How to Cook Diabetic Dog Food
Many people do not realize that dogs can also develop diabetes. This means that your dog's body does not process sugars properly and may require insulin. A special diet can help your dog to deal with diabetes more easily. Just like with humans who are diabetic, a diet that is high in fiber and complex carbohydrates is preferable to foods that are higher in fats and simple carbohydrates.
- Let your veterinarian know that you are planning to make homemade food for your diabetic dog. He may have recommendations for your dog's diet that may accommodate other health conditions besides diabetes.
- Choose the ingredients for your diabetic dog's food carefully. Use whole grains like barley, brown rice or quinoa. Just as for humans, white rice and other high-glycemic foods digest too quickly, which can cause your dog's blood sugar to spike and then fall. Whole grains digest more slowly and they contain more fiber which also helps to control your dog's blood sugar. Use lean meats such as chicken and turkey instead of fattier beef or pork cuts. Vegetables, such as carrots and green beans, contain a lot of nutrients and add flavor and color to the food.
- Cook the whole grains according to the package directions. For more flavor, you can use low-sodium chicken stock in place of some or all of the water. Be careful not to add salt or other spices.
- Grind the meat or cut it into small pieces. Dogs do not always chew their food as well as we would prefer, so the smaller pieces help insure that your dog will not choke on his homemade food. Brown the meat and drain off the fat. Do not worry about seasoning the meat as it is too easy to over-season.
- Grate the vegetables with a box grater or chop them in a food processor. Do not worry about cooking them.
- Mix one part each of the cooked whole grains, the browned meat and the grated vegetables. Mix carefully and follow your veterinarian's recommendations for how much to feed at each feeding. Refrigerate the leftovers promptly in a tightly-covered container. Use the same rules for your dog's leftovers as for your own, since the cooked food is perishable. If you make a large batch, you can freeze the food in smaller containers.