and vegetables and makes it healthy for diabetic dogs.
8. Instinct Original Grain Free
- First 5 Ingredients: Cage-Free Chicken, USA Raised Beef, Cage-Free Duck, Grass Fed Lamb, Farm-Raised Rabbit
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: For all life stages
- Best For: All Breeds
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Natural Wet is an extremely low-carb recipe perfectly made to support diabetic dogs. It can be the Best Food for Diabetic Dogs if you follow a schedule to feed them. It is chock full of the mineral and nutrients to keep your dog active and healthy to perform daily activities.
Instinct crafted this recipe with real venison and beef with no added colors, flavors, and preservatives, and as a result, this recipe only contains 6% carbohydrates. While any quantity below 20% is good for diabetic dogs but the minimum is better.
Made with carefully selected ingredients to deal with allergies and to support healthy digestion in diabetic dogs. It’s a food base don animal protein and can be used as a topper or standalone meal.
9. Taste of the Wild Canyon
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, vegetable broth, beef liver, dried egg product
- Type: Grain Free
- Profile: For Adults
- Best For: All Breeds
Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Canned Dog Food is a low-carbon food high in protein. It contains 50% protein; like other traditional grain-free foods, it depends only on one protein source. It is a multisource food that contains protein from lamb, wild boar, or beef.
Carbs are on the lower side and crafted with a mix of low glycemic vegetables for dogs that gives it a nutritious blend.
Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon Canned Dog Food is all races and all life stages formula. If you have more than one dog at home, you can feed it to all of your dogs.
Its premium ingredients with the added vitamins and minerals make it a superfood.
10. Purina Diabetic Dog Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Water Sufficient For Processing, Liver, Meat By-Product, Chicken, Rice, Guar Gum
- Type: Non-Grain Free
- Profile: For Adults
- Best For: All Breeds
Purina is not only the name of quality; their foods are backed with years of research, and each of their product is a proven one. Beef is a number one ingredient in this recipe, and it’s also featured with 23 vitamins and minerals, which position is far above the competitors.
Your pet will love the taste and finish his meal in no time. It is a food that is beneficial for diabetic dogs. Several recipes are available under this brand, and all are good to feed because these recipes are balanced and low in carbohydrates.
what is doggy diabetes?
To cure this disease, it is necessary to understand what your dog is suffering from! Diabetes results in insufficient insulin production in the body or an inability of cells to respond to it. The cells take glucose from the diet as energy, and the pancreases release insulin which is glucose regulating Harmons. That is a natural way to regulate/balance the sugar level in the bold.
The majority of dogs suffer from type 1 diabetes which is the pancreases’ inability to produce the required amount of insulin. The excess amount of glucose stays in the body and causes hyperglycemia. That is how your dog gets diabetes, and he needs insulin for the rest of his life or food that can increase the body’s functionality to digest glucose and provide more insulin to balance the level.
The second one is type II diabetes, its rate in dogs. It’s associated with obesity and other factors. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas/body produces too much insulin that is excess from the required quantity, and as a result, cells become desensitized to the hormones. Studies and vets agree that in this type’s glucose is not effectively used in the body, leading to healing the problem.
Red Flags, dog diabetes symptoms
In most dogs, it is diagnosed when it becomes serious, and the dog needs insulin daily to stay in good health. Unfortunately, some early signs are subtle and easy to miss. Many dog owners do not pay close attention to dogs’ health, and dogs can’t tell you when something is wrong. It’s you who needs to spot these symptoms for him.
Some of the most common symptoms are:
- Increase urination
- Changes in apatite
- Increased thirst
- Losing weight unexpectedly
- Fruity Breath
- Staying depressed
- Infection in the urinary tract
- Yeast infection
- Start suffering skin problems or chronic skin infections.
- Cataracts
Keep in mind symptoms are not limited to these, but these are most common. When you notice something unusual, you need to visit your vet, and he can examine and find a problem if your dog has any. Some dogs become sick when the disease is diagnosed, and they may need hospitalization to get back to normal health.
In such conditions, switch the food immediately and move on to the Best food for diabetic dogs.
Many people assume that it’s only humans who may have diabetes, but this disease is common among dogs nowadays. High-quality foods are best to control diabetes, and even in stage one, you can avoid insulin by managing the excellent routine of your diet. Vets and studies are sure that the diet does not cause diabetes, but it is possible to control this disease with food.
As we discuss earlier, nearly all of the dogs suffer from type I diabetes in which the pancreas did not procedure the required level of insulin. So, the pancreas is not making enough insulin, and now you have to feed your dog food that induces insulin creation. It is tough to choose the right food for a diabetic dog. The under-listed discussion will make it easy to choose the right food for your dog.
Portion Control
Consistency is the key to success. To get a better result and find an optimal quantity of insulin is necessary to regulate the intake. What you feed today should remain the same in the coming days. With your vet’s consultation, you must make a detailed food plan for your dog to follow on a day-to-day basis.
Either your dog is suffering from category I diabetes or category II diabetes, you need to follow a plan.
In category one, when you feed the same quantity of food that provides your dog the same calories every day will help you to sort out the exact amount of insulin required to inject. It will also help to control the spikes of diabetes levels.
In category II, where the excess insulin is already available in the body, it is not doing its job, and, in such cases, if you feed more, that results in more glucose that is not required. This is because insulin no longer works to move glucose towards the cells. It does, but at a prolonged rate.
Whenever you feed your dog, you’re adding to the glucose still present in its blood in excess form.
This abnormal accumulation of glucose causing the level to rise, and such spikes can be dangerous for the dog. You need to find out how many calories burn from previous meals until now and do not feed more than that. Usually, vets advise a similar quantity of food to feed in each meal and at the exact time to control the level of glucose in the blood.
Decreased Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the elements that are digested and absorbed faster compared to other aspects like protein and fats. As a result, carbs are the best energy sources readily available and efficiently processed and provide all the required energy that every organism need.
An excessive amount of carbohydrates hurts the diabetic dog. In addition, as discussed above, due to its fast digestion, it can spike up the sugar level in the blood that can be dangerous for dogs, and they may need more insulin to get regular.
If you feed a high carbohydrate food to your dog, it will increase your blood sugar level right after your dog eats food.
I prefer to buy food that gets carbs from a quality source to control the sugar level. Look for food that contains less than 20% carbs. Even in the initial stage, a quantity up to 30% is considered ok, but you must choose food with lower carbs to get better results.
With cheap fillers like corn and soy, simple carbs can be dangerous for your diabetic dog. These ingredients are high in sugar, processed quickly after consumption, and can cause sudden blood sugar levels.
Pay attention to the quality of carbs and prefer to buy food that depends on whole grains.
Low glycemic index
Foods with a low glycemic index are known to release glucose slowly, which helps eliminate the sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. A high-quality, low glycemic food contains foods and vegetables that digested slowly, and all of the wholesome grains also fall in this category.
The glycemic index represents the reflection of the carbohydrates present in the food to increase the glucose level in the blood. For example, wheat ad potatoes are examples of high glycemic foods.
Look for complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbs that can cause spikes the blood sugar.
High Fiber Ingredients
Both types of fiber are good for diabetic dogs like the insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool being formed in the gut, responsible for the efficient removal of wastes. On the other side, soluble fiber attracts water and is not dissolved into it, results in a mushy gel that makes digestion more efficient.
Fiber is found in various ingredients like Pumpkin, oats, sweet potatoes, and many other green leafy vegetables.
It takes up more room in the digestive tract, and it will give your dog feel full, and he can spend more time without any intake. As a result, your dog can spend more without any added calories.
It also slows down the release of glucose into the blood, which gives plenty of time to your dog’s body to absorb glucose and process it.
High Protein
Yes, it is an ingredient that takes a long time to digest. Among the thremacronutrientsts, protein has got to be the most difficult to absorb and digest. However, the protein effect is straightforward; it provides energy and improves satiety, making your dog feel fuller.
Protein provides energy to perform daily activities and plays a critical role in keeping your dog healthy.
Low Fat
It is another necessary micronutrient for dogs; it is directly beneficial for coat and skin. A good quantity of fats provides a smooth and silky coat as well as healthy skin. But due to the high amount of calories, fat can cause obesity. Minimizing fats can be helpful in diabetes. In addition, a high amount of fats can result in inflammation in the pancreas. The hormone responsible for transporting the glucose from blood to cell is produced in specialized cells of the pancreas, and swelling in the pancreas can affect insulin production. Reducing the fat in the intake of your dog is key to control the diabetes of your dog.
Wholesome Ingredient is a good choice.
Avoid Foods with Artificial Additives
Many substandard and poor-quality foods contain artificial flavors and colors that make them tasty and smell good and also color them to make them attractive for dogs. Unfortunately, these appealing foods with artificial additives can invite some unfavorable challenges for diabetic dogs.
So, when buying dog food, you need to consider food free from artificial flavors and colors. We list artificial additives freed foods in our list of 10 best food for diabetic dogs to help you. High-quality food can be delicious and looks good without artificial additives.
For a diabetic dog, buy food that features all the supplements and nutrients.
You need to understand that even your dog is suffering from diabetes, he needs all the supplements and nutrients to get the energy that can make his immune system strong and give him all that he needs to perform his day-to-day activities. Many high-quality dog foods are also featured with antioxidants that help to boost the immune system. In addition, chondroitin and glucosamine are the ingredients that are also helpful to recover from diabetes.
Additionally, it would help if you looked for probiotic support to regulate your dog’s digestive system and make that system digest more glucose to cause fewer problems. A good digestive system is also supportive of curing diabetes.
Avoid foods with byproducts and unidentified meat meals.
Do not buy food for your diabetic dog that contains byproducts and unidentified meal meals because all of these are poor protein sources and contain many toxic ingredients that can make the disease worse.
Foods with byproducts can be a good choice for people who look at budgetary options but not for dogs suffering from diabetes. Look for a food that is based on the whole protein at first, not the meat meals. We also advise buying food for your diabetic dog that contains a detailed list with the percentage of overall nutrition and has some credibility in the market.
Avoid food listing carbs hydrate as the first ingredient.
We notice that many foods that list carbohydrates as the first ingredient contain many carbohydrates even. They write carbs as less than 30% of overall food content. But food contains more carbohydrates, so never get into the trap and do not buy food that comes with carbohydrates as the first ingredient.
Meat-based food with whole grains is the best choice because it contains all the natural ingredients that diabetic dogs need. However, not all carbohydrates are equal. I prefer to buy food that gets its carbs from brown rice and bran (wholesome grains).
The first preference should be locally manufactured food for your diabetic dog.
As you know well, the United States has the most detailed and strict safety guidelines for pet foods. This is the reason we advise buying locally manufactured food. Some other countries are infrastructure in place for pet food producers. So you can depend on them. But first preference should be food made inside the USA. Other dependable countries are:
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Australia
- England
- Germany
- France
How to calculate carbohydrates in dog food? Is a question that every dog owner must have in mind most of the manufacturer does not write it clearly on the packaging that how much carbohydrates a food contains? Calculating carbohydrates, not a myth. It is easy; you can do it on your own. The ways are simple and easy; you just need to consider three steps formula that is:
- Add the percentages of protein, ash recorded in the GA, fat, and moisture.
- Subtract the result from 100.
- The result is a percentage of carbohydrates present in food.
You can get all this information in the guaranteed analysis GA section on the back of the packing. If the amount of ashes is not listed in the GA section, you can assume it on the higher side of 8%. Normally it ranges from 5% to 8%. It is hard to find the exact amount of carbohydrates in any food, this is a general formula to calculate it, and some of the foods may contain fewer carbs than what we have recorded.
Can Dogs Eat Edamame? Yes, dogs can eat edamame the immature soybeans in the pod, non-toxic rich in fiber.