When your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, changes will be made to his diet. Most pets do not eat prescription food for diabetic dogs. Unless a sudden change in your dog’s diet is required, you should try to gradually change his diet by slowly adding the prescribed dog food to his regular food. A good tip would be to add ¼ of the prescribed dog food to your regular food and after a few days slowly increase the amount to half of the prescribed dog food. Keep substituting prescription dog food until your beloved pet only eats his prescription dog food.
Pets with diabetes should eat regularly. It can be stressful for pet owners and life-threatening for your pet if you give him an insulin injection and then refuse to eat. Here are some tips you can try to entice your beloved pet to eat. Remember to check with your vet before trying these tips to make sure everything is okay.
• Add Ingredients – Add a little of your pet’s favorite food or a small healthy treat to his regular food to entice your pet to eat. The goal is to mix his favorite food with his usual food so that your dog cannot choose the rich food and leave the rest.
• Here are some suggestions from diabetic dog owners to entice their pets to eat:
- Add some healthy chicken broth to your meal.
- Or try Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup.
- A few small pieces of whole wheat bread or crumbled crackers help entice your dog to eat your diabetic dog food.
• Feed a different food: There may be times when your diabetic dog refuses to eat or vomits his food when he is taking medication. Remember that eating something is usually better than eating nothing. Try to feed your dog normal food every day until he finishes taking his medications.
Always consult your veterinarian about the best feeding program for your dog if he refuses to eat. Just remember that your dog’s diet will go a long way to helping him cope with diabetes. Your beloved dog will need all the love and affection you can give him to make him a happy and healthy dog.