If your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, then the best diabetic dog food will help them stay healthy and active. This life-long disease affects around 1% of all dogs, but with the right treatment, they can still enjoy a long and happy life.
As well as giving them the appropriate food, they'll need to attend regular check-ups and be given medication to control their insulin levels (as prescribed by a vet). You might also want to stock up on the best diabetic dog treats that are more suitable for them.
Instead of free feeding, switch to timed meals and make sure they're being fed the correct ingredients. Their food should have a low glycemic index (foods like meat, fish, vegetables, and grains) and you should avoid additives like corn syrup.
This chronic disease affects the production of sugar in the blood. Overweight dogs are often diagnosed, which is why weight control is very important when it comes to controlling diabetes in dogs. It's also worth learning about hypoglycemia in dogs, a condition where there are low levels of glucose in the body.
Here's a round-up of the best diabetic dog food, recommended by vets:
The quick list
The best overall diabetic dog food
This prescription dry dog food from Royal Canin has all the right ingredients to keep your dog's diabetes under control. It's high in protein and low in carbs, and although it requires a prescription you can still buy online.
The best budget diabetic dog food
A premium dry dog food that is made with high-quality natural ingredients that work well for dogs with diabetic issues. It's made with real chicken and has a price tag that won't break the bank.
The best wet diabetic dog food
Maintaining a healthy weight is a critical factor in keeping your dog’s diabetes under control and this vet-recommended wet dog food is specially formulated to help make that happen.
The best low carb diabetic dog food
This delicious dog food only has a 10% carb content and is high in protein — perfect for pups with diabetes. It's also free from wheat, rice, corn, barley, sweet potato, and soy.
The best multi-benefit diabetic dog food
Whether you want to support your dog's digestion, maintain healthy muscles or help their vital organs — this multi-benefit dog food does it all. It also helps to keep their coat and skin in good condition and supports their immune system.
The best grain-free diabetic dog food
This dry dog food is suitable for pups with an intolerance to grain and is fortified with vitamins and minerals. The ingredients have a relatively low glycemic index, meaning it could be suitable for diabetic dogs.
The best diabetic dog food we recommend in 2024
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The best overall diabetic dog food
Got a diabetic dog? Not sure what food you should be trying? This dog food could be the one for you. You will need a prescription from your vet before you can buy it, but once you’ve got that you can order it online. So what makes this offering so tempting, tasty, and healthy?
The food is specially formulated to support healthy blood glucose levels and help retain muscle mass so your pet pooch stays fit and healthy and able to enjoy an active lifestyle, which in turn helps control your dog's diabetes. It also contains a host of ingredients to give your dog energy and vitality and, if fed as instructed, will help control calorie intake and keep your dog at an optimum weight.
Looking at the ingredients list, its main component is chicken by-product meal. While it may sound unappetizing, it contains nearly three times more protein than fresh chicken. Other ingredients high on the list are corn, barley, and wheat so it might not be the best choice for dogs with grain intolerances. But there are a whole host of vitamins and minerals to support your dog’s overall health.
Available in 7.7 or 17.6lb bags, this isn’t cheap, but the dry formula is good for at least a month and twice as long if kept in one of the best pet food containers. But don’t worry, it will be finished off before it gets past its sell-by date.
The best budget diabetic dog food
Looking for a no-nonsense dog food that suits most dogs with diabetes and won’t break the bank? This offering from the Rachael Ray Nutrish range is definitely one to consider.
It is not specifically formulated, nor tailored for diabetic dogs so, as always, if you are unsure you should consult with your vet, who can give you professional advice. But, if this dry food is suited to your dog's needs, not only will they be getting a tasty treat with real chicken, you will save yourself some dollars.
Real chicken is the number one ingredient and provides a good source of protein, which helps with healthy organs and lean muscle mass. It also has peas and brown rice, a highly digestible carbohydrate that's low in fat but high in fiber.
Elsewhere, the recipe contains chicken fat, a naturally rich source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that help give your pet pooch healthy skin and a healthy coat. So, not only will they be staying healthy, they will be looking good as well.
In keeping with the natural ingredients, you won’t find any artificial flavors or preservatives and no fillers, just essential added vitamins, nutrients, and taurine to help ensure a healthy and happy hound.
The best wet diabetic dog food
Do you want dog food that's tasty and helps take control of your dog’s diet? Of course you do.
The main ingredients in Hills Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew are chicken broth, pork liver, carrots, peas, and chicken, all healthy ingredients with a low glycemic index. With the main ingredients, there are a host of vitamins and nutrients to make sure your hound is getting all the right things to keep them healthy. With rice in the ingredients, the recipe is not completely grain-free, though it doesn’t state whether it is white or brown rice. However, it’s only a small part of the overall ingredients.
The key to this wet food, apart from the taste, is that it will help your dog lose weight with the manufacturer stating that over 70 percent of dogs lose weight in 10 weeks. To help with weight control, there is a dry food companion that uses all-natural ingredients but has a higher grain ratio.
Once at their optimum weight, there is plenty of high-quality protein to support lean muscle in your dog and help your pooch stay healthy and fit. It is worth noting that it is not recommended for puppies or pregnant dogs.
The best low carb diabetic dog food
A low-carb diet is all part of controlling a dog's diabetes and this dry food from Ketona is about as low as you can get. Anything with less than 30% carbohydrate content is acceptable for a diabetic dog, but this offering manages less than 10%.
Why is this important? Dogs need carbohydrates in their diet, but some dog foods (especially cheaper options) have a higher percentage of carbs, which usually means the ingredients include corn, wheat, and rice that can have a higher glycemic index. Many dogs are sensitive to grain in their diet, so alongside a low-carb diet, they also need a grain-free diet.
The ingredients list shows that chicken, pea protein, green peas, and chicken fat make up the bulk of this dry food. There is no wheat, rice, corn, barley, sweet potato, or soy. Some of the benefits of dry food are that it provides plenty of protein, which helps build strong muscles, reduce itching and inflammation, and reduces blood sugar levels.
Typically, you would need to slowly add any new food in varying proportions so as not to upset your dog's stomach, but this recipe has been formulated so that it is easy to switch over. While there is no doubt this dry food has a lot to offer your diabetic dog, it doesn’t come cheap.
The best multi-benefit diabetic dog food
If you want a dog food that tackles all the key components of diabetes, this multi-benefit outing from Hill’s could be just what you are looking for.
As you might have guessed from the name this dry food is specially formulated to help your pooch. Weight gain is one of the symptoms of diabetes in a dog and this dry food provides complete and balanced nutrition to help manage the issue. The recipe helps metabolize fat, which in turn maintains lean muscle and keeps your pet pooch at a healthy weight. In addition, added antioxidants promote a healthy immune system.
Another ingredient that helps control diabetes is fiber and there are high levels of that in this food to help fill your dog up. The formula also helps stabilize and minimize the fluctuation of blood glucose levels in diabetic dogs, meaning that your pet pooch gets to live as normal a life as possible. It also meets specific nutrient standards shown to promote a urinary environment to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
However, if your pooch has issues with grain, you might want to look elsewhere. The recipe includes wheat, corn, and barley alongside chicken, liver, chicken fat, and flaxseed. You will need authorization from a veterinarian to purchase this product, so make sure to ask any questions you might have and get professional advice on whether this is the best choice for your pet pooch.
The best grain-free diabetic dog food
The Core RawRev range comes in a host of guises, all specially formulated for different dietary needs and conditions including the grain-free option we have chosen for this diabetic dog food guide.
It includes a host of ingredients to help keep your pet pooch fit and healthy but also tackles diabetic issues. The packaging says it's grain-free and a look at the ingredient list shows that there are no traces of grain. This helps ease symptoms of arthritis, lower blood pressure, improve kidney function, and maintain healthy skin and coat in your dog.
The main ingredients are turkey, chicken, and peas with a bit of lentil, salmon oil, and other vegetables in the mix, to help with your pet pooch’s general health the recipe is fortified with a selection of vitamins and nutrients.
All the ingredients have a relatively low glycemic index, which is a good indicator that this food will work well with diabetic dogs. As always, consult your vet to ensure that this dry food is a good fit for your dog.
How to choose the best diabetic dog food
When choosing the right diabetic dog food for your fluffy friend, there are a variety of things to consider. From whether your dog requires a prescription dog food to control their diabetes, to finding an option that fits the palate of picky eaters.
Not all foods suitable for a diabetic dog are marked with the word 'diabetic' – it would be much easier to choose if they were. But there are still plenty of well-made, well-prepared dog foods that are suitable for your diabetic dog.
However, while there are certain ingredients that diabetic dogs should avoid, not all dogs are the same. Your pet pooch might not be a fan of a certain flavor or intolerant to another ingredient. So it is always a good idea to check the ingredients list on any diabetic dog food that you are looking to buy.
Ideally, you want an option that is high in protein and fiber, low in carbohydrates, and have as little sugar as possible.
Diabetic dogs need to avoid a few ingredients found in other dog foods. Sugars, such as corn syrup are one ingredient that will raise your dog's blood sugar level. While this isn’t found in good diabetic dog food, it may be found in treats. So make sure that any treats you give are suitable for diabetic dogs.
Don't feed your diabetic pooch leftover food from your dinner, especially processed foods. Other things to avoid include bread, white rice, artificial additives, and preservatives as this may have an effect on your dog’s general health and dietary balance.
Is prescription dog food better than non-prescription dog food?
It isn't essential that your pet pooch has prescription dog food for their diabetes, as there is a good range of non-prescriptive dog foods that work well. Prescription dog food is often more expensive than standard high-fiber, low-carb, low-sugar foods, so it's worth consulting with your vet before deciding whether or not a prescription diet is the best choice.
Is wet or dry food better for diabetic dogs?
You might be wondering, 'Is dry dog food best for my diabetic dog?' Expert vet Dr. Hannah Godrey says that wet food has fewer carbohydrates than dry food, making it a better choice for your pooch.
However, she explains: "Remember that a prescription dog food for diabetic dogs, whether dry or wet, will be better than most standard dog foods. Secondly, if your dog is diabetic it’s most important that they eat, so trying to encourage them to eat wet dog food when they prefer dry might be counterproductive."
Is chicken good for diabetic dogs?
Chicken is safe for diabetic dogs, as long as they're not allergic to it. Dr. Godfrey says it's a healthy option for all dogs because it's a lean protein source.
She explains: "It’s contained within various prescription foods for diabetic dogs and many pet owners will use a small amount of cooked chicken on top of their dog’s food to encourage them to eat.
"However, the most important thing to remember when feeding your diabetic dog is to keep the food you offer consistent, both in terms of type and amount."
If you're thinking about making your own dog food, Dr. Godfrey advises working alongside a qualified vet nutritionist. This is because their food needs to be nutritionally complete and balanced — something that's very hard to achieve at home.
Steve Jenkins is a freelance content creator and long-time journalist with more than 20 years in the industry. He has written for numerous titles covering tech to pets, with his latest faithful hound always by his side. When not walking his dog, or discussing who’s best - cats or dogs? Loud guitars, AFC Bournemouth, Photoshop, and trying to save the world take up the rest of this time.
Hannah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and began work straight away at a busy mixed practice. Initially, she treated all species, but focused on small animals from 2014. She has a passion for soft tissue surgery, ultrasound, and canine and feline dentistry, having completed additional training in these areas.
