4 Tips On How To Take Care Of Dogs With Diabetes

Trina

Your dog might be feeling more sluggish than usual. A quick walk will see that your dog gets tired relatively quickly. You presume that it’s because “Fido” was playing more than usual the other day. However, a trip to the vet reveals that your furry four-legged companion has diabetes.

If your pup has this health condition, here are four tips to help you care for your diabetic dog.

1. Feed the Right Food

Now that you know your dog has diabetes, it can’t just eat anything you feed it. Your veterinarian will examine the number of calories your pooch needs to consume per day. The animal expert will base the figures on your dog’s weight and activity level.

After knowing the number of calories your pet needs to consume per day, keep a close eye on your dog’s food intake levels. Many vets will recommend a diet with diabetic dog food rich in fiber and low in fat.

Fiber will help slow glucose absorption in the bloodstream. It also aids in letting your dog feel full for long periods. Consequently, low-fat pet foods are low in calories. These two characteristics should be in your pet’s daily diet.

However, the best diet won’t do your pet any good if it doesn’t eat enough. Aid your dog in eating the food in its bowl or feeding space. Also, don’t attempt to give insulin to your pooch on an empty stomach. Otherwise, the medicine will make your dog very sick.

2. Keep an Eye on the Eyes

Many diabetic dogs will develop eye problems. Pooches with diabetes may even develop cataracts at some point. This condition can lead to eventual blindness.

The excess in glucose will cause a change in the lens of your pet’s eyes. This health issue can still happen even when you practice proper diabetes management for your pup.

Eventually, you might see your dog struggling to move around the house as it bumps into things more often than usual. You can train your pup to function correctly despite the inability to see. If you’re having trouble training your dog to use its other senses to maneuver around, opt to hire the services of a professional trainer.

Make sure to visit your veterinarian at the first sign of blindness in your furry friend. Cataracts can lead to glaucoma, and this issue is a painful and severe condition that needs emergency treatment.

Glaucoma occurs when the liquid that fills the eyes doesn’t drain properly. The continuous production of this fluid will build up in your dog’s skull, which results in a painful pressure that pushes the eyes. Seek immediate care if you see your dog’s eyes become red and swollen.

3. Exercise!

Don’t disregard the health benefits of exercise for your diabetic dog. Now that you know it doesn’t have peak health, your pet pooch needs to work out more than ever.

Manage doggy diabetes properly by maintaining its active lifestyle. Go on walks or play fetch with your dog once in a while. If it sits or lies down quickly, let it rest for a few hours before going back to its exercise routine.

Failure to maintain an ideal exercise regimen for your pooch might worsen the diabetic symptoms. Consider investing in an activity tracker for your pet to ensure your dog achieves its daily exercise needs.

4. Involve the Family

Your dog is part of your family. As a family member, other household members should pitch into caring for your diabetic pup.

Doggy diabetes care can become a full-time job. Educate your partner and your children to offer to help hands when needed to make sure they meet your pet’s health needs. Extra hands are helpful when you can’t be at home most of the time.

Also, educate your guests about your dog’s health condition. Otherwise, your visitors might feed your pooch anything on the table, which might lead to additional health complications.

Involve your entire family in the care of your diabetic dog. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of emergencies.

Lastly, always educate yourself on relevant information to give your dog extra care when needed. Know the signs of both high and low blood sugar. Use the correct treatment methods when these predicaments happen.

Conclusion

Don’t leave your dog alone during this time of need. Manage your pet’s diabetes by involving the family, feeding it the right food, and maintaining a regular exercise routine.

Also, don’t forget to talk to your veterinarian on how you can care for your pup’s current health condition better than before.

Photo by Kristina Petrick on Unsplash

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