Special Diets for Dog

Diet is an important part of treatment for a dog with a medical condition. Just as human illnesses can be treated with dietary changes, conditions that can be improved by changing your dog’s diet include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, recurring and chronic pancreatitis, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and dementia. Some special diets are available commercially, but to treat other conditions you will need to provide raw food or cook at home for your dog.

  1. Grain-Free Diet

    • A grain-free diet in which the dog is fed food made with real meat has been proven effective in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis and allergies. Prepare home-cooked meals using fresh meat, eggs and fish combined with natural carbohydrates such as brown rice, vegetables such as green beans and pumpkin. A raw food regimen such as the Biologically Approved Raw Food, or BARF, diet has been alleged to show results in treating both arthritis and allergies, but some veterinarians - like Dr Julie Churchill, a specialist in companion animal nutrition at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine - discourage the use of the BARF diet, believing that the raw food contains bacteria.

    High Protein Diet

    • Dogs with cancer frequently benefit from a diet that is moderately high in both protein and fat. Cancer is associated with lowered muscle mass, and increased protein levels help to maintain muscle mass. Tumor cells are less likely than normal cells to use fat as a source of energy, so a higher fat content helps the dog to combat fatigue. A lower carbohydrate intake will give the tumor less to feed on, thereby slowing its growth.

      Dogs with heart disease should be fed a diet that is high in meat protein. This provides amino acids that are beneficial for the heart and help to preserve lean body mass. However, this diet should also be low in sodium, as this increases cholesterol and may be harmful to dogs with a heart condition.

    Low Fat Diet

    • A low-fat diet is important for dogs that suffer from recurring or chronic pancreatitis. A diet rich in fat is one of the main reasons for attacks of pancreatitis, and too much protein can also be harmful. Feed a low-protein, low-fat and low-sodium, and high-fiber diet to help control this condition.

      A low-fat and low-carbohydrate diet is also recommended for obesity, because many conditions result from carrying weight.

    High Fiber Diet

    • A fiber-rich diet is the best feeding program for a diabetic dog. The higher fiber content of the food helps the dog absorb carbohydrates better, which results in reduced glucose levels in the blood. In this way, you can avoid allowing your dog’s blood glucose from getting too high. Feed the dog small meals of fiber or protein-rich food at regular intervals to prevent the risk of low blood glucose and hypoglycemia.

    Special Diet

    • Inflammatory bowel disease requires a highly digestible diet that contains a single source of protein and carbohydrates that are unlikely to irritate the stomach. A homemade diet using well-cooked salmon, potato and vegetables is more easily absorbed and will reduce the reaction of the disease.