Best high fiber dog food brands (2018’s top 5 picks)

Why Is Fiber For Dogs Good?

Fiber for dogs is an essential element they should be receiving in adequate amounts in their day to day diet, for many reasons.

Immunity System Boost

It has been proven time and time again that dogs that have a smoothly operating, well functioning digestive system have a much better immunity system than dogs that have problems with their digestive system.

Bowel Movements

Just like fiber helps you and I very much when it comes to going more regular trips to the bathroom, it does so with our dogs as well, much thanks to the insoluble fiber part that.

Dogs that are fed adequate amounts of fiber in their day to day diets enjoy much more regular bowel movements and are much less likely to deal with problems such as constipation and bloating.

Bloating doesn"t seem like anything dangerous when you and I get it, as it"s only discomfort for us which will go away after a while, but it"s a very serious situation for our dogs because it can eventually lead to death if not treated.

Dietary fiber can also go a long way in preventing your dog having diarrhea, again much thanks to the insoluble fiber part.

So, as far as this section is concerned, think of fiber as your dog"s anti constipation and anti diarrhea super weapon when you need it most.

Anti-Cancer Properties

Fiber is notorious for its anti-cancer properties when it comes to us humans, and the same holds true when it comes to our dogs as well.

Fiber helps the body fight against the formation of cancer cells, and is known to greatly reduce the chances of dogs developing colon cancer.

Blood Sugar Stability

Dietary fiber is notorious for its ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent sudden spikes or crashes in blood sugar levels, which is very beneficial for dogs, especially diabetic dogs that can"t afford to have these spikes/crashes.

Fighting Obesity

Last but not least, fiber does a ton of good to your dog when it comes to preventing excess weight/obesity.

When your dog eats food that"s rich in fiber, the fiber enters their digestive system, absorbs water, expands, takes up more and more space in your dog"s stomach which causes your dog to feel full faster than they would have they been eating food that doesn"t contain any fiber.

And, when your dog eats less food throughout the day, that translates to less calories taken in throughout the day, which helps your dog maintain their weight (if that"s what your after) or lose a few pounds.

Where Will You Find Dog Food With Fiber?

We"ve talked about dog foods that contain significant amounts of fiber in many different articles on this website.

Generally (this isn"t always the case, mind you), the cheaper the dog food you"re looking at is, the lower-quality the ingredients they"re using are going to be and the less the chances that their carbohydrate sources are from fibrous ingredients are going to be.

Meanwhile, and this isn"t always the case as well, the more expensive the dog food you"re looking at is, the higher-quality ingredients they"re using are going to be and the more then chances that their carbohydrate sources are from fibrous ingredients (such as whole fruits and vegetables) are going to be.

Cheap dog food often has useless filler in it that offers no nutritional benefit at all to your dog, such as wheat, corn and soy, while more expensive, premium dog food often has a mix of fruits and vegetables in its carbohydrate mix, which offers your dog a whole world of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

How To Add Fiber To Your Dog"s Diet Besides Commercial Dog Food

Supposing your dog is already being fed high-quality, premium and grain-free dog food that"s rich in fiber, you can also add fiber to their diet in other ways throughout the day.

There are many foods you can offer your dog as a snack that are rich in fiber, many of which we"ve covered in separate articles on this website, such as canned pumpkin and sweet potato.

A Note About High Fiber Dog Food And Diarrhea

One thing we always see happening when dog owners switch their dogs from a dog food formula or brand that has little fiber in it to one that has high amounts of fiber in it, is that the dog gets a nasty case of diarrhea and loose stool.

Most of the times, this happens because the dog owner makes the switch from one formula to another way too fast, without a proper transition phase in between.

Instead of gradually replacing the dog food that doesn"t contain much fiber with the dog food that contains significant amounts of fiber bit by bit everyday, gradually increasing the portions of the latter and decreasing the portions of the former, many dog owners just replace one dog food with another right away.

This doesn"t give your dog"s digestive system any time at all to make necessary adjustments, which causes issues like diarrhea.

A Note About High Fiber Dog Food And Nutrient Absorption

With all the positive things being said about fiber and fiber in dog food above, one thing must be noted as well.

When you and I eat a relatively high amount of dietary fiber during a day"s time, this interferes with our body"s ability to properly absorb the vitamins and minerals we get from the healthy food we eat.

And guess what? The same holds true for your dog.

Dogs that eat higher-than-recommended levels of fiber in their diet are at much greater risk of developing digestive problems and malnutrition due to improper mineral and nutrient absorption.

So, moral of the story is, even though fiber is a very good thing for both you and your dog to include in your diets, don"t over do it.

Talk to your veterinarian about this first and they"ll be able to best advise you about the optimal fiber count your dog should be getting from their diet. The last thing you want to do is turn something so beneficial into something harmful!