11 yr old that wont eat dog food

Question
Need some advice on an 11 year old cocker spaniel diabetic has a skin condition that confuses his vet. I looks like mange but has test negative his skin stinks like rotted meat and is flaky. all this and I might add he is blind in both eyes. He will not  eat anything but people food, however I have been dog sitting for a phew days and put down some kitten cow for my cats and Brandon (Mr. Bubby)come over and ate the food. Is this good for him? he refuses to eat any dog food of any kind, but will eat kitten food. Will it hurt if I just feed him this instead of the people food his owner has left for me to feed him. Please help us. concerned Aunt, Jill  

Answer
Hi Jill,

Dogs will always go for cat/kitten food since it has a higher protein content than dog food, but it's not a nutritionally complete diet for a dog. It's also dangerous to feed cat food to a dog because those higher protein levels can cause kidney/liver problems. Cat food is usually higher in fat too, which may not be good for your dog's diabetes.
It would be okay to mix a small amount of cat or kitten food into your dog's regular diet to "jump start" him into eating, but it should not be his staple diet. If it's dry cat food, try crushing it up, so a small amount can go a longer way.

I'm afraid eating only people food is not good for your dog either. If you were to work with a veterinary nutritionist, I'm sure you could find a homemade diet that would be nutritionally complete. Food is AS IMPORTANT and effects blood glucose AS MUCH as insulin. You might find that your dog's skin clears up when you get him on a good diet.

Many vets recommend a special diet for diabetic dogs which has a higher fiber content than commercially available foods. Research in humans and in some animal studies shows that soluble fiber slows the absorption of glucose from the digestive system. This helps prevent a rapid rise in the blood glucose after a meal. You should speak to your vet regarding such a diet.

Giving in to a dog's dietary whims causes a finicky and demanding dog. It won't change without a fight at this point, since your dog is used to getting his way when it comes to his diet.

The "best" prescription diet won't do your pet any good if your dog refuses to eat it. However, soft or semi-moist pet foods should be avoided. They often contain a lot of sugar and their moist consistency causes a dramatic rise in the blood glucose after a meal.
You might try mixing a little warmed low-fat/low sodium chicken broth into the dog food to tempt him. Small amounts of a water-packed tuna, cooked chicken shredded into small bits, and scrambled eggs can also temp a dog into eating when he objects to what's being served.

Here is a website with plenty of suggestions of what to feed a diabetic dog. The recipes are from owners of diabetic pets:
http://www.caninediabetes.org/dogfood.html

I'm sorry, I can't say what's going on with your dog's skin. Because you say it's smelly, it might be a yeast or bacterial infection. There are also endocrine and thyroid disorders that can cause skin problems.
Usually omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplements are given to dogs with dry skin, but you should run that past your vet since your dog is diabetic.

If your dog's skin condition is stumping your current vet, then you need to either seek out a veterinary dermatologist (try a vet teaching hospital) or try another vet.
You can find a veterinary dermatologist here:
http://www.acvd.org/

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,
Patti