Questions to Ask Your Vet About Your Diabetic Dog's Diet: A Printable Checklist

November 02, 2026 • All Posts • diabetic dogs • Dogs • Health & Wellness • vet checklist

By Theresa Gibilisco, owner, The Hungry Puppy

Print this page and bring a pen. Vet appointments go fast, and the food questions are usually the ones that come to mind on the drive home. This checklist puts them all in one place, with a line to write each answer. Keep it on the fridge afterward so everyone in the house feeds the same way.

A quick note on why I'm sending you to your vet for these answers instead of giving them myself. Every diabetic dog's plan is different, and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) diabetes guidelines encourage vet teams to give owners written information on common questions, warning signs and what to do when things change. This list is meant to help you get that.

Our dog's feeding plan (fill in at the visit)

Food name, exactly as written: ____________________
Amount per meal, in cups or grams: ____________________
Meal times: ____________________
Insulin times: ____________________
Treat allowed, and how many per day: ____________________
Vet's phone: ____________________
Nearest emergency clinic: ____________________

The food itself

☐ Do you want my dog on a prescription diet, or is a regular food OK? AAHA says a diabetic dog can do well on any complete and balanced diet fed at consistent times in consistent amounts, so a regular food may be an option. Your vet decides.
Answer: ____________________
☐ If prescription, which one exactly, and dry, canned or both? Get the full name. For example, Hill's makes both w/d Multi-Benefit and Metabolic, and they're different foods.
Answer: ____________________
☐ If a regular food, what should I look for on the label? Ask about fiber and fat. AAHA says higher fiber diets can improve blood sugar control, and Merck says to avoid diets high in simple sugars, like semi-moist foods. Snap photos of labels you're considering, like Wellness CORE Reduced Fat, and show your vet.
Answer: ____________________
☐ Does my dog have any other condition that changes the food? AAHA says the diet should be adjusted for kidney disease, pancreatitis or intestinal disease.
Answer: ____________________
☐ Can I add anything for fiber, like green beans or pumpkin? AAHA mentions that some vets suggest canned pumpkin, green beans, or a fiber supplement with psyllium or wheat dextrin. Ask before adding anything.
Answer: ____________________

Amounts and meal times

☐ How much per meal, and can you give it to me in grams? Grams on a kitchen scale are more consistent than a scoop. The bag's chart is a starting point, and Hill's, for one, says your vet should give you specific feeding instructions.
Answer: ____________________
☐ How do meals line up with insulin? For dogs on twice-daily insulin, the Merck Veterinary Manual describes two meals with equal calories, each given right before an injection. Confirm the plan for your dog.
Answer: ____________________
☐ How should I switch to the new food, and how long should it take? Hill's says 7 days or more for its Prescription Diet foods.
Answer: ____________________
☐ Do you want to recheck anything after the switch?
Answer: ____________________

Treats and extras

☐ Which treat, how many, and when? AAHA says to count treats in the daily calories, and the AVMA suggests keeping treats under 10% of the day's calories. Ask about a specific treat, such as Hill's Prescription Diet Original Dog Treats at 15 calories each, per Hill's.
Answer: ____________________
☐ What about table food, chews and the other pets' bowls? The AVMA calls table scraps and other pets' food sneaky calories.
Answer: ____________________

Weight

☐ What's my dog's goal weight, and should we be losing, gaining or holding? AAHA suggests overweight diabetic dogs lose about 1 to 2% of body weight per week, and says underweight dogs should not be on a weight loss food.
Answer: ____________________
☐ How often should I weigh my dog, and on which scale? AAHA recommends the same scale each time during weight loss.
Answer: ____________________
☐ How much exercise, and should it be the same every day? AAHA calls regular, appropriate exercise a partner to a weight loss diet.
Answer: ____________________

Missed meals, sick days and low blood sugar

☐ What do I do if my dog won't eat a full meal, or vomits? AAHA's guidelines ask vets to cover exactly this with owners. Get it in writing.
Answer: ____________________
☐ What are the signs of low blood sugar, and what do I do first? The AVMA lists weakness or lethargy, tremors, seizures, and uncoordinated movements or unusual walking.
Answer: ____________________
☐ Should I keep corn syrup in the house for an emergency, and how would I use it? AAHA's guidelines describe using corn syrup in some low blood sugar situations, followed by a trip to the vet. Ask your vet how that applies to your dog.
Answer: ____________________
☐ Am I ever allowed to change the insulin dose myself? AAHA says owners should never increase the dose or frequency of insulin without clear instructions from the vet.
Answer: ____________________

Checking how it's going

☐ What does "well controlled" look like for my dog? The 2026 AAHA guidelines consider diabetes well controlled when a dog isn't drinking, peeing or eating excessively and body weight is stable or increasing.
Answer: ____________________
☐ Should I check blood sugar at home? Merck says blood glucose testing is best done at home when possible, and AAHA says to use meters approved for dogs and cats.
Answer: ____________________
☐ When is the next recheck?
Answer: ____________________
☐ What changes should make me call you right away? The AVMA lists cloudy eyes, recurring infections and changes in drinking, peeing, appetite or weight among the things to watch.
Answer: ____________________

Getting the food

☐ Can you send the prescription to The Hungry Puppy, or should I give them your info? Either works. We just need your pet's name, your name, the diet, and your vet's name and phone number to request it.
Answer: ____________________

Bring the answers to us

Once you've got your answers, we'll help with the rest. Our post on getting a prescription diabetic diet filled explains how scripts, special orders and delivery work. If your dog was just diagnosed, start with what to feed tonight. For food choices to talk over with your vet, see the best dog food brands and formulas for diabetic dogs, non-prescription dog foods for diabetic dogs and canned dog foods for canine diabetes. We've also covered switching foods, treats and feeding a senior or overweight diabetic dog.

Our trucks deliver free on each town's route day, Tuesday through Friday, with a $20 minimum, and prescription diets go out with no minimum. Find your day on our local delivery page, or call us at 732-938-4470.

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