raw food diets for diabetic dogs

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Bob Russell — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 15:47:39 GMT

No it was the 'memory' of junk food, diluted by raw diet until it no longer is present.

Am I confusing snake oil 'treatments'?

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 18:59:33 GMT

[quote user="Lucy Fleming"]I'm fairly certain that he mentioned it is 'junk' kibble and canned food that leads to diabetes. How odd that this dog developed it then..[/quote]

Don't you know anything?

Obviously they simply weren't doing it right! Because, if they were, it wouldn't have DM.

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 12:51:04 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]

I thought raw was supposed to prevent every disease known to dog and cat?

Or is that just raw meaty bones?

Where is Tom L when you need some advice?

[/quote]

I'm fairly certain that he mentioned it is 'junk' kibble and canned food that leads to diabetes. How odd that this dog developed it then...

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

David Mills — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 02:07:33 GMT

I thought raw was supposed to prevent every disease known to dog and cat?

Or is that just raw meaty bones?

Where is Tom L when you need some advice?

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Eilidh Corr — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:19:53 GMT

Firstly I think that's a really good point - consistency of diet is critical so for example owners who might just be feeding liver a couple of times a week will need to be careful to balance the offal portion on a daily basis.

Secondly I understand rapid gut transit time to be a factor in raw fed dogs coping so well despite the pathogens found in the food, so adding a load of bran to the diet (especially All Bran which, despite the name, is Mostly Sugar) will potentially increase the risk of the raw food.

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Rob Loxley — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 13:57:29 GMT

[quote user="Kerry Peak"]wondering if anyone has any other advice?[/quote]

I'd be more worried about the day-to-day variability of a homecooked diet as far as getting good glycemic control; if you are feeding a commercial prepared food (and I don't worry about 'diabetic' foods in dogs) at least it gets the same every day.

I'd also consider if the dog has any other concurrent diseases (pancreatitis in particular) that might influence diet choice longterm.

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 12:23:16 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]I don't like raw diets particularly the poor quality ones. I suspect the diet is a factor in triggering these cases but that is based on little evidence![/quote]My two cases.

1) dog owned by one of my nurses which gets pancreatitis at the drop of a hat had a nasty bout after being fed on some raw food she got from BSAVA Congress.

2) dog with no previous history belonging to one of my (previously considered) more sensible owners who switched to raw diet had acute pancreatitis within a week of the new diet.

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Bob Russell — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 11:27:07 GMT

One of our few raw fed dogs is also one of our few diabetics. Even the great Dr Sturgess has been unable to get it well stabilised.

Also has pancreatitis at the moment.

I don't like raw diets particularly the poor quality ones. I suspect the diet is a factor in triggering these cases but that is based on little evidence!

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 10:28:19 GMT

[quote user="Judith Archbold"]Also meant to say that my own cat ( who is 16 years old) decided to become diabetic this year. She is on insulin .....on/off as cats do...she can't decide whether or not to go into remission...but I now feed her kitten pouches[/quote]It has long been advocated that diabetic cats be fed kitten food rather than special diabetic diets which are still relatively high in carbohydrate so this is what I advise. Problem arises when the cat also has CKD as one of mine did!

I am very sceptical on raw diets, the principle is fine but in practice most people don't do it right and dietary deficiencies can occur. Or worse - I've recently seen two dogs switched to raw diets which suffered acute pancreatitis. This could be a whole new tangent.

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Judith Archbold — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 16:40:24 GMT

Also meant to say that my own cat ( who is 16 years old) decided to become diabetic this year. She is on insulin .....on/off as cats do...she can't decide whether or not to go into remission...but I now feed her kitten pouches ( lower carbs, higher protein and fat) as she won't eat anything else and I definitely notice an increase in her blood glucose (I have an Alphatrak at home to monitor her) if I give her adult pouches instead. So I think in diabetic cats dietary control is helpful.

RE: raw food diets for diabetic dogs

Judith Archbold — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 16:36:25 GMT

Where I work we have a large number of clients who feed their dogs a raw diet....and there is no changing their minds about it. I would expect your client to be of a similar mindset but obviously you could mention the prescription diabetic diets to them. But if they want to continue on a raw diet , which as you say is low in carbs anyway so not too bad, then personally would suggest they add some bran fibre / AllBran etc. to each meal to make it even lower GI.