Question
Can I mix the prescription food with the food he will eat?
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
If plain prescription food gets ignored, mixing in something he likes is a very common fix. Tell your vet exactly what goes in the bowl. A mix that stays the same every day is easy for your vet to work with. One that changes each morning makes his sugar harder to read. Ask before you start, and stick to the amounts your vet gives you.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What you might see at home
The dry diabetic food just sits there. Add a spoon of wet food, chicken or his old kibble and it's gone. Some people mix the wet and dry versions of the same prescription food.
Trouble starts when the bowl is different every day. Most vets want a diabetic dog's meals to stay the same, because insulin works best against a steady amount of food.
What to write down for the vet
- Each food in the bowl, by the name on the bag or tin.
- Whether you measure them, and with what (a scale or a cup).
- How long you've been giving this same mix.
- His appetite, poo and energy since you started.
What to take with you
Write down what's in the bowl. That tells your vet more than a photo of the bag. If you only mixed it once because he wouldn't eat that day, say so.
Sources
- My diabetic dog won't eat the prescription foodWhen he refuses the prescription food
- My diabetic dog only eats if I add a topperUsing a topper to get him eating
- How do I measure my diabetic dog's meals?How to measure meals
- Should I keep my diabetic dog on the same food?Why a steady food matters
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
My diabetic dog won't eat the prescription food
If he won't touch the food your vet prescribed, call your vet and tell them what he will eat.
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 only eats if I add a topper
Plenty of diabetic dogs only eat with a topper. That's usually fine, as long as your vet knows and you keep it the same every day.
Q&A
Does my diabetic dog have to eat a prescription food?
Not always. Most vets say a steady, balanced food can work, but your vet makes the call.