Category: Diabetic Dog Food

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Beagle Ear Infection

What is a Beagle Ear Infection?

Ear infection is a common disease to Beagles and almost all dog breeds. This is a painful condition and Beagle Ear Infection requires urgent attention.

The long and floppy ears of your Beagle are some of his most adorable looks. However, these floppy ears increase his ability to catch an ear infection, which isn’t so adorable. With such an infection, you won’t see him jump up and down or become activated by the sight of you. Rather, he will be curled in a corner, agonizing in pain. It is important that he gets treatment as soon as possible lest the condition worsens.

Beagle with ear infection

How can I see if my Beagle has Ear Infection?

There are various ways in which you can determine whether your Beagle has an ear infection or not. One of the ways is to observe his behavior. If the disease is present, you will see him repeatedly scratching his ears. He also tends to shake his head almost every second. There times when the disease can be so advanced that every shake of the head is associated with a large blood clot being emitted.

Take a hold of your Beagle’s head and smell the ears from the inside. You are likely to sense some pretty bad smell. Try flapping the ears, up and down. If you sense some powerful odor, that’s an indication that all is not well.

Also, take a look at the discharge from the beagle’s ears. Various types of discharge are an indication that the beagle has an ear infection. It could be of any color, including black, green and yellow, and tends to be very thick.

In summary, these symptoms should guide you in determining whether your Beagle has or doesn’t have an n ear infection:

  • Head shaking
  • Odor from the ears
  • Tilted head in severe cases
  • Scratching and pawing the ear
  • Swelling
  • Hearing loss

 

Beagle pup with ear infection

Shall I see a vet if my Beagle has Ear Infection?

When you sense that your beagle has an ear infection based on the symptoms discussed above, you should see a vet. Diagnosis will be done by the veterinarian both on the eardrum and ear canal using magnifying lenses. The vet may also take a sample of ear discharge and examine for any yeast, bacteria or parasites.

In cases where a bacterial infection is suspected, the sample will be sent to a laboratory so as to know the type of infection being handled.

Given that the factors contributing to ear infection are many, it’s important to take your beagle to a vet if you suspect an ear infection. This is not a disease you can treat from home.

What can I feed my Beagle that has Ear Infection?

With the right food and help from a vet, you can combat an Beagle ear infection. Work hand in hand with your vet to eliminate foods that can potentially alleviate the ear infection. Some appropriate food options when your beagle has an ear infection include:

  • Pinnacle holistic
  • Great Life Limited Ingredient
  • Wellness Simple Limited
  • Royal Canin HP Hypoallergenic


 

Beagle with ear infection

 

Conclusion: Your beagle with an infectious ear definitely is in pain. Take action fast before the condition deteriorates.

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Poodle Lyme Disease

What is Poodle Lyme Disease?

Poodle Lyme disease disease is a tick-transmitted disease whose symptoms are not easy to come by. The disease is typically painful, especially when joints swell.

Lyme Disease is normally caused by a bacterium, spirochete, which belongs to the Borrelia Burgdorferi species. Once your Poodle gets attacked by the infection, lameness as a result of joints inflammation is the most visible clinical feature. The disease could get serious and damage kidneys. In rare cases, the heart could also be impacted by Poodle Lyme Disease. Generally speaking, young Poodles appear to have a higher possibility of getting Lyme disease compared to the older ones.

Poodle Lyme Disease Illness Food Dog Dogs Nutrition sick

How can I see if my Poodle dog has Lyme disease?

It’s possible to determine whether your poodle dog has Lyme disease, but you need to pay a very keen attention for this. Remember that the symptoms for this disease do not manifest themselves so easily. In fact, it’s estimated that only 5% to 10% of the world’s dogs with the disease show symptoms.

Recurrent lameness is a popular symptom visible in your dog that has Poodle Lyme disease. There are times when the lameness could last for about 3 to 4 days, only for it to recur a few weeks later. The recurrence may be in the same leg or in any other leg. Shifting-leg lameness refers to a situation where other legs, rather than the initial one, are impacted by lameness. It leads to the swelling of joints, which can also be warm and painful.

By keenly observing your poodle dog that has Lyme disease, you should be able to see other symptoms such as:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Stiff walk
  • Lack of appetite
  • Fever
  • Depression (normally shown by the dog being withdrawn)
  • Nervous system complications and heart abnormalities may also occur

As Lyme disease advances, kidney failure may set in, triggering other signs like vomiting, weight loss, abnormal fluid buildups, thirst, and increased urination.

Shall I see a vet if my Poodle dog has Lyme disease?

Yes, you need to see a vet if your dog has Lyme disease. The vet will do basics like determining how advanced the disease could be. However, most of the treating will be done by you. When you discover a tick on your poodle dog, pluck it out immediately and preserve the tick in a jar. This can be used as a homeopathic remedy. You may use Ledum palustre 200C to prevent from effects of a recent tick bite. When it’s diagnosed that your poodle dog has Lyme disease, Aurum arsenicum 200C could be used as a treatment option. The dose normally lasts for a week and is administered twice a day.

Poodle Lyme Disease Illness Food Dog Dogs Nutrition sick

 

What can I feed my Poodle dog that has Lyme disease?

The kind of food given to your poodle dog with Lyme disease should be one rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids are useful in controlling an inflammation. Potential foods for your poodle dog include:

  • Hemp oil
  • Whole fish
  • Coconut oil
  • Fish oil
  • Flaxseed oil
  • Plant oils

Some foods for your dog witch are ritch on omega-3 fatty acids:

 

Conclusion: Some people fear that they can get Lyme disease from their dogs. That’s not true. The disease is not zoonotic. This gives you a chance to care for your poodle dog without any such worries.

 

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Diabetic Dog Food

Diabetic Dog Food

We are all aware of the dangers of diabetes in humans, but what about dogs? Although not as common in dogs as in humans, diabetes is still a major health concern among responsible dog parents. Diabetes is the most frequently reported endocrine disorder in dogs, affecting about 1 in 200 dogs. (1)

Dog parents must understand that diabetes in dogs is not a temporary issue. It is life threatening condition that requires lifelong commitment to insulin injections and feeding and dietary strategies.

Definition

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when a dog’s body is either unable to produce or unable to adequately utilize the hormone insulin. The purpose of insulin is to help regulate the dog’s blood sugar level, keeping it from skyrocketing too high or dropping too low. (2)

Diabetic dog food

The best approach for managing diabetes is by proper dietary strategy. Diabetic dog food should consist of a fixed formula with consistent:

  • high levels of high-quality proteins
  • high levels of dietary fiber
  • low levels of carbohydrates
  • low levels of fats.

Ideally, at least 30 to 40% of the calories in your diabetic dog’s food would come from protein and less than 30% of calories would come from fat and carbohydrates each. (3)

Healthy dietary fiber is an integral part of all diabetic dog foods. Fiber is the indigestible portion of plant foods and there are 2 types of fiber – soluble and insoluble. Healthy dietary fiber have low caloric density and contribute in weight reduction. Healthy dietary fiber also promote satiety feeling, thus limiting the voluntary ingestion of food. Additionally, certain fiber, such as CMC (carboxymethylcellulose) slows down the emptying of the stomach, and by doing so, slows the delivery of sugar into the bloodstream.

Tip: Fiber takes water from the body and if your dog does not drink enough, it may lead to constipation. When using diabetic dog food, make sure your dog has a plenty of fresh water at its disposal.

When it comes to diabetic dog food is not the carbohydrate itself that matters, as much as its glycemic index. The glycemic index measures the effects of the food’s carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. If a food has low glycemic index it is digested slowly and steadily and it slows down the delivery of sugar into the bloodstream. Typical examples of carbohydrates with low glycemic indexes include ancestral cereals such as oats, spelt and barley. At the opposite side of the scale, rice which has high glycemic index, is digested quickly and results with blood sugar peak and sudden high demand for insulin.

Tip: Since any change in carbohydrates affects the amount of insulin needed, try to feed the same amount of the same type of food at the same time each day, ideally in two meals, 12 hours apart. (4)

Specially formulated diabetic dog foods induce an optimal and gradual post-prandial glycemic response that modulates the insulin release. Simply stated, they help keep the blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. Keeping the blood sugar levels normal makes it less likely, your dog will get diabetes related complications such as vision clouding (cataract) and urinary tract infections. (5)

Note: Putting your diabetic dog’s blood sugar levels under control takes time. Do not get discouraged if the blood sugar levels are not optimal at your first checkup at the vet.

How to improve the taste of diabetic dog food?

Even the best diabetic dog food can be useless if your dog does not like how it tastes. Fortunately you can improve the diabetic food’s taste and make it more tempting by adding:

  • 1 tablespoon of low-carb canned food in the regular diabetic food
  • few small pieces of shredded chicken in the regular diabetic food
  • 3 tablespoons of low-sodium chicken broth in the regular diabetic food.

Tip: Never inject insulin on empty stomach, since it can make your dog sick.

What to avoid?

Soft, semi-moist and wet foods must be avoided, because they are very high in sugar and stimulate the greatest blood sugar increase after eating.

Can I give my diabetic dog treats?

As funny and mischievous it gets, on occasions your dog is a good boy/girl. And on those occasions he/she deserves a reward. Do not deprive your dog of treats. As long as the treat has low glycemic index and low caloric density it is safe for your diabetic fur baby.

Tip: Replace commercial dog treats with diabetic friendly whole food treats, such as carrots, chunks of melon, apples (without peel and seeds), broccoli and blueberries.

Seeking professional opinion

No matter how many insightful blogs you have read and how many well-educated salespersons at local pet stores you have talked to, always go a step further and seek professional opinion. Talk to your trusted vet or dog nutritionist. Every diabetic dog needs tailored approach and modified dietary strategy. A true professional will take into consideration your dog’s:

  • current state of health
  • body weight
  • level of physical activity.

Diabetes in dogs is chronic and serious, but effectively manageable health condition. The key to controlling and treating diabetes is by regulating the blood sugar levels. Luckily canine nutrition has come a long way in recent years and a properly controlled diet can keep the blood sugar levels within acceptable limits.

All in all, although scary, having your dog diagnosed with diabetes, is not the end of the world. With proper care and devotion, your dog can live a long and healthy life.

Products

Here you can see the latest products of our Diabetic Dog Food Category. Use the flavor sprays to tasten up the food for your best friend!

Find all products here.

Key words: diabetic dog food, blood sugar levels, low glycemic index, healthy dietary fiber

References:

1. Fogle B. (2005) Caring for your dog, The complete canine home reference, D&K

2. Barrington K. (2016) Diabetic Dog Food, online article at: https://pawster.com/diabetic-dog-food/

3. https://www.1800petmeds.com/education/diets-diabetic-pets-11.htm

4. Straus M. & Puotinen C. J. (2017) Managing diabetes in dogs, online article at: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_5/features/Canine-Diabetes-Diagnosis-and-Treatment_20521-1.html

5. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/diabetes-dog-diet#1