Question
How do I measure my diabetic dog's meals?
Sunny, owner notes“I wish my dog lived as long as I do.”Updated
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
Short answer
Measuring every meal can feel fussy at first, but it's one of the easiest ways to keep his glucose steady. Use a kitchen scale, or the same cup every time, and stick to the amount your vet gave you. If the bag or his weight changes, don't work out a new amount yourself. Ask your vet, then write it down.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What you might notice at home
The scoop is heaped one day and level the next. A new bag weighs differently per cup. Someone else at home guesses dinner by eye. Then the glucose wanders and nobody knows why.
Your vet can work out how much he needs and how to split it. Even if two meals a day really isn't possible for you, most vets still want the food measured.
What to write down for the vet
- Scale or cup, and the cup size if it's printed on it.
- Whether both meals match.
- Anything you add on top, written next to his main food.
- Days when the measure slipped.
What to take with you
A photo of the cup or scale you actually use. The food checklist has a space for the amount your vet gives you.
How much should I feed my diabetic dog?
How much to feed depends on your dog's body condition, the food, appetite and any other illness. Your vet sets the amount, and your job at home is giving exactly that amount every time. Don't work out a new portion from your dog's weight yourself.
Ask the vet to write down the food and portion in a way you can measure the same each time, such as with a kitchen scale. Tell them about treats and leftovers too. If your dog keeps losing weight or can't finish the meal, get it reviewed instead of quietly changing what goes in the bowl.
Sources
- Food checklistA sheet for food and meal size
- My diabetic dog grazes all day. Should meals be twice a day?How meals are split through the day
- My diabetic dog ate only part of the mealIf he cannot finish a meal
- My diabetic dog is losing weightIf he keeps losing weight
- Feeding a diabetic dog: food and routineHow to keep meals and insulin on a steady routine
- How do I weigh a big dog at home?Weighing him as well as his food
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
My diabetic dog grazes all day. Should meals be twice a day?
Most diabetic dogs end up on two meals a day. Your vet can help you move a grazer onto set meals.
Printable
Food checklist
Write down what actually goes in the bowl, treats included.
Q&A
Should I keep my diabetic dog on the same food?
If he's steady, most vets say stick with it. Another illness can still mean a change.
Q&A
My diabetic dog needs to lose weight
Let your vet set the target. Keep his walks normal in the meantime.