Diabetes in Dogs

Diabetes mellitus is caused by a disorder in the sugar balance or carbohydrate metabolism in the dog's body. It is then unable to properly utilise the sugar contained in the food. This guide provides you with background information on the subject of diabetes in dogs and tips on what you should pay attention to when feeding your dog.

The dog has diabetes - what is happening in his body?

Firstly, let's take a look at the basic processes of carbohydrate metabolism in a healthy dog compared to those in a diabetic dog.

Normal metabolism of a dog

As the food passes through the digestive tract, it is broken down into tiny particles so that it can be absorbed by the body. Multiple sugars are broken down into simple sugars and enter the cells of the mucous membranes. From here they reach the liver and are converted into glucose. The liver can release glucose into the blood, causing the blood sugar level to rise. This is registered by the pancreas, which produces and releases insulin. Travelling through the bloodstream, the glucose reaches the cells of various tissues and organs, they utilise this sugar as a source of energy. 

Insulin is needed so that the cells know that they should absorb glucose. The faster and stronger the rise in blood sugar levels, the more insulin has to be released. The insulin in turn activates the satiety centre. Because the cells absorb the glucose from the blood with the help of insulin, the blood glucose level drops and normalises, which also reduces the release of insulin. If the blood sugar level falls too low, this is registered by the pancreas and the hunger centre is activated.

This happens to a dog with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a disorder of the dog's carbohydrate metabolism. The blood sugar level rises after eating, but as no or too little insulin is released by the pancreas - type 1 diabetes (the most common form of diabetes in dogs) or the cells do not respond effectively - type 2 diabetes (does not appear to occur in dogs and is more common in cats), the glucose is not absorbed and utilised by the cells. The consequences are:

• The blood sugar level rises and remains high because the cells cannot process the sugar from the blood.
• Sugar accumulates in the blood and urine. The sugar in the urine draws water, resulting in an increased urge to urinate and increased thirst at the same time, which places additional strain on the kidneys.
• As the satiety centre is not activated, the dog is always hungry.
• Because the cells cannot access the energy from the food, they suffer an energy deficiency - the dog continues to lose weight.

What causes diabetes in dogs?

The exact causes of diabetes in dogs are still unclear, but it is clear that the problem affects the metabolism, pancreas and kidneys and can lead to further metabolic and organ damage if left untreated. However, possible causes include chronic pancreatitis, genetic predispositions or the administration of certain medications that can affect carbohydrate metabolism (e.g. cortisone). An excess of food containing sugar or starch can also cause this metabolic imbalance.

As in humans, there are different types of dog diabetes. Insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes) is the most common in dogs. Here, the pancreas produces too little insulin or none at all. In the insulin-independent type (type 2 diabetes), enough insulin can be produced, but the cells respond poorly to it. They appear to be insulin-resistant, as a normal amount of insulin is not enough to control the blood sugar level. Type 1 diabetes is most common in dogs, while type 2 diabetes is more common in cats and is probably linked to obesity.

Diabetes symptoms - How do I recognise that my dog has diabetes?

Initially, diabetes in dogs is characterised by increased drinking and urination. The dog seems to be constantly hungry, but is constantly losing weight, despite the fact that it is actually eating enough. As the disease progresses, you can increasingly see how the dog loses weight because its cells are not getting the energy they need to do their job. The dog's coat becomes dull and dry, wounds heal poorly, clouding of the eyes and vomiting can occur - the dog becomes lethargic and lacks energy.

It is essential to consult a vet, as untreated diabetes can lead to other metabolic processes, such as fat and protein metabolism, no longer working normally. Other organs can be damaged and the dog's life may be in danger.

Diabetes in dogs - What influence does the food have?

Diabetes mellitus in dogs and proper dog nutrition are two topics that cannot be separated. The food has a direct influence on the course of the disease. You should make sure that the food is suitable for diabetes, and it should also be easy on the pancreas and relieve the kidneys.

This is because the pancreas is not only responsible for insulin production and secretion, but also produces enzymes that are responsible for breaking down carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If the pancreas is overloaded, it cannot fulfil this task sufficiently and additional problems arise. Too much of these basic nutrients, or even ‘just’ one of these nutrients, can place a heavy burden on the body.

The kidneys, in turn, are generally dependent on fluid and a balanced water balance. Conventional extruded feed can be a big problem, as it binds fluid in the body due to its swelling behaviour. In addition, attention should be paid to an appropriate protein content (this should not be too high) and the amount of phosphorus should also be kept low.

Sugar in dogs - it depends on the food

If the dog has diabetes, it is important to pay attention to the sugar content of the food. If it contains a high proportion of carbohydrates, it is less suitable for a dog with diabetes. As all dry food contains more carbohydrates than wet food, dry food should generally be avoided, regardless of the severity of the disease.

The food should therefore contain as few carbohydrates as possible and have a particularly high fibre content. This can help to ensure that carbohydrates are digested and absorbed more slowly, which can lead to a slower rise in blood sugar levels. Wholemeal products are generally more suitable than potatoes, pasta or white rice, as their crude fibre content is significantly higher. To compensate for the lower carbohydrate content, more protein and fat are needed so that the dog does not have to draw on its own reserves, i.e. fat deposits and muscles, for its energy supply. However, if the pancreas and kidneys are taken into account here, it becomes clear that the protein and fat content should not be increased indefinitely, as these two organs could suffer as a result.

Diabetes in dogs - How to support them with species-appropriate food

This is where the quality of processed ingredients comes into play. There are foods with valuable ingredients that provide high-quality proteins, fats and carbohydrates, consisting of high-quality meat, selected fat sources and gluten-free, broken-down yet high-fibre carbohydrate sources (if grain is to be included, it is best to use the whole grain).

On the other hand, there are feeds with lower-quality ingredients containing plant or animal by-products, such as husks, roots, beet fibres or leftovers from the food industry for humans or bad fillers such as claws, hooves, feathers from slaughtered animals. With low costs, these ingredients provide good-sounding analytical components within the feed, but no added value in terms of nutritional content.

Food for dogs with diabetes should always consist of high-quality and purely natural ingredients and completely avoid synthetic additives so as not to further irritate the metabolism. Conventional food with synthetic ingredients such as preservatives and flavourings can burden the metabolism instead of supporting it. In general, synthetics of any kind can over-acidify the tissues, causing irritation to the pancreas and metabolism.

Diet foods that are often recommended do not offer a good solution for dogs with diabetes. They usually consist only of cereals and cereal residues or contain potatoes, which should be a taboo due to the starch they contain.  They are not suitable for dogs with diabetes and can put a lot of strain on the pancreas if fed continuously.

The high proportion of carbohydrates are often not digested to a high standard, and the synthetic additives within, frequently recommended in dietetic foods also contain wheat gluten or gluten and molasses, beet pulp and other by-products from sugar production, which are particularly problematic for diabetics. Many of the common feeds are extruded feeds, which place an additional burden on the stomach due to their swelling behaviour and a burden on the pancreas due to the often sprayed-on fat layer, as the pancreas is also responsible for fat digestion.

Dogs with diabetes - What factors need to be considered when feeding?

If your dog has diabetes, you should not be too colourful when feeding it, as any new or unfamiliar ingredient can have an effect on the blood sugar level. Feeding a simple diet can help to ensure that it remains constant. It is therefore best to decide on two to three different meal combinations and not change them daily, but weekly, for example.

Feeding meat from our Canis Plus® pure meat pots and rolls, then adding it with vegetables and low-sugar fruit or our grain-free, air-dried flake mixture Canis Extra Top-Fit-Mix with a calcium source such as Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder would provide gentle and species-appropriate forms of feeding. Our Canis Plus® complete meals are also a practical and quick way to feed your dog with diabetes.

The Canis Plus® Lamb, Turkey, Beef, Buffalo, Horse, Pollock or Rabbit flavours and our Canis Plus® Puppy meals are completely grain-free. However, as described above, not all varieties should be fed across the board, but you should limit yourself to the varieties that the dog tolerates well and, if necessary, test them by regularly checking their blood sugar levels.

It is best to feed several small meals a day - always at the same times each day. Even if an excursion is coming up, the feeding times and portion sizes should always remain the same.

Natural nutrition for dogs with diabetes

Dogs with diabetes are often constantly hungry and lose weight continuously. Feeding herbal mixtures such as our Canis Extra Aktiv or Canis Extra Tausendgrün Organic Herbs for BARF will improve the metabolism. They provide the body with sufficient minerals, while supplements such as Canis Extra Spirulina provide highly digestible protein with almost all essential amino acids and many other valuable nutrients. This makes spirulina a valuable supplement for increased energy and nutrient requirements.

Canis Extra Organic Coconut Oil is a suitable source of fat and can be mixed into the food of dogs with diabetes, as digestive juices from the gall bladder or pancreas are not required to metabolise the high proportion of medium-chain fatty acids it contains. This makes Canis Extra Organic Coconut Oil a particularly suitable source of energy.

Depending on the severity of the diabetes, our dry food varieties Canis Plus® Salmon (also available in smaller pellet form in 1kg bags) or Canis Plus® Rabbit can be used as a treat when travelling. However, as no dry food can be produced without starch, these two varieties should never be the main food and should only be used sparingly as a treat. It would be better, for example, if you cut our meat rolls into cubes and use them as a snack or even feed pieces of cucumber as a snack.

In order to compensate for metabolic stress, dogs with diabetes need more high-quality and above all natural vitamins, minerals and trace elements, such as those contained in Canis Plus® feeds. Canis Plus® has a very high bioavailability, as only natural components are used. The Canis Plus® food therefore provides a good basic supply and support for your dog's metabolism.