Q: My 13 year old beagle/terrier mix (34lbs) has diabetes and was also diagnosed six months ago with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I struggle every single day when trying to feed him in order for him to get his proper dosage of insulin on time. He LOVES chicken, but my vet believes that he is now allergic to that protein source. He turns his nose up at almost everything I put down for him unless it’s junk dog food or human food. I was watching ELLEN and decided to try the Spot’s Stew. Well, Mickey ate the whole 13 oz can and I was able to administer his medication (Metranidazole and Pepcid), along with this insulin on time (YEAH!)

My question: Is Spot’s Stew appropriate to feed Mickey? I keep calling Mickey’s Internist, but even they have run out of options. It’s such a delicate balance!!! Any help or suggestions with food and treats would be so welcome.

A: I appreciate how difficult it can be to manage both of Mickey’s conditions. Now the good news: Spot’s Stew can be fed successfully to a diabetic dog with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Halo natural dog food products have low numbers of grains which means they have limited amounts of carbohydrates. The whole grains we use in our natural dog food are also “low glycemic index” and are not highly processed. What this means for Mickey is lower blood sugars throughout the day. Commercial dog foods (even premium brands) often contain large amounts of rice and corn and these are “high glycemic-index” foods; meaning that they often create large blood sugar spikes.

Diabetic dogs often benefit from a slightly higher fiber diet to help keep their blood sugar levels controlled throughout the day. Dogs with IBD frequently have improved intestinal functions with the addition of fiber to their diet. You should consider a fiber supplement in addition to Halo natural dog food for Mickey. There are many types of fiber available (e.g. psyllium, pumpkin, Metamucil, etc) and you should ask your veterinarian what would be the best supplement for Mickey. If Mickey may be allergic to chicken, the Salmon, Lamb or Turkey based Spot’s Stew would be a better choice to help manage his Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Hope this helps….good luck with Mickey!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 8:41 am and is filed under Ask a Vet, Dr Donna Spector, Healthy Dog Food, Natural Pet Care, Pet Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.