Many pet owners make use of dog biscuits for a wide variety of different functions with their pets. Biscuits can be a great way of rewarding your pet as you train him. They can also keep your dog distracted or otherwise occupied in certain situations. Many dogs enjoy the taste and experience of eating a biscuit so much that they'll beg for them. However, as with other types of food, it's important that you keep your pet's overall health in mind when giving him biscuits. There are a number of underlying health conditions which may preclude him from eating biscuits, and giving him too many biscuits can cause a wide range of health problems. Read on for an overview of giving your pet dog biscuits when he has diabetes.
Dog Biscuits and Diabetes
Standard dog biscuits can contribute to canine diabetes. Diabetes often arises in dogs that are extremely overweight or obese. Because dog biscuits are easy to overfeed to your pet, they very often lead to obesity. This is especially true if your dog comes to be reliant upon biscuits in order to obey your commands or to follow your training. Diabetes tends to develop later in life in animals, so it may be difficult to gauge how the biscuits that you give your pet now will affect him.
Specialized Diabetes Dog Biscuits
There are certain types of dog biscuits that are specially designed for diabetic dogs. These will contain a different set of ingredients from other dog biscuits. Because of the nature of diabetes, it makes it difficult for dogs to process sugars of different kinds. While most dogs have a diet that is relatively low in sugar in the first place, this can also have effects on the way that your pet processes carbohydrates. Therefore, dog biscuits for diabetic dogs are typically made from different carbohydrate sources than standard biscuits. They may be higher in protein and meat content so as to limit the carbohydrates. They will also be low in sugar.
Another quality of most specialized biscuits designed for diabetic dogs is that they'll usually be low in calories. Because of the ties between obesity, overweight conditions and diabetes, it's always best to monitor your diabetic dog's weight as closely as possible to make sure that he's adequately healthy and properly taken care of.
Other Issues
If your pet is diabetic, it's best to work with a vet to determine the proper course of action. Most vets will prescribe a set of medicines to help monitor your pet's blood sugar. However, a lot of vets will also encourage you to limit the food that you give your pet. In many cases, dog biscuits are the first food item to go. Be sure to check in with your vet before you give your diabetic dog any particular type of food.