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Hello from Kathy B and Chase (Belgian Malinois/GSD mix, age 8-1/2) in Central Illinois, diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in November of 2013.
After a rocky time of trying to get Chase stabilized with correct type/dosage of insulin, we have finally done that; he is taking 14.5 units of glargine insulin (Lantus) twice daily and all his blood work values have gone back to normal except alkaline phosphate, which is still a bit high but no longer at dangerous levels.
Chase has never at any time been an overweight dog; but due to the diabetes onset he lost quite a bit of weight initially and went from about 61 to 53 lbs. My vet put him on Royal Canin Prescription Diabetic Diet, which Chase absolutely hated and only ate about half of whatever I would give him.
In order to get him to eat it at all, I had to mix it with the canned tripe (Tripett) product he had been previously eating - but his values were not good at the time and I could find very little nutrition information out there for canine diabetes.
I finally found a product Chase loved and would eat (and that I found nutritionally acceptable--the Royal Canin product was mostly corn and barley), it was Honest Kitchen "Zeal" (fish-based, dehydrated food).
All Chase's blood work values went completely back to normal on this, I was able to reduce his insulin from 20.5 units twice daily to 14.5 (so far).
What I need your help and input with is this: the Zeal product is very high-fiber, and Chase can easily eat nearly six cups per day of this without gaining very much weight, as most of it is fiber which ends up as a waste product. While he has gained back some of his lost weight by eating this, I'd really like to see him add a few more pounds.
Is there anything I can safely add to his food that will help him gain a little more weight without also skewing his blood values that we worked so hard to stabilize?
Prior to this I've always made my own dog food & training treats; right now Chase is still getting cooked semi-dry diced meat as occasional treats (mainly roast beef, chicken or pork).
Could I (or should I) add some of that to his bowl as part of his meal? Or would that be a bad idea?
Experienced input/advice would be most welcome here, thank you.
Kathy B and Chase in Central Illinois
After a rocky time of trying to get Chase stabilized with correct type/dosage of insulin, we have finally done that; he is taking 14.5 units of glargine insulin (Lantus) twice daily and all his blood work values have gone back to normal except alkaline phosphate, which is still a bit high but no longer at dangerous levels.
Chase has never at any time been an overweight dog; but due to the diabetes onset he lost quite a bit of weight initially and went from about 61 to 53 lbs. My vet put him on Royal Canin Prescription Diabetic Diet, which Chase absolutely hated and only ate about half of whatever I would give him.
In order to get him to eat it at all, I had to mix it with the canned tripe (Tripett) product he had been previously eating - but his values were not good at the time and I could find very little nutrition information out there for canine diabetes.
I finally found a product Chase loved and would eat (and that I found nutritionally acceptable--the Royal Canin product was mostly corn and barley), it was Honest Kitchen "Zeal" (fish-based, dehydrated food).
All Chase's blood work values went completely back to normal on this, I was able to reduce his insulin from 20.5 units twice daily to 14.5 (so far).
What I need your help and input with is this: the Zeal product is very high-fiber, and Chase can easily eat nearly six cups per day of this without gaining very much weight, as most of it is fiber which ends up as a waste product. While he has gained back some of his lost weight by eating this, I'd really like to see him add a few more pounds.
Is there anything I can safely add to his food that will help him gain a little more weight without also skewing his blood values that we worked so hard to stabilize?
Prior to this I've always made my own dog food & training treats; right now Chase is still getting cooked semi-dry diced meat as occasional treats (mainly roast beef, chicken or pork).
Could I (or should I) add some of that to his bowl as part of his meal? Or would that be a bad idea?
Experienced input/advice would be most welcome here, thank you.
Kathy B and Chase in Central Illinois
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