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Why Is Fiber in Your Dog's Food?
Why Is Fiber in Your Dog's Food?

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Importance of Fiber in Dog Food

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Your pooch’s diet defines its overall health and well-being. What it eats contributes to the amount of energy it has throughout the day. As a caregiver, it becomes your responsibility to provide the correct amount of nutrition and nourishment to your fur baby. Understanding the various components of your pet’s diet helps in providing them with the right nourishment.
 

Although everyone knows dogs need protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals; did you know your canine friend also requires fiber in their diet? Even though fiber is not completely digestible it is an essential part of your pooch’s diet. High-fiber dog food aids in better digestion and bowel movement. Soluble fiber for dogs helps them in absorbing water. This type of fiber then gets fermented in their intestines to release fatty acids for better gut health. Other than soluble fiber, dogs also require insoluble fiber for better water absorption and digestion.
 

Benefits of high fiber dog food

Fiber in dog food helps the dogs digest their food better. Proper digestion equates to better bowel movement and good gut and gastrointestinal health. Your canine friend’s food should contain at least 2-4% fiber to assist their gut health’s growth and development. Besides, fiber for dogs acts as an absorbing substance that collects excess water and acids. Given below are a few other benefits of fiber for dogs.

  • Useful for treating constipation and diarrhea: Apart from absorbing extra water and acid, the insoluble fiber also helps in cleaning your pet’s gut tract. This makes their bowel movement better. Consuming the right amount of fiber also helps maintain your dog’s anal gland issues. Smaller breeds of dogs are more likely to suffer from these issues. The fiber in dog food makes it easier for stool to pass smoothly without any added effort. Hence, reducing the chances of your pet developing gastrointestinal and anal gland illnesses.
  • Weight management: Many breeds of dogs are meant for outdoor life; the lack of proper activity may lead to obesity in such breeds. Pet caregivers often worry about their fur baby being overweight because of the countless hours spent indoors with little to no activity. In such cases, high-fiber dog food is suggested alongside regular walks and playtime to manage the pooch’s weight. The fiber allows your fur baby to digest more food and aid in controlling its calorie intake.
  • Manages blood-sugar levels: Some types of fiber are slow to digest. This helps in maintaining blood sugar levels in dogs. Slow digestion of fiber stops sudden rise in blood sugar levels. Dogs that consume high-fiber dog food often have lower blood-sugar fluctuations and hence have lesser chances of suffering from diabetes

Is too much fiber bad for dogs?

On average dogs need only 2-4% fiber in their daily diet. Anything beyond this measure can be considered excessive fiber consumption for dogs. While fiber is needed for better gut and gastrointestinal health, too much fiber for dogs can be a topic of concern. Given below are a few issues that may occur because of excessive fiber consumption.

  • Gas: Fiber is not completely digestible. Hence, even though limited consumption of fiber helps in eliminating gut-related problems, too much fiber can lead to gastrointestinal problems and increase gas and acidity issues.
  • Diarrhea: While soluble fiber manages water content in the body, insoluble fiber can lead to digestive issues when consumed in excess. Frequent urge to pass stool and diarrhea are some known side effects of consuming too much fiber.

Even if is fiber bad for dogs is a common query, the conclusion is fiber is needed for better digestion and gut health of your pooch. However, excess fiber consumption can lead to certain stomach and gut-related issues, while eating little to no fiber is also not a good choice. Avoiding fiber altogether can lead to the anal gland diseases and gut illness. Hence, as a pet parent, you must ensure your canine friend is provided with the right amount of fiber in their daily diet. Besides fiber dogs also need adequate amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fat in their diet for consistent growth and development.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Is fiber good for dogs?
  2. Yes, dogs need some amount of fiber in their diet to digest their food and absorb excess water.

  3. How much fiber should dog food have?
  4. On average dogs need to consume at least 2-4% fiber per meal. While their daily fiber consumption should not be anything more than 10%.

  5. What happens if a dog eats too much fiber?
  6. As fiber is not completely digestible, consuming too much fiber can lead to diarrhea and gas issues in dogs.

  7. Does fiber make dogs poop more?
  8. Yes, fiber consumption can increase your pet’s urge to poop or make them poop more as fiber helps in removing excess water, acid, and other undigested components from your pet’s body.

  • Reading Your Dog's Body Language
    Reading Your Dog's Body Language
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    Reading Your Dog's Body Language

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    Dogs use a range of sounds to communicate with us and each other. Just as important is the body language they use to tell us how they feel or what they need. How well do you know your pooch’s unspoken cues? Read on to find out.

     

     

    Why do dogs stare?

    Dogs often stare at their owners because they love them. They want to make sure you’re okay or find clues for what you’ll do next — like making sure you’re not going for a car ride without them.

    We love it when dogs do this, too, which has led to this trait being even more prominent. 

    Opens a new windowDr. James Serpell, BSc, PhD, Professor of Humane Ethics & Animal Welfare at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, explains: “We've selected dogs for this behavior. Humans love that dogs look up at them in admiration, intense loyalty. One frequent observation researchers have made is that people who handle wild dogs ... they don't look their handlers in the eye like domesticated dogs do.”

     

     

     

    Why do dogs tilt their heads?

    Dogs have great hearing. High-frequency sounds that humans can’t hear are especially interesting to them. Head-tilting helps them track down the source. Owners find these head tilts super cute and often reward this behavior, which, of course, makes them do it more.

     

     

    Why do dogs yawn?

    Dogs yawn when they’re tired, but it’s also a possible sign they’re stressed, impatient or frustrated — like when they’re in the vet’s office, or when you won’t throw that ball you’re holding already!

     

     

    Why do dogs sit on your feet?

    In a recent IAMS poll,* 90% of dog owners said their pet sits or lays on their feet and 100% of dogs said they love their owners. Dogs are very social creatures and this is a way for them to connect and be close to you. Plus, it keeps your feet warm.

     

     

    Why do dogs raise their hair?

    Often called “raised hackles,” dogs do this when they’re nervous, threatened or showing aggression. It’s an adaptation from their wild days of attempting to make themselves look bigger.
     

     

    Opens a new window Dr. Tammie King, Applied Behavior Technical Leader at Waltham Petcare Science Institute, offered this insight to keep in mind: “What’s important when talking about a dog’s body language is to not take one thing in isolation. You’re at risk of misinterpreting what the dog is trying to say to you. Context is everything.”
     

     

    So be sure to pay attention to what your dog isn’t saying to keep them healthy and happy. Serving them 

    Opens a new windowIAMS dog food every day will certainly help.
     

     

    *Surveyed U.S. dog owners, age 18+ 

    Sample Size: n=201 

    Fielded May 8 to May 10, 2020

    Reading Your Dog's Body Language
    Reading Your Dog's Body Language
    Reading Your Dog's Body Language
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