Picky Pups – Meal Toppers
If you have a picky dog, you know the routine: you find a food they love, stock up on it, and then suddenly your dog decides they're no longer interested and refuses to eat. This isn't much of an issue for healthy dogs, but if your pet is diabetic and needs to eat before getting insulin, mealtimes can quickly become stressful.
Lucy was never a picky girl, and the two times she was picky were due to being ill. The first time was when she was diagnosed with diabetes and pancreatitis, and the second time was when she was almost 16 years old and diagnosed with renal failure. With pancreatitis, she healed quickly, and her appetite resumed to normal, but with renal failure, her inappetence was consistent, and I had a lot of options for her.
There are a few other common issues that happen to diabetic dogs that can also cause a lack of appetite, and they include pancreatitis, ketones, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and infections like a urinary tract infection (UTI) and dental issues. Let’s go over these quickly.
- Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and requires medications and a very low-fat diet to reduce strain on the pancreas. Symptoms include inappetence due to pain and an upset gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, etc.). Up to 40% of diabetic dogs get or have pancreatitis.
- Ketones in urine or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are complications of high blood glucose levels. When blood glucose is consistently high, lack of appetite is a symptom.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in diabetic dogs due to higher blood glucose levels. The kidneys filter excess glucose from the blood and dump it into the bladder. Glucose breeds bacteria, which cause urinary tract infections.
- Dental issues such as a broken tooth, infection, or a cavity can cause a dog to stop eating. Do a quick inspection of their teeth and gums to make sure there isn’t a loose, cracked, or infected tooth.
If your dog isn’t normally picky, it’s likely that something else is going on. Test blood glucose levels, test urine for ketones, test urine for UTI, check your dog’s teeth, and contact your vet.
Now for toppers that are low in fat and good option for diabetic dogs. Below are some topper options you can add to your picky pup’s meals; some are stinky and that’s a good thing, dogs love smelly!
Albacore tuna packed in water is low in fat and smelly, and the tuna water can also be used in water or in meals. Because albacore tuna contains higher levels of mercury, offer it only occasionally, such as once per week, to avoid mercury buildup and keep your dog healthy.
Chunk light tuna packed in water - can be used as a topper, and tuna water can be used in water or in food. Because chunk light tuna contains mercury, although in lower amounts than albacore tuna, do not feed it regularly.
Chicken breast packed in water – can be used as a topper and the chicken water can be added to meals or water.
Lean proteins - chicken breast, turkey breast, extra-lean (99/1) ground turkey (mince), 96/4 lean ground beef (mince), cod, tilapia, whitefish - boil, slow-cook, pressure-cook, bake, or steam. If you are using ground beef, make sure you rinse cooked meat with hot water to remove excess fat.
Beechnut baby food meats – smelly but a good option; no additional ingredients like Gerber, which has cornstarch.
Sardines packed in water – low-fat and can be pureed and mixed with food.
Shrimp – low-fat option and a bit smelly.
Bone broth is a great option for adding to food and encouraging your dog to drink more water. If you buy bone broth, make sure it has no onion added, as onions are toxic to dogs. An easy and safe homemade bone broth can also be made at home—just be sure not to add any onions or other harmful ingredients.
Parmesan cheese – canned parmesan cheese is great; a little sprinkle goes a long way.
Plain Greek yogurt – lower in lactose and smells good to a lot of dogs.
Pumpkin – pure pumpkin can be added to meals to entice your dog to eat. Pumpkin is high in fiber and can cause diarrhea or constipation, so give only small amounts.
Purebites Freeze-Dried Treats – meats like chicken breast or beef liver can be ground and sprinkled on meals. Beef liver is especially stinky.
Wellness Bowl Boosters Simply Shreds – can be found in most large-chain pet stores and offers a variety of flavors. Not intended as a meal replacement, these are complementary foods that can be added to meals since they are not complete and balanced.
Blue Buffalo Tender Shreds – these offer a variety of flavors, are low-fat and can be found in large-chain pet stores. These are a complementary food that can be added to a complete and balanced food.
A diabetic dog that won't eat can be challenging, since we need to give them insulin. Meal toppers may help but remember that a sudden lack of appetite could be a sign of other health issues, look for any other symptoms and contact your vet if needed. Creative use of toppers, patience, and attention can make meals more appealing.
Further reading on pancreatitis, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), dental issues, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bone broth links below.
Pancreatitis:
https://shoppettest.com/blog/pancreatitis-how-it-disrupts-your-dogs-body/
Ketones and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA):
Dental health:
https://shoppettest.com/blog/the-importance-of-oral-health/
Urinary tract infections (UTIs):
https://shoppettest.com/blog/pee-all-about-it/
Bone broth:
https://shoppettest.com/blog/the-benefits-of-bone-broth/
If you need supplies for testing your dog's urine:
Ketone Glucose Urinalysis Test Strips:
PetTest Ketone Glucose Urinalysis Reagent Strips for Pets (2 Packs of 50)
Urinary Tract Infection Test Strips:
PetTest Urinary Tract Infection Test Strips for Pets (2 Packs of 50)
I hope this blog has been beneficial and helps you with your picky pup!
Until next time, stay cool!
Michelle Miller-Matlock
AAHA Certified Diabetes Educator
Graduate of Canine Nutrition, Cert.CN
Graduate of Feline Nutrition, Cert.FN
Founder/Administrator of DDO: Diabetic Dog Owners University
Administrator of Diabetic Dog Owners on Facebook
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