High-protein Diets for Diabetic Dogs

If your dog suffers from diabetes, its body does not generate sufficient insulin. Lack of insulin can lead to ketoacidosis---a condition in which the body utilizes fat to fuel the body---resulting in unhealthy weight loss. To keep your pet healthy and its diabetes under control, put the dog on a high-protein diet.

  1. High-quality Proteins

    • A high-protein diet helps your dog gain weight as well as replenish vital nutrients to its body. High-quality proteins, such as chicken, fish, lamb, beef and eggs, contain amino acids that are extremely digestible. Avoid feeding your dog low-quality proteins derived from plants. A high-protein diet also provides other nutrients important to its health, such as L-Carnitine, dietary fiber and chromium. When feeding your dog a high-protein diet, feed the dog at the same time each day and provide the same amount of food each day. In order to keep its blood levels balanced throughout the day, feed it twice a day. Before placing your dog on a protein high regiment, consult a veterinarian.

    Commercial Dog Food

    • Some commercial dog foods contain high levels of protein for your diabetic dog. When choosing a store-bought kibble, read the ingredients label. The ingredients at the top of the list will be high-quality proteins, such as chicken or beef, if the dog food contains high-quality proteins. If the first ingredients on the list are meat byproducts, brown rice, barley or oats, the dog food does not contain significant amounts of high-quality protein. Because corn and wheat can upset a diabetic dog's digestion, avoid purchasing commercial foods containing them.

    Insulin Control and Exercise

    • Controlling canine diabetes involves more than just feeding your pet the appropriate foods and proteins. A high-protein diet will not cure your pet; there is no cure for canine diabetes. You need to administer daily insulin injections. Oral methods of administering insulin are unavailable for dogs. You also may have to monitor the dog's blood glucose levels at home. Your veterinarian can teach you how to administer the injections and check the dog's glucose levels. Your dog will need to exercise every day. Because exercise affects the amount of insulin the dog's body needs, provide a consistent amount of exercise every day.