What Are the Health Benefits of High Fiber Dog Food?
People all around the world are hearing that increasing the amount of fiber they eat can improve their health and prevent cancerous conditions.
So, it's not really surprising if you wonder whether your pet ought to be eating high fiber food, too.
The answer is a cautious yes - only some dogs should have high levels of fiber in their diet.
Let's examine which dogs should eat more fiber, what's food and isn't good for them, and the side effects of a diet that's too high or low in this basic substance.
Step one is being aware that dogs don't work like people.
We need more fiber than dogs, because we're naturally omnivorous, while dogs are naturally supposed to eat mostly meat.
But wild dogs, wolves, foxes and other canines do get some fiber in what they eat - it's what makes their digestive systems work the way they should.
If they don't get enough, they could have digestive and excretory problems.
However, dogs that eat too much fiber can have trouble getting the right nutrition and have other issues as well.
Animals that can get the benefits of extra fiber include dogs that have diabetes and dogs with anal gland disease.
Fiber helps diabetic dogs have lower fluctuations in their blood sugar levels.
It helps dogs with anal gland disease - an uncomfortable condition that can cause "scooting," abscesses, and other issues - feel better and have fewer problems.
It's been said that older dogs need a higher fiber diet to keep them trim and fit, since fiber will help your dog feel full without ingesting too many calories.
This is why so many diet dog foods include large quantities of fiber.
But recent studies suggest that they aren't really doing all that much for dogs who are already on diets that reduce their calories.
As long as they're get enough to keep them from being constipated, they're fine on normal foods.
The majority of dog foods do contain some fiber, but how much depends on the manufacturer, brand and type.
The kind of fiber is also usually different.
Carbohydrates almost all include a little bit of fiber.
The most common types used in commercial dog food include sugar beet pulp, peanut, soybean, or rice hulls, corn and corn by products and pectin.
Not all these sources are ideal.
Talk to your vet to find out what makes the best high fiber food for dogs, and whether your pet requires one.
So, it's not really surprising if you wonder whether your pet ought to be eating high fiber food, too.
The answer is a cautious yes - only some dogs should have high levels of fiber in their diet.
Let's examine which dogs should eat more fiber, what's food and isn't good for them, and the side effects of a diet that's too high or low in this basic substance.
Step one is being aware that dogs don't work like people.
We need more fiber than dogs, because we're naturally omnivorous, while dogs are naturally supposed to eat mostly meat.
But wild dogs, wolves, foxes and other canines do get some fiber in what they eat - it's what makes their digestive systems work the way they should.
If they don't get enough, they could have digestive and excretory problems.
However, dogs that eat too much fiber can have trouble getting the right nutrition and have other issues as well.
Animals that can get the benefits of extra fiber include dogs that have diabetes and dogs with anal gland disease.
Fiber helps diabetic dogs have lower fluctuations in their blood sugar levels.
It helps dogs with anal gland disease - an uncomfortable condition that can cause "scooting," abscesses, and other issues - feel better and have fewer problems.
It's been said that older dogs need a higher fiber diet to keep them trim and fit, since fiber will help your dog feel full without ingesting too many calories.
This is why so many diet dog foods include large quantities of fiber.
But recent studies suggest that they aren't really doing all that much for dogs who are already on diets that reduce their calories.
As long as they're get enough to keep them from being constipated, they're fine on normal foods.
The majority of dog foods do contain some fiber, but how much depends on the manufacturer, brand and type.
The kind of fiber is also usually different.
Carbohydrates almost all include a little bit of fiber.
The most common types used in commercial dog food include sugar beet pulp, peanut, soybean, or rice hulls, corn and corn by products and pectin.
Not all these sources are ideal.
Talk to your vet to find out what makes the best high fiber food for dogs, and whether your pet requires one.
Source...