The Best High Fibre Food For Dogs.

Because Dogs Need Fibre Too!

We hear a lot about increasing our fibre intake. In this article we will look at how high fibre food for dogs could have lots of benefits for our canine companions too. 

Understanding Different Fibres

Fibre can be classified in two ways. Firstly, whether it dissolves in water or not.  If it does it is called soluble fibre and these types include pectins, gums, fructans, guar gum and inulins.  As they are digested they pull water into the gut, forming a gel which slows down digestion.  This helps to keep the dog feeling fuller for longer and gives a slow sustained release of energy from food. This can be particularly beneficial for weight loss diets and for dogs with diabetes.  Sweet potato is a great source of soluble fibre, we include it in our grain free dog food as the main source of carbohydrate.  It’s also in three of our treat varieties which can be perfect for keeping hunger at bay between meals.  Try our Apple & Sweet Potato Twists, Chicken & Sweet Potato Crunch

Insoluble fibres like wholegrains do not dissolve and so they pass through the digestive system unchanged.  In other words, they are not digested.  So if we don’t get any nutrition from it, what is the benefit?  The benefit lies in the effect it has as it travels through the digestive system.  Firstly, this type of fibre adds bulk to the food, which gives the walls of the intestine something to work against. This helps push food through the gut, keeping everything moving and preventing constipation.  It can also benefit those breeds who are prone to anal gland problems.  As it reaches the large intestine it absorbs lots of water so stools are softer and easier to pass. This can be especially beneficial for older dogs, who’s digestive system may be a little slower than in younger days.

Fibre and the Gut

Just to make things a little less straightforward, fibre can also be  categorised by the ability of the gut bacteria to use them to produce nutrients.  This is called fermentation and so the more soluble the fibre, the more rapidly and completely fermentable it is.  This gives rise to the third health benefit of fibre.  You will see ingredients like FOS and MOS added to our dog foods because they are soluble fibres which act as prebiotics providing a source of nutrition for the good bacteria in the gut.  This can be very helpful to general digestive health but also for those dogs with digestive issues. It helps provide what is called a healthy gut microbiome. This is where the good bacteria flourish and the harmful ones (pathogenic) are less likely to take hold.

Understanding Fibre in Dog Foods

It can be tricky to compare fibre contents between different dog foods because fibre is listed as CRUDE FIBRE. This includes most of the insoluble fibre but NOT the soluble fibre.  So in other words, crude fibre doesn’t give us an idea of total fibre or how much, if any soluble fibre is present.  A better guide is Total Dietary Fibre as it includes both soluble and insoluble fibre but because it is a costly method of analysis it is rarely used for dog food and is not required by law.

This means two types of dog food which have similar levels of Crude Fibre could in fact have very different total fibre levels and have totally different effects on the digestive system of the dog.  It is these differences in fibre which explain the gut issues owners see when they change their dogs food and can be the reason why a dog has more loose stools on one food but a better, formed stool on another type.

Here are Some of the Health Benefits of High Fibre Food For Dogs

Overweight / Obesity

Soluble fibre can help the dog to feel fuller for longer and so help to avoid hunger between meals

Cardiovascular Disease

Moderate levels of soluble fibre can be helpful to ensure good absorption of nutrients during digestion. 

Gastrointestinal Disease

Insoluble fibre can help reduce diarrhoea, slowing digestion and making the stools more formed.  Look for Crude Fibre 2% to 5%.  Soluble fibre can also be helpful as it helps with the absorption of nutrients during digestion as well helping to limit the growth of harmful (pathogenic) bacteria by providing nutrients for the good/beneficial bacteria.

Liver Disease

Soluble/fermentable fibres such as FOS and MOS which act as prebiotics can mop up nitrogenous waste and act as an ‘ammonia trap’ to help reduce blood ammonia levels.

Kidney Disease

Some renal/kidney diets contain soluble/fementable fibre for the same reason as in liver disease, they act as a nitrogen trap and help reduce blood ammonia levels.

Dental health

Insoluble fibre like the type found in whole grains can add texture to kibble and to treats which helps to clean the surface of the teeth, helping to remove plaque and prevent the build-up of tartar.

If you think your dog would benefit from more fibre in their diet there are a two main options:

Option 1 – Choose a Dog Food with the right type of fibre

You will need to look for the correct type of fibre on the ingredients list to do this .  Look for FOS and MOS which are the soluble fibres with a prebiotic effect. If you are looking for the effect of soluble fibre which forms a gel in the gut and helps to keep the dog feeling fuller for longer look for ingredients like sweet potato. On the other hand,  if you want insoluble fibre to help prevent or treat constipation  this is easier as this is the type of fibre that is listed in the nutritional information as ‘crude fibre’. Look for levels of around 2% crude fibre

Option 2 –Natural Sources of Fibre to add to the diet

If you would prefer to keep the dog food the same then you could add fibre yourself.  You can do this by adding in fruits and vegetables or through the use of a supplement.

Fruit & Vegetables

It is advisable to try food before supplements unless you are dealing with a specific medical condition (in which case you should check with your Vet).

You can simply add small portions of vegetables into the diet such as pumpkin, green beans, peas, carrot, broccoli, berries, pears and apples, mixed cubed frozen vegetables. This will give a lower amount than the concentrated amount from a supplement.

Fibre Supplements

The types of fibre supplements are the same as those we can add to our food but make absolutely certain they do  not contain xylitol or any other type of sweeteners. 

You can add:

• psyllium seed husk – a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibre
• wheat bran- insoluble fibre
• inulin – soluble fibre

Remember that an increase in fibre should always go hand in hand with an increase in water! Ensure that clean, fresh drinking water is always available.