What food causes diabetes in dogs?

Dogs are our most loyal companions in life, and their health always touches our heartstrings. However, in recent years, the incidence of diabetes in dogs has been on the rise, which has made many pet owners worried. In the process of exploring the causes of diabetes in dogs, dietary factors occupy an extremely important position. So, what foods can cause diabetes in dogs? The answer to this question is like the key to unlocking the mystery of dog health, and we are eager to explore it in depth. ​

High-sugar food is undoubtedly a potential threat to diabetes in dogs. In the human diet, sweets such as candy, cakes, and chocolate are very popular, but for dogs, these may be sweet "poison". The ability of dogs to metabolize sugar is different from that of humans. Excessive sugar intake will overwhelm their pancreas. The pancreas is an important organ that secretes insulin, and insulin is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. When dogs eat high-sugar foods for a long time, the pancreas has to continue to secrete excessive insulin to cope with the sharp increase in blood sugar. Over time, the pancreatic function may be damaged, and insulin secretion is insufficient, which will lead to diabetes. For example, there was once an owner who loved his small dog very much and could not help feeding it all kinds of candies. At first, the dog enjoyed these delicacies and was very happy. But as time went on, the dog began to show symptoms such as polydipsia, polyuria, and weight loss. After a detailed examination by the veterinarian, it was confirmed that the dog had diabetes. This case warns us that the harm of high-sugar food to the health of dogs should not be underestimated. Every candy and every piece of cake seems to be a pampering for dogs, but in fact it may be pushing them into the abyss of health. ​

In addition to high-sugar foods, high-fat foods are also invisible killers of dog health. Fried foods, animal offal, and some meats with high fat content, if used as the main food source for dogs for a long time, will cause the dog to gain weight rapidly. Obesity is an important risk factor for diabetes. The fat cells in obese dogs increase and hypertrophy. These fat cells will release some inflammatory factors, interfere with the normal action of insulin, reduce the body's sensitivity to insulin, and blood sugar cannot be normally absorbed and utilized by cells, resulting in increased blood sugar. For example, an originally lively and cute medium-sized dog, because the owner fed a large amount of high-fat foods such as fried chicken skin for a long time, the weight soared in a short period of time. Gradually, the dog became lazy, disliked exercise, and eventually unfortunately suffered from diabetes. Seeing the once energetic dog being tortured by the disease, the owner regretted it. This makes us deeply realize that unreasonable high-fat diet is eroding the dog's health defense line step by step. ​

Some processed foods are also potential health risks. Nowadays, the dazzling array of pet snacks on the market often add a lot of salt, sugar and various artificial additives in pursuit of taste and shelf life. These ingredients not only burden the dog's kidneys, but may also affect their blood sugar regulation mechanism. For example, some dried meat snacks containing high salt and sugar are delicious for dogs to eat, but long-term consumption will interfere with their body's normal metabolism. There are also some canned foods. Although they are convenient and fast, some products use poor quality raw materials in order to reduce costs, and the nutrients are unbalanced. Excessive feeding of such canned foods may also increase the risk of diabetes in dogs. When we see dogs eating these processed snacks with joy, it is hard to imagine that these seemingly delicious foods are quietly damaging their health. ​

In addition, the proportion of grain foods in the dog's diet also needs to be carefully considered. Although grains can provide dogs with a certain amount of energy, some grains, such as corn and wheat, contain high carbohydrates. If dogs eat a large amount of dog food based on these grains for a long time, the carbohydrates will be broken down into glucose in the body, leading to increased blood sugar. Especially for some dog breeds that are prone to obesity or have a genetic tendency to diabetes, such as poodles and dachshunds, it is even more important to control the intake of grain foods. When choosing dog food, you should give priority to those low-sugar, low-carbohydrate and nutritionally balanced products to ensure a healthy diet for your dog. ​

The occurrence of diabetes in dogs is inextricably linked to food. High sugar, high fat, processed foods and unreasonable grain intake may all become the trigger for diabetes. As pet owners, we shoulder the responsibility of the health of our dogs. Every time we choose food for our dogs and every moment we feed them, it contains our deep love for them. But this love needs to be based on a scientific and reasonable foundation. We must always pay attention to the dietary health of dogs and understand which foods are good for them and which may be risky. Only in this way can we protect the health of dogs, keep them away from the troubles of diabetes, stay with us for a long time, and spend every wonderful time together. Let us use the right diet to build a solid health defense line for dogs, so that they can always run happily in the sun and enjoy a carefree life.