Dogs are like people. They have different needs and preferences, so you have to find a food that works for your dog’s unique body and personality.
One important thing to consider when choosing dog food for your pup is whether it has fiber. Fiber helps keep your dog’s digestive system healthy, which can help prevent a number of health issues down the road. But how do you know if your dog’s food has enough fiber? And how much is too much? Here are some answers to common questions about feeding dogs with fiber:
How much fiber should my dog eat?
Dogs can eat as little as 5% of their daily calories from fiber or as much as 15%. The average recommendation is around 10%. This means that if your dog eats 3 cups of dry food per day, he should get between 0.5 and 1 cup of dry food with added fiber per day.
Which types of fiber are safe?
There are many different types of fiber available in commercial dog foods today—some good ones include flaxseed meal, oat bran, soy hulls, barley malt extract and psyllium husks. Some bad ones include wheat bran and corn bran, which can cause allergies in some dogs. You can also add extra fiber into
Dog Food With Fibre
Adding high fiber dog food, supplements, treats, and food toppers to your dog’s diet will dramatically improve your dog’s health. It will help manage their weight, regulate bowel movements, and build a stronger immune system, contributing to a longer lifespan.
Rogue Pet Science uses only proven ingredients to create all-natural pet supplements and vitamins to improve your dog’s overall nutrition and gut he alth. Rogue Pet Science offers natural, high fiber, and nutritious dog treats and supplements to improve the health of your dog.
Want to improve your dog’s skin, coat, joints, and digestion? Rogue Pet Science offers many products that will enhance your dog’s gut health.
Fiber for Dogs: The Best Natural Fiber Sources
There are many natural sources you can feed your dog to make sure they get the extra fiber in their diet. We’ve listed some of the best natural fiber sources:
Beet Pulp
Found in many high-fiber dog foods, beet pulp is a stringy, colorless byproduct of sugar beet that contains a crude fiber content of between 11-19%. Because it is easily digested, it is a common ingredient in dog food.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin puree is another delicious natural source of fiber for dogs. Use pumpkin puree as a food topper to your dog’s food for extra fiber. Pumpkin puree has 7.1 grams of dietary fiber per cup. But when you first introduce pumpkin to your dog’s diet, do it a teaspoon at a time to make sure it sits well with your dog’s digestion.
Want an easy way to add pumpkin to your dog’s diet? Shop Rogue Pet Science” s Pumpkin Pro for Dogs, an easy-to-use pumpkin powder that can help your dog’s digestion and stress management issues.
Ground Flaxseed
Ground flaxseed contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your dog’s skin, coat, nervous system and brain, and also includes 2 grams of fiber for every tablespoon. You can easily add a tablespoon to your dog’s food by:
- Sprinkling onto their food.
- Mixing it with peanut butter.
- Rolling it into a ball for an easy treat.
Dark Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens are an excellent low-calorie source of fiber. For every cup of dark greens, there is 0.6-2 grams of fiber. If your dog likes to eat dark greens, then cut the greens up small for them to digest easily. Unfortunately, iceberg lettuce isn’t an adequate source for fiber.
Apples
Apple slices are a fantastic way to add extra fiber to your dog’s diet. One medium apple contains about 3 grams of fiber. Apples also help clean your dog’s teeth. But be careful not to give your dog too many slices for their weight and size and never feed them the core or seeds.
Carrots
Baby carrots are healthy natural snacks for dogs that are high in fiber. Containing 2.8 grams of fiber, carrots are an easy treat to add fiber to your dog’s diet. And carrots have been proven to improve your dog’s liver and kidney function.
Brown Rice
While recent trends for grain-free food are popular for dogs, research shows that grains are actually an excellent fiber and protein source for dogs. Brown rice is an high-quality natural source of fiber for dogs, containing just over 3 grams of fiber per cup.
The 10 Best High Fiber Foods for Dogs
Finding the right high fiber foods that your dog will want to eat is difficult. Here’s our list the top ten best high fiber foods for dogs that are dog-approved:
1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Dry Dog Food
The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Dry Dog Food is rich in vitamins, omegas, and fiber. It also contains high-quality protein and wholesome whole grains.
2. Rogue Pet Science Pumpkin for Dogs
The Pumpkin Pro Food Topper is an excellent source of fiber to increase nutritional diversity and manage loose stools. Made from pumpkin, fermented turmeric root, fermented ginger root, and acacia gum that is organic and human-grade whole food.
It helps reduce stress and helps your animal get control of their loose stools almost overnight. For animals with a sensitive stomach, this food topper is a staple.
The Pumpkin Pro Food Topper is an excellent source of fiber to increase nutritional diversity and manage loose stools. It is made from pumpkin, fermented turmeric root, fermented ginger root, and acacia gum that is organic and human-grade whole food.
It helps reduce stress and helps your animal get control of their loose stools almost overnight. For animals with a sensitive stomach, this food topper is a staple.
Not sure if fiber is right for your dog? Read Rogue Pet Science’s Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about dog nutrition.
3. Purina Pro Plan with Probiotics Shredded Blend High Protein Dry Dog Food
Purina’s Pro Plan dog food uses a high protein formula with real chicken as the first ingredient. It contains 4% crude fiber and includes several essential vitamins and a probiotic. It also has a great flavor that dogs love.
4. Bernie’s Perfect Poop Health Supplement
As a 4-in-1 health supplement, it combines high fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes to boost your pet’s digestive system. It helps to heal and maintain a happy gut by relieving digestive issues and bolstering your pet’s immune system.
5. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free High Prairie Natural Dry Dog Food
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Natural Dry Dog Food is made with real bison meat, vitamins, omegas, probiotics, fruits, and vegetables. It is a grain-free formula that is highly digestible.
6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Adult Dog Food
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dog Food is made with real salmon, vegetables, omegas, fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. It contains 6% crude fiber and is a favorite among dogs.
7. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach and Skin
A favorite among veterinarians, Hill’s Science Diet uses a prebiotic fiber to improve gut health. The highly digestible dog food is formulated and packed with vitamins and omegas to improve coat and strengthen heart health.
Want to improve your pet’s skin, coat, joints, and digestion? Rogue Pet Science has an Origins 5 in 1 food topper that will enhance your dog’s gut health.
8. Crave Grain Free High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
The Crave Grain Free High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food is made with salmon and other ocean fish to have 34% high protein. It’s formulated for small to medium size dogs. It contains 3.5% crude fiber.
9. Stewart Dog Biscuits
Stewart Dog Biscuits are a high, insoluble fiber supplement made from peanut hulls. The fiber dog biscuit helps the dog feel fuller faster and adds bulk to your pet’s diet. Stewart Dog Biscuits are specially designed for dogs with special needs and restrictive diets.
10. Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites for Dogs
The Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites for Dogs is a digestive supplement to regulate bowel movements and relieve an upset stomach. These small probiotic chews are easy to digest and very tasty.
Do Dogs Really Need Added Fiber?
Most dogs already get enough fiber from their diet naturally since most dog foods contain adequate fiber sources. However, some breeds may need more fiber, depending on their digestion. You should consult with your veterinarian to determine if your dog needs more fiber in its diet.
While fiber can aid your dog’s digestion and relieve constipation; fiber can also cause gas and diarrhea if your dog has too much fiber. It’s a delicate balance. That’s why it is so important to talk to your vet to find out if more fiber is right for your dog.
How Much Fiber Does My Dog Need?
Most dogs need about 2-4% of their diet to contain fiber. But you’ll want to talk to your vet if your breed needs more or less. This is something you really shouldn’t diagnose on your own. Too much fiber can do damage too.
Soluble Fiber vs Insoluble Fiber
Dietary fibers are increasingly recognized as an important functional ingredient in pet food given their interactive role with the intestinal environment and the influence to the microbiome. The main distinctions in functionality are between soluble versus insoluble fibers or fermentable versus non-fermentable fibers. These different kinds of dietary fibers are equally important to cats and dogs, and can be found in many different plant-based ingredients. The two types of dietary fibers have specific functionality and unique benefits that should be taken into account, such as health benefit association, total fiber content and composition, palatability, and technical properties.
Soluble fibers – Prebiotic effects
“Soluble fibers able to be broken down by gut microbes to make beneficial biomolecules not made or sourced elsewhere”
Soluble fibers dissolve in water and gastrointestinal fluids when they enter the stomach and intestines and are fermented in the large intestine to become a substrate for the ‘good’ microflora in the gut. These beneficial microflorae ferment the fibers into volatile short-chain fatty acids, resulting in an increase in their population in the gastrointestinal tract. This process is described as a prebiotic effect and has specific benefits for the health and well-being of cats and dogs. Prebiotics, in general, contribute to the diverse and balanced gut microbiota, which reinforce the natural defensive response to pathogenic and toxigenic bacteria. Thus prebiotics offers an effective reinforcement against digestive disorders, such as diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease.
symptoms of too much fiber in dogs
Although some fiber can be good for canine digestion, excessive amounts of it can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal woes in dogs. The substance should constitute just a small fraction of your pet’s total dietary intake.
The Importance of Fiber in Canine Diets
Fiber is a big part of your dog’s well-rounded diet. It’s an energy source in dog foods, similar to other carbohydrates such as starches and sugars. It gives bulk to the meals a dog eats. It even assists intestinal matter in water absorption, which helps create formed bowel movements that your dog can easily pass. As a result, foods that lack sufficient fiber can often give pets loose and runny stools.
You can integrate extra fiber into your dog’s diet to minimize their chances of constipation, flatulence and diarrhea. Fiber is capable of influencing the speed in which food travels through your dog’s intestines. If your dog has constipation, fiber can speed up the movement of food in his intestines. If he has diarrhea, fiber can slow the movement down. Note, however, that this often depends on factors such as the specific kinds of fibers, their processing and portion size.
Rice bran, green beans, canned pumpkin, barley, corn, dried tomato pomace and beet pulp are all examples of fiber-packed foods. Beet pulp is often seen in dog and cat foods alike as a fiber source.
Symptoms of Too Much Fiber Intake
Moderation is key for fiber intake in dogs. If your dog consumes too much fiber, he may develop noticeable symptoms such as:
- Gas
- Significant stool volume due to reduced digestible matter in food
- Frequent stools
- Diarrhea
- Hard stools
Fiber Intake and Fullness
You can use fiber to assist in weight management for your dog. Fiber is frequently seen as a canine weight control formula filler component. Standard dog foods generally have 3 to 6 percent fiber, while weight loss formulas often contain 8 to 25 percent fiber. Since fiber assists dogs in feeling full and satisfied faster, it can prevent them from eating too much and therefore gaining weight.
Warnings
- Beware of inexpensive varieties of dog foods often consist of too much fiber for filler purposes. This excessive fiber allows dogs to feel full before they’re able to take in their required nutrients. Because of that, nutritional deficiencies are often associated with pet diets that have too much fiber.
Not only can excessively high levels of fiber have negative effects on adult dogs, but they can be bad for growing puppies. These youngsters require significant amounts of fats and proteins to promote growth and development.
Tips
- If you have questions regarding fiber in your dog’s diet, consult your veterinarian before making a change.
COMPARISON OF HIGH-FIBER DOG FOOD BRANDS
| Updated September 26, 2017
Just like their human counterparts, fiber is an essential nutrient for the health of canines. Unfortunately, as with the dog’s owner, the daily diet may be lacking in this important ingredient. Many high-fiber dog foods can help dog owners alleviate any concerns and confusion regarding their canine’s nutritional needs by offering complete and balanced diets.
The Importance of Fiber
While fiber was once seen as a simple filler, especially in dog food, it is now viewed as an important component to a canine’s health. Weight control and minimizing constipation are two reasons dog owners may choose to turn to high-fiber diets for their four-legged friends. Fiber helps overweight dogs feel full longer, leading to a decrease in overeating. As with humans, high-fiber diets can help alleviate constipation by aiding in appropriate digestion and elimination. Another related benefit from high-fiber foods is the bulking of waste, which can aid in swollen anal glands. This problem, common in smaller dogs, occurs when anal glands become impacted. The bulkier stool helps “milk” the swollen glands, bringing some relief though this will not rid a dog of the condition entirely.
Requiring Veterinary Approval
While some pet owners may choose to add more vegetables and fruits to their dog’s diet, some situations call for specific dietary fiber needs. Whether through veterinary suggestion or through online research and purchase, a few high-fiber dog foods will require a veterinarian’s prescription. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Calorie Control CC 26 is a higher end dog food that is often prescribed by animal experts and a choice of breeders. Hill’s Canine W/D also requires a veterinarian’s approval but is also a good choice for owners concerned about their dog’s fat and sugar intake.
Available without Veterinary Approval
Foods that do not necessitate a veterinarian’s approval include those promoting a healthy diet for overweight canines. It’s important to note that these foods are safe for all dogs and simply include high fiber to help obese dogs feel full longer. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Light Dog Food and Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food Allergy Formula are two examples of popular kibbles available without veterinary approval.
Find Supplimental Fiber in the Kitchen
In addition to high-fiber dog food, some dog owners choose to supplement their dog’s fiber intake with items available in the average kitchen. Rice, oat bran and rice bran can easily be added to the diet as can the pulps of beets and oranges. Apple and tomato pomace can also be used to bulk up a canine’s fiber. Pomace is the leftover material after tomatoes and apples are processed and available through some bulk feed stores.
Items Are Toxic to Dogs
While it is possible to offer dogs some fruits and vegetables for fiber, but it is important to know which items pose a potentially fatal risk. Aloe, avocado, macadamia nut, mushrooms, prunes, raisins, grapes, onions and cherries are toxic to dogs. In addition, broccoli can cause intestinal upsets in canines and should be avoided.
VITAMIN B-6 FOR DOGS
| Updated September 26, 2017
Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, is a water soluble vitamin that’s part of the vitamin B complex. Since it functions as a coenzyme, your dog’s body needs it for the metabolism of amino acids. The canine body needs it for hydrochloric acid production, too. Vitamin B-6 is associated with the manufacturing of red blood cells, healthy brain processes and the wellness of both the immune and nervous systems.
Vitamin B-6 Deficiencies
For a dog, the recommended minimum daily dose of this vitamin is 0.1 milligrams for each pound he weighs. Because of their high protein needs, felines require higher levels of vitamin B-6 than canines do. Although vitamin B-6 exists in a good amount of foods, it’s not at all uncommon for the food manufacturing process to eradicate it. If a dog doesn’t get sufficient vitamin B-6 in his diet, he could experience a deficiency. Note that the majority of commercial canine diets have adequate amounts of vitamin B-6, and deficiencies are more common in dogs who are fed homemade diets. Deficiencies in this vitamin can bring upon complications such as:
- Kidney stones: Vitamin B-6 has subtle diuretic properties.
- Anemia
- Weight loss
- Convulsions
- Insufficient growth
- Skin lesions
- Tooth cavities
- Water retention
- Epilepsy
- Death
Vitamin B-6 deficiencies are frequently linked to various other medical issues, notably arthritis, cancer, artery disease, allergies and asthma. If you suspect that your dog might be suffering from a vitamin B-6 deficiency, notify your veterinarian as soon as possible. She may suggest ways in which you can naturally add vitamin B-6 to your pooch’s diet.
Strong Dietary Sources
Meat, wheat germ and yeast are all strong sources of vitamin B-6. It exists in cereals and in dairy products, albeit very minimally. Examples of meat sources of the vitamin include:
- Pork
- Buffalo
- Beef
- Turkey
- Chicken
- Heart
- Liver
- Goat
- Lamb
- Rabbit
- Ostrich
- Sardines
- Haddock
- Salmon
- Halibut
Note that eggs are sources of the vitamin, too.
Some fruits contain Vitamin B-6, including watermelon, which is a great treat for dogs. Not only is it full of vitamin B-6, but it’s also full of vitamins C and A. Other vitamin B-6 sources include:
- Alfalfa
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Lima beans
- Bananas
- Avocados
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
Excessive Amounts of Vitamin B-6
Although insufficient amounts of vitamin B-6 in dogs can cause problems, so can the opposite — excessive amounts. If a dog consumes more than 200 milligrams for each 2.2 pounds he weighs a day, he could become more susceptible to nerve damage. Chronic overdoses of this vitamin can also lead to muscle weakness and ataxia. The latter condition is characterized by problems with bodily movement control. Outside of overdose, the vitamin is believed to be overall safe for dogs. If you are worried that your dog may be consuming too much vitamin B-6 in his diet, ask your veterinarian.