Diabetic Dog - Keeps Losing Weight

[Alyssa628]

Hello. My name is Alyssa and my dog Bailey is diabetic. We got Bailey from a shelter when I was 14. They estimated she was anywhere between 1 1/2 to 3 years old at that time. It's now 8 years later, so she is around 10+ years old. She was diagnosed almost a year ago. She is currently getting 2 injections of insulin a day with her meals of 7 units of insulin at a time. She is being fed the Hills Prescription Diet w/d low fat food. Initially she was managing fine with it. She was a bit overweight at the time of her diagnosis she initially lost some weight while adjusting to her diet. However, in the last months, she has lost 12+ lbs. I have taken her to the vet several times, and every time we get there she has lost at least 3 more pounds. The food does not seem to be providing the nutrients and essentials she needs. The food is so high in fiber that it makes her go to the bathroom several times throughout the day. It seems to go right through her and is not sustaining her. She is getting to the point where for me as her owner, she is startlingly skinny. \nI have discussed this with the vet and they said that the Hills food is the best food option for her so they want to keep her on that. They recommended just feeding her more of it. However, that only seems to be producing the same results - more trips outside and sometimes accidents. But no weight gain.
I am wondering if there is something more I could be doing for her, or perhaps a specific request I can make of my vet to get a result? Perhaps another food brand I could suggest trying? I am growing in concern and feel like my vet is only presenting the one option of simply feeding her more. I would appreciate any insight or help I can get.
Thank you!

[ginger899]

There is a veterinary nutritionist -Dr. Marge Chandler -here:

http://www.vetsnowreferrals.com/veterinary-referral-swindon/nutrition-adivce-swindon/

But this looks like the UK. However she may do consultations online...?
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The American College of Veterinary Nutrition here:

http://www.acvn.org/about-us/faq/
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Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center....nutrition support service, here:

http://vet.osu.edu/nssvet
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PetDIETS.com

https://www.petdiets.com/

for some general info and an option to contact the nutritionist.
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If you do decide to do a home cooed regime for Bailey you must let your vet know. In fact you may even need a referral to consult a nutritionist face to face.

[ginger899]

I feel your concern. I would be concerned too. The vet's idea doesn't seem to be working, although I can kind of go along with the idea that a form of diet is a wise thing generally.
Anyway, this is what Hills diabetic food contains:

ground whole grain corn, powdered cellulose, peanut hulls, chicken by-product meal, chicken liver flavour, soybean meal, soybean mill run, dried egg product, soybean oil, corn gluten meal....  (plus vitamins etc)

This sounds weird. "Peanut hulls"??? Since when were peanut hulls good basic food for dogs?? And the rest of it sounds like junk from dubious origins.
The other brands of prescription foods fare no better, in my opinion.

I know what I would do if I were you. I would put everything I have into a consultation with a veterinary nutritionist -if you possibly can, And work out a home-cooked diet based on advice from him/her. Some intensive research online may help...
It will be hard work I am sure and may be confusing sometimes, but I think that is the way I would go.
Sorry to project my own opinions....