Fiber was seen as a filler before in dog food production, but now it is considered as an important ingredient in dog food and especially an important factor for canine’s health. Fiber plays an important role in weight management in dogs and for minimizing dog constipation.There are two main reasons make dog owners choose to chose high fiber diets for their pets.

1. Fiber helps overweight dogs feel full longer, leading to a decrease in overeating same way humans, high-fiber diets can help reduce or minimize constipation by aiding in appropriate digestion and elimination.

2. Second important benefit from high-fiber foods is the bulking of waste, which can aid in swollen anal glands. Anal glands problem is more common in smaller dogs and this only 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.

Veterinary Approval for High Fiber Diet

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 online research of high fiber products or vet suggestion usually only a few high-fiber dog foods will require a veterinarian’s prescription.

Personally my favorite brand is Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Calorie Control CC 26. This is a higher end dog food that is often prescribed by animal experts/vets and a choice of breeders.
Another common brand or product is 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 high fiber dog food brands 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.

Home remedies for anal glands or high fiber diet are rice, oat bran and rice bran. These can easily be added to the diet as can the pulps of beets and oranges. Also 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. You can learn more about high fiber dog food brands here.

If it were your dog, would you stick to the Blue brand or try another brand with a higher fiber content? If you would gradually change over to another brand do you have any recommendations. Her vet strongly pushes Science Diet and I would prefer not to feed her that.

high fiber dog food

i have been exercising him but i feel that diet would also help. i will ask his vet but i thought i’d get some ideas here too. thanks for your input.

high fiber dog food

high fiber dog food

My Dog – 2 month old Portuguese Water Dog

Food 1 –
Contains : Chicken, Brown Rice, White Rice, Oats, Beet Pulp, Peas, Chicken Oil, Sunflower Oil, Seaweed, Vitamins and Minerals

Typical Analysis/100g:
Protein 24.0%, Oil 12.0%, Fibre 2.0%, Ash 7.0%, Vit A 20000 iu/kg, Vit D 1600 iu/kg, Vit E 160 iu/kg, Moisture 8%, Copper 15mg/kg, Sodium 0.55%, Calcium 1.6%, Phosphorus 0.92%, Magnesium 0.1%.

Food 2 –
FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, russet potato, lake whitefish, chicken fat, sweet potato, whole eggs, turkey, salmon meal, salmon and anchovy oils, salmon, natural chicken flavour, sunflower oil, sun-cured alfalfa, dried brown kelp, carrots, spinach, peas, tomatoes, apples, psyllium, dulse, glucosamine Hcl, cranberries, black currants, rosemary extract, chondroitin sulfate, sea salt.

TONIC HERBS AND BOTANICALS
Chicory root, licorice root, tumeric root, funugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, zea mays, peppermint leaf, chamomile flowers, dandelion, summer savory, rosehips.

ORGANIC MINERALS
Iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate.

PROBIOTIC MICROORGANISMS
Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.

PREMIUM VITAMINS
Mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), choline chloride, vitamin A, vitamin D3, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12, folic acid, biotin.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Protein (min.) 42.0%
Fat 16.0%
Carbohydrate 18.0%
Moisture 10.0%
Fiber 2.0%
Calcium (min.) 1.4%
Calcium (max.) 1.6%
Phosphorus (min.) 1.1%
Phosphorus (max.) 1.3%
Omega-6 2.5%
Omega-3 1.0%
Glucosamine 500 mg/kg
Chondroitin 150 mg/kg
Microorganisms 80M cfu/kg
pH 5.0
Ash (min.) 6.5%

high fiber dog food

high fiber dog food

I run a rescue for small exotic pets out of my home, and naturally it has become my job to educate people on proper husbandry when it comes to the animal they are looking to adopt. We frequently have hay-eaters here, like chinchillas, degus, cavies, rabbits, and more recently a prairie dog! These animals eat large amounts of roughage and everywhere I turn there is contradicting information about which types of grass are okay, and which are not.

Not to be argumentative, but when we were kids, there was no such thing as "timothy hay". Hay was just hay, and it was usually alfalfa. That’s what we fed our rabbits, and despite alfalfa’s bad reputation these days, our animals still lived to be about 8 years old.

And after doing some research into alfalfa, it appears that it would function very well as a food, or at least a supplement. It obviously offers a lot of fiber, and it contains vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, C, D, E, K AND U, plus beta-carotene, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, protein, amino acids, and trace elements. Even humans take alfalfa supplements.

So why is alfalfa bad for rodents? When I have asked this question in the past, I have been met with vague answers such as "it’s too rich" or "it causes diarrhea". I have combed through dozens of rabbit, chinchilla, and guinea pig books and sites and haven’t come up with anything concrete. And to make matters worse, the same sites that discourage the feeding of dried alfalfa grasses actually recommend alfalfa sprouts! Aside from more moisture, what’s the difference?!!

The best thing I can find is that alfalfa is higher in calcium and protein than other hays. But why is this bad? It doesn’t seem like a good reason to eliminate it from the diet all-together, especially with all the vitamins and other nutrients it offers.

Is alfalfa really just one of those things that’s good in moderation? (I’m feeling a bit defensive because when I joined a prairie dog group recently to learn more about our new girl, the first thing everyone said was "OMG DONT GIVE HER ALFALFA" without bothering to explain why.)

And a bonus question: lately I have seen other types of grasses available as foods for rodents such as Bermuda Grass, Orchard Grass, etc. Are these beneficial or harmful, and for which species?

THANKS!

high fiber dog food

Addiction Dry Food was rated top dry food by the Whole Dog Journal (according to their website), but the dry food doesn’t have enough fiber. The only thing that I am unsure about is the protein content (20%). Any opinions/experiences???
ADDED: I am looking for a food with more fiber because I would prefer not having to cook every night for them… canned pumpkin did not work, prescription diet (high fiber) from vet for treatment of diareah worked wonders.
ADDED: They have loose stools on all foods besides that high fiber one (they cannot eat it on a regular basis though)… have them on canidae, have had them on innova…

high fiber dog food

The vet recommended Hill’s Prescription Diet, but there is no way we’re feeding him anything with various forms of corn and by-products as the first 4 ingredients. We have been looking at other foods and the best alternative seems to be Innova EVO Reduced Fat with 2.5% fiber and 15% fat. However, the fat is still a bit higher than we’d like (ideal for EPI is 12% or lower).

Anyone have any experience with EPI? What do you feed your dog?
Thanks for all the great answers so far! I know we had considered Wellness Core as an option, as well. The Innova is slightly too high fiber for an EPI diet, as far as we could tell (but we’re not experts). And, I’ll be honest, in all my searching, I had never heard of Orijen. Thanks guys and keep it coming. :)

high fiber dog food

Wellness isn’t a grocery store brand, it isn’t even sold at Petsmart.

As for a blood test, my beagle has had one over the summer while he was having seizures.

**I forgot to add that he is going to be turning 7 this year. Should I switch him to a weight managment or senior dog food?***
Bitter Apple doesn’t work either.
My beagle will eat just about anything except bananas.

I have two theories about why he eats his own stool.
1) I’ve read that a dog eating his own stool could be a learned behavior. I doubt he learned it from his mother, since he’s picked up this habit so late in life. He could have learned it from me; I pick up the yard every week or two and dispose of his waste.
2) My neighbor’s dogs eat a very low quality food bought from the Dollar Store, I forgot what it’s called, anyway sometimes they eliminate in my backyard.
That was the first time I ever saw my dog eat feces; it was the neighbor’s dog’s poo. I corrected him immediately but I’m thinking from that time he’s learned that some poop tastes good and can have food in it.

high fiber dog food