Your dog just got diagnosed with diabetes and you’re not sure how to proceed. Your world just got a little smaller.
I remember when my cousin’s lab was diagnosed with the same issue. She called me crying holding a bag of his regular kibble asking if she had been killing him every meal. The guilt hits a little differently when it’s your own dog.
And you are now standing in your kitchen wondering what to do, being terrified of doing the wrong thing.
So many commercial dog foods result in a blood sugar spike. This means that some days the “wrong” ingredients can be consumed which can undo days of progress for your sweet boy.
The good news, however, is that food is your most powerful tool.
And here’s the right homemade dog food for diabetic dogs to help keep his glucose level steady, his energy up and give you some of that peace of mind you’ve been craving since he went to the vet.
#1: Shiba Inu Eating a Mixed Wet and Dry Dog Food Bowl
You know that moment when your golden inhales her food in 30 seconds and then looks at you as if she thinks you have personally wronged her? Yes, this bowl will definitely change all that.
This yellow bowl is a slow-feeder bowl and it’s filled with a mix of wet food, dry kibble rings and what looks like cooked ground meat with some little green veggie bits. It’s colorful and smells like something she’ll want to eat and it slows her down without a fight.
How to Make This Mixed Bowl
1. ½ cup cooked ground turkey or chicken (unseasoned)
2. ¼ cup dry kibble rings (any small, O-shaped variety)
3. 2 tablespoons cooked green peas or chopped broccoli
4. 1 tablespoon wet dog food (pâté style works best here)
I always warm the ground meat a bit so it smells stronger (dogs eat with their noses too). I also try to put the wet food on the bottom of the slow-feeder, then put the kibble rings around the ridge on top of it. Then I put the cooked meat on top of it in little loose crumbles. I just throw the veggies in between the ridges on top. By doing this, it makes her work for each bite, which helps with her digestion.
What this means is that the slow-feeder design is helping reduce the chance of him bloating up and also that it is taking him a full 5-10 minutes to eat (instead of 30 seconds of chaos).
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, choosing the right diet for your allergic dog can really make a difference in how she responds to a bowl like this.
Prep Time: 10 min | Cooking Time: 15 min | Serving Size: 1 medium dog
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @_lxqinn
#2: The “Everything Bowl” – A Nutrient-Dense Dog Meal With Raw Egg & Shredded Meat
One time I was at work and I opened the fridge, and my golden was looking at her bowl as if she were thinking “really, this again?” And I never looked back.
Good to the last drop! I would eat this bowl if I were a dog! Filled with dark leafy greens, shredded meat, a runny egg yolk sitting in the center of the bowl like a little crown, sliced strawberries, sunflower seeds, and even a small fish-shaped treat on top of it all! It’s served in a light green ceramic bowl, and it’s so Pinterest-worthy!
What You’ll Need (Ingredients)
1. ½ cup shredded cooked chicken or pork (unseasoned)
2. ¼ cup cooked purple rice or multigrain rice
3. ½ cup sautéed dark leafy greens (kale or collard greens work great)
4. 2-3 sliced fresh strawberries
5. 1 raw egg yolk
6. 1 tbsp raw sunflower seeds (hulled)
7. ¼ cup diced cooked carrots or squash
8. 1 small fish-shaped dog treat for topping
How To Build This Bowl
Spread your rice out at the bottom of the bowl so it provides something to sit on. Add a layer of greens. Since they wilt down considerably, don’t be shy with how many you use. Start with a large handful.
Add shredded meat to one side of the bowl, and then add diced veggies to the other side. Use a raw egg yolk to put in the center of the bowl (as the egg yolk will break when your dog digs in) and act like a sauce over the food. The egg yolk will not only give your dog biotin, healthy fats, and protein, but also will help improve the coat and skin health of your dog (less shedding on that linen sofa that you reupholstered this weekend).
Fan the strawberries along one edge. Sprinkle sunflower seeds over the top. Finish the treat.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Serves: 1 medium-large dog
My guy has a sensitive tummy, so I’d start with just half the yolk, and get hulled sunflower seeds… the shells are a choking hazard, nobody wants to deal with that on a Tuesday morning.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @2braincellss
#3: Raw Carnivore Bowl with Mango, Strawberry & Hemp Seeds
Well you know the feeling when your golden looks at you with those eyes and you know something good is going to happen soon! Well that’s exactly what happened when I started making this bowl for my dog. She was going nuts!
I love this sleeveless top that looks like it’s straight from Pinterest.
Ingredients:
1. 3 oz raw ground beef (the pink, fresh kind — not frozen)
2. 2 oz raw beef chunks (stew-cut or similar)
3. 2 oz raw chicken pieces (boneless, bite-sized)
4. ½ cup fresh mango, cubed
5. ½ cup fresh strawberries, halved
6. 1 soft-boiled egg, halved
7. 1 tbsp hemp seeds
8. 1 tsp bee pollen granules
9. Small drizzle of raw honey (optional topper)
How to Build the Bowl
I also start with the ground beef, I just press the bottom and sides of a wide ceramic or stainless bowl with it. This adds a bit of extra insurance that nothing will slide out.
The next step is to put raw beef chunks and chicken pieces on the left side of the dish. Do not cook them. If you cook them, the enzymes in the meat will be killed and your dog will lose a lot of nutrients. This is important if you want your dog’s coat to be GLOWING!
Place the mango in the centre and fan the strawberries along side. Getting your vitamin C from fruit instead of a packet of gummy sweets, where your blood sugar levels will spike like crazy.
Tuck the soft-boiled egg in the middle of the plate as the creamy yolk is rich in biotin. Sprinkle the hemp seeds over the egg and scatter the bee pollen around the beef.
If you are using raw honey, a small drizzle over the fruit is enough.
Prep Time: 8 minutes | No Cook Time | Serving Size: 1 medium-large dog (50–70 lbs)
Bee pollen can cause a reaction in a dog who has never had it before. I would give just a few granules the first time and then observe to see if he sneezes or itches his face and head for an hour. Then if all goes well it’s OK to give it on a regular basis. You will want to buy your raw meat from a good butcher. Quality is more important for raw meat than for cooked meat.
For more amazing dog treats, check out these 13 Homemade Dog Treats: Budget-Friendly Recipes Your Pup Will Devour.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @canine_longevity_junkie
#4: Raw Beef Birthday Bowl with Chick Toppers and Bone Gummies
Tomorrow is your golden’s birthday and you are standing in the kitchen at 9pm wondering to yourself, okay, kibble is not happening.
I had that exact moment with my dog last spring… and ended up throwing together a raw bowl at midnight and she went absolutely feral for it (in the best way).
Here’s what goes into this bowl:
1. 150–200g raw ground beef (the base — packed flat into the bowl)
2. 2 tbsp raw beet, diced small
3. 1 tbsp fresh or freeze-dried broccoli florets, crumbled
4. 1 tsp black sesame seeds or nigella seeds scattered on top
5. 2–3 dried black flowers (edible, dog-safe — like dried hibiscus or pansy)
6. 2–3 day-old chick toppers (freeze-dried or fresh frozen, sourced from a raw pet supplier)
7. Bone-shaped gummies — made from beef gelatin and bone broth, pink/amber colored
8. 1 heart-shaped oat and coconut treat as a side biscuit
Building the Birthday Bowl
Working with your hands, press the raw beef into a purple silicone bowl so that it’s flat and even, creating a nice, even “cake”. Scatter the beet bits first, as they will bleed a little color, but the dish will look gorgeous! Follow with the broccoli bits, then seeds.
Top with the chick toppers – if you like edible decorations, then these are perfect! Tuck the bone gummies between the chick toppers. Finish with the dried flowers and you’ve got yourself a Pinterest moment!
The oat biscuit is perched on the rim of his glass: it’s basically the birthday cake slice on the side.
Quick note: If you are not quite ready for raw chick just yet, you could always use some freeze-dried chicken hearts instead.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: None | Serving Size: 1 dog (medium to large breed)
with this recipe the Golden will have the real nutrition not fillers and you will have the cutest birthday photo of her life for sure!.
Before you decide: If you are interested in learning more about what else goes well with a raw diet, What Can Dogs Eat? A Comprehensive Guide to Canine Nutrition breaks it down for you in layman’s terms without the veterinarian jargon.
I like to freeze my bone gummies ahead of time. I find they hold their shape better in the bowl and it gives my dog something to chew on as they thaw.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @fuelledbyraw
#5: Golden Retriever’s Strawberry Peanut Butter & Kibble Bowl
Love the look your golden gives you right before dinner. Those eyes right on you like you were holding the most important thing in the world. This bowl is for that look.
This meal was created with dry kibble, a smooth peanut butter and pumpkin base, and fresh sliced strawberries on top. This dog bowl is blushing pink and ceramic.
How to Make It
Mix together the 2 tablespoons of unsalted, xylitol-free peanut butter with the ¼ cup of plain cooked oatmeal until smooth. Spoon onto one side of the bowl. Mix ½ cup of your dog’s regular kibble with a small amount of water to moisten it. Spoon onto the other side of the bowl so that it comes up to the edge of the peanut butter. Top with the 3-4 thin strawberry slices.
Besides that, the strawberries are very pretty. They are packed with vitamin C and fiber for better digestion and more energy.
Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 0 mins | Serving: 1 dog
If you love to make things from scratch, these homemade dog biscuits recipes will give your pooch a little after dinner treat.
Always check the label of your peanut butter twice as xylitol can be added to peanut butter without you knowing about it. It can be very dangerous for dogs.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @goldenboy_bravo
#6: Salmon Poke Bowl With Mango, Avocado & Pomegranate
My cousin made me this last summer, and I literally stood over the bowl for a minute just staring at it before eating. Something about the colors and textures just got me.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Serving Size: 2 bowls
Ingredients:
1. 1.5 cups sushi-grade salmon, diced into small cubes
2. 1.5 cups white rice (cooked)
3. 1 ripe mango, sliced thin
4. 1 large avocado, sliced
5. 1 medium cucumber, peeled into ribbons
6. 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
7. 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (mixed white and flax)
8. 2 tablespoons soy sauce
9. 1 teaspoon sesame oil
10. 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
How To Build These Bowls
Make sure to make your rice first and let it rest a bit to be slightly warm. It will absorb the flavors much better. While your rice rests, season your diced salmon with soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes.
Use a vegetable peeler to get the gorgeous wide ribbons from your cucumber. Take your time to slice your avocado for the bowl. Thin, clean cuts make the bowl look Pinterest-worthy.
Divide the rice into two bowls. Put each topping on its own section of the bowl, rather than mixing them all together. This way, the textures are kept separate, and every bite will be intentional.
top with pomegranate seeds and sesame seeds. Scatter over everything.
Make sure to chill the salmon for at least 30 minutes before serving if you want to enjoy clean, firm salmon cubes.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lacuisine_explosive_desofie
#7: Golden Millet & Pumpkin Mash for Dogs
If you have a golden retriever, then you know that look, the one that says “please, I’ll be so good, just give me a bite.” I swear my dog does it every single time I’m in the kitchen.
This is one of my favorite mashes. It is warm and grainy and smells a little bit like fall.
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup millet, rinsed
2. ½ cup pureed pumpkin (plain, not pie filling)
3. ¼ cup cooked chicken, shredded
4. 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
5. 1 teaspoon coconut oil
How to Make It
Bring the millet to a simmer in broth on medium heat for about 20 minutes or so until it has absorbed most of the broth and has gotten soft and thick. While still hot, stir in the pumpkin, and coconut oil (this is what makes it turn golden and creamy looking). Fold in the shredded chicken last so that it doesn’t get tough and tear. Allow to cool completely before serving, as it will be quite hot. You can always cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours too.
Prep Time: 5 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 3–4 portions
Millet is gentle on digestion, pumpkin is good for your gut, which means fewer tummy-trouble mornings on your clean rugs.
Make your life easier by freezing leftovers in silicone molds for a quick to grab treat. These would be cute with my dogs ice cream recipes too.
Store in a airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lil_furfamily
#8: Two Dachshunds, Two Slow Feeder Bowls, One Ridiculously Cute Mealtime Setup
You know that moment when your dog inhales her food so fast that you are scared she is going to choke? Yeah. That was me every morning with a bowl spinning across the floor because she is eating so fast.
These slow feeder puzzle bowls in sage green and dusty pink are the best thing I didn’t know I needed.
What’s In These Bowls
1. Raw ground meat (beef or chicken)
2. Banana slices
3. Fresh blueberries
4. Dried sprats (whole small fish)
5. A few small pickles or gherkins
How To Put It Together
Press a good layer of raw meat into the puzzle grooves, then add a few slices of banana and blueberries on top. Add one or two dried sprats along the edge so your dog has to work around them.
These homemade banana dog treats can be made with the same simple ingredients if you want to make extras.
Prep Time: 3 min | No Cook Time | Serves 1 dog
Not only will the food be slower to eat, but your puppy will have less bloat and will keep your floor clean!
Freeze the filled bowl for 20 minutes before use. The entire meal lasts twice as long.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @sidney_minisausage
#9: Tuna & Quinoa Bowl with Peas and Carrots
You know, that moment when your golden gives you those big, soulful eyes while you’re eating dinner, as if you personally offended her by not sharing with her?
Yeah. This one’s for her.
Tuna & Quinoa Bowl with Peas and Carrots
Ingredients:
1. 1 can (5 oz) chunk light tuna in water, drained
2. ½ cup cooked quinoa
3. ¼ cup frozen peas, thawed
4. ¼ cup diced carrots, steamed soft
5. 2 tablespoons water or low-sodium broth to moisten
How to Make It
Start by cooking the quinoa. I usually do mine 1:2 quinoa to water, and I cook it on the stove until it’s about 15 minutes and fluffy. While that’s cooking, I steam the carrots until they’re fork tender. Once they’re done and the quinoa is done, I put it in a bowl and add the tuna, quinoa, peas and carrots. I add a bit of broth to the mixture to help it all stick together and look like something I would want to eat.
And honestly? I’ve eaten a bite. No regrets.
The best part: She loves to eat quinoa which gives her complete protein and fiber which helps her digestion and make her skin and coat shine.
If your girl tends to get tummy issues, pairing it with natural remedies for yeast infection in dogs can make a real difference.
Let the bowl cool to room temperature before serving. Never serve warm. You want it comfortable, not hot.
Prep Time: 5 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 2 small portions
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @spoiledhounds
#10: The Ultimate Homemade Dog Bowl — Raw Egg, Scrambled Eggs, Ground Meat, Kibble & Bone Treats
well, you know those times when your golden is looking at you with those eyes and you know what they are thinking.. “hey, where is my plate”.. I get that way every time. My dog Naya did this huge sigh and flopped down next to my chair and I gave into her and have no regrets.
This bowl is the real deal. A stainless steel mixing bowl overflowing with layers of color and texture — orange and pink bone-shaped baked treats, golden kibble, scrambled eggs with herbs and carrots, a raw egg yolk cracked on top and a generous helping of cooked ground meat with quinoa or oats.
How to Build This Homemade Dog Bowl
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Serving Size: 1 large dog (50–70 lbs)
Ingredients:
1. ½ cup dry kibble (your dog’s regular brand)
2. 2 whole eggs — one scrambled with veggies, one raw yolk on top
3. ¼ cup shredded carrot, chopped parsley, and diced bell pepper
4. ½ cup cooked lean ground beef or turkey mixed with cooked oats or quinoa
5. 2–3 pink beet-and-blueberry bone treats (homemade or store-bought)
6. 2–3 orange pumpkin-and-herb bone treats
Scramble the egg with the carrots, parsley and the diced bell pepper. Use a dry pan, medium heat and no butter. When the egg is just set (scrambled eggs are not a dog treat), set it aside to cool. Brown the ground meat you used in the same pan. If there is extra fat, drain that. Mix in the cooked meat with the remaining ½ cup oats or quinoa that is still warm.
Spread a layer of kibble on the bottom, it acts as the “floor” to keep the moist stuff from getting soggy. Spoon the scrambled egg mixture on one side and add the meat mixture on the opposite side, so you don’t have to combine them. Now it’s fun to watch your dog dig in. Break the raw egg yolks into a small bowl, and pour it over the top of the dish just before serving. The yolks will add a coating of omega fatty acids to everything it touches, which results in less shedding on the couch cushions. You’re welcome.
If you’d like to hide the bone treats along the edge for a Pinterest-worthy presentation moment, your golden will destroy it in four seconds. But you will have the photo.
You can rotate the protein that you put into the bone. So one day it is beef, then the next day it is turkey or sardines or some other meat. This is to help your dog from developing food sensitivities over time. If you would like some more ideas for these baked bones in this picture, you can make Pumpkin and Oat Dog Treats: A Healthy & Easy Homemade Recipe; just use beets for the orange and pink version.
While raw egg yolk is safe for most healthy dogs, avoid it if your dog has a sensitive stomach or a history of pancreatitis. The fat content can be a bit overwhelming for some dogs.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @stillfarmsva
The Blood Sugar Trick Most Dog Owners Get Completely Wrong
One thing nobody tells you when you have a diabetic dog is that it’s not only what you feed them, but when and how consistently you feed them.
Portion timing matters more than the ingredients themselves.
My neighbor switched my dog to homemade food and actually raised her blood sugar because she keeps changing the batch sizes every week. Same recipes, different amounts. The only thing that keeps my blood sugar levels consistent is having the same amount of protein and fiber in each meal.
I have a wonderful pro tip for you: Cook in bulk and portion by weight, not by cup. A kitchen scale is a game changer. Cups are too inconsistent. A “full cup” of ground turkey one day versus the next? Yeah, not going to be the same.
Also, cooked carrots give them a faster spike in their blood sugar levels. Now that I know that fact, I try to give them the raw ones.
Why this works: fiber slows absorption of sugar(glucose) and raw vegetables are more likely to have fibre still intact.
If you’re looking for a reliable starting point, the The Ultimate Guide to Crockpot Dog Food Recipes comes with batch-cooking methods so you don’t have to do it every week.
Your Golden Deserves a Clean Home Too
So, if you’ve thought about getting a dog, but can’t imagine leaving a beautiful home to do so, then this article is for you. This is not another article asking you to choose between your dog and your home.
I’d suggest you go with the mat first. Whichever you choose. Just start small. You’ll feel the difference after one muddy walk, one rainy afternoon, one slobbery couch moment. One moment that doesn’t ruin your whole day.
Your space should feel like yours again — golden retriever and all.
What’s one spot in your home where your pup messes that stresses you out the most? Is it the couch, the entryway, or something else?
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
