Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Andrew Kent — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:41:35 GMT

Hi Bob,

I don't tend to push diabetic dogs onto particular diets but the important thing is consistency - and the RMD diets are often not very consistent which is where the problem can occur.

If they absolutely insist on a raw diet there is only one raw company that are recognised by the pet food manufacturers association (and therefore is nutritionally balanced) and that is natures menu so I therefore suggest them in these kind of circumstances. If it can't be a 'normal' diet then it can at least be balanced!

Andy

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Glenn Hodgson — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:08:51 GMT

Not related to the food.question... I have a, now, stable huskies in today. We finally achieved good control on 44iu lantus Bid. He is 30 kg. I was cautious about giving him so much but his curves are favourable. And yes, hunted very hard for insulin resistance.

Re diet. I make my point re things like this when clients wontl follow certain advice, usually try again, then jot down and file away in the dealt with pile. If they then become concerned again I use this as an opener to discuss again.

If they are being ridiculous, imo, I follow up with written advice and then if they do not conform off they go. We had a multiparous cat in Mon. Owner won't spay, owner called me on Sunday for free ooh treatment. Advised save up for the possibilities of problems or spay or will need to leave.

Good luck!

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Virginia Campbell — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 01:01:39 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]With faddy owners, often the more expensive a food is, then the better they believe it to be![/quote]

Yep, and when it's 6 different types of fish all the way from Canada, or buffalo, wild boar, zebra and wildebeeste or whatever is in the other one that justifies the price tag more than boring old beef, so much the better.

If they are firmly wedded to RMB then just document the fact that you've told them about diabetic susceptibility to infection and don't lose too much sleep. Perhaps make sure it's at least getting the Raw Meaty Bandwagon food you find in the freezer at Pet Superstores R Us now, so that at least less chance of bugs as has been properly frozen for long enough.

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:11:05 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]....owners that insist on RMD (including some quite bizarre species of origin). This has not protected her from ill health and she is now diabetic. I thought RMD pets were immune to everything and illness is not allowed.[/quote]

Did anyone see the programme on GM modified food on Beeb 1 last night? What was striking was the number of scientists who had jumped ship from the anti-GM brigade and had become supporters/actively involved in the science and production of GM foods because they were disillusioned with the pseudo-science and unfounded scaremongering tactics groups like Greenpeace were using in their campaigns.

These were honourable people with brains not like the, at best naive, at worst exploitive, purveyors who still promote BARF, RMB and homoeopathy to vulnerable individuals. The activists who opposed GM foods were still clinging to unsubstantiated rumour and downright lies to justify their position. I guess it could be likened to religious indoctrination but perhaps we'd better not go there again!

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 15:07:27 GMT

With faddy owners, often the more expensive a food is, then the better they believe it to be!

Wynne

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Bob Russell — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:42:49 GMT

I have been gently pushing for nearly a decade!

Orijen does seem the type of diet they would go for (except for price!).

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:57:07 GMT

The most important thing is to feed the same food, in the same quantity at the same time every day, preferably in two equal measures at or around the time of the insulin injections - assuming assuming it is on twice daily. I am generally against RMB diets but I would think that logically it would have a lower glycaemic index than commercial dog food The problem is pet owners are generally too stupid to get the diet right and are are probably feeding a load of crap anyway so invariably they're better with a good quality commercial dog food. I always advise cat owners to feed moist kitten food and don't bother with the special diabetic diets but dogs may be better on one of those.

Whatever, if the clients won't listen to your advice and are making it hard then I wouldn't be too sorry to see the back of them. They'll probably jump soon anyway so you might as well give them a gentle push!.

Re: Diets for diabetic Huskey.

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:19:32 GMT

I think as long as it's decent, commercial complete diet it should be ok. Something with a low glycemic index I should imagine too. Potentially mention 'Orijen' food to them: it's a biologically appropriate food (rather than barf or rmb) but comes in kibble form. May be easier to persuade them to switch to something like that? I've got a new diabetic case where the owners are getting advice from me, then consulting Dr. Google for more information and coming back with further questions, which isn't helping the dog! On an iPad, apologies for lack of paragraphs