Question:
Penny is an 11-year-old miniature fox terrier weighing about 18 pounds. She loves fruit and veggies and has been on excellent canned food and dry pellets. She loves to eat, and her bowels are fine. I check her urine morning, noon and night. The vet has had her on four units of insulin for diabetes since September 2009. I cannot get a consistent urine reading. No ketones. She has been on Vetsulin and human insulin. I was told that a 250 to 500 range would be a good reading, but we can't regulate it to that. Like you, I believe prepared dog food with some nutrition in it is better than the vet's pale, no-taste canned food they suggest I use. As much as Penny likes to eat, she has never been fat and still likes to play and act young. I took her in recently because she didn't look right in the eyes. She has gone for every test necessary since she was a pup. Isn't six months long enough to get her regulated? Or am I wrong in thinking that she deserves to go back to her regular diet as long as sugar is monitored?
B.J.D., Laurel, Md Sep 19, 2010
Answer:
Your dog's diabetes probably has a hereditary basis. The best way to control it is to feed your dog a no-grain (cereal), potato (starch) diet. Fresh veggies and lean meats are called for. Go easy on the fruits, though. Mixing a little cinnamon in her food may help her stabilize her insulin: work up to 1/2 teaspoon daily. Add probiotics (1 capsule of human-grade product) and 1 teaspoon of organic flaxseed oil or good quality fish oil.
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