• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DogsBestLife.com logo

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

3 reasons to add high fiber foods to your dog’s diet

Posted July 16, 2019

 
Beagle crunches on a carrot. Adding high fiber foods like carrots to your dog's diet improves digestion, maintains weight, and helps prevent colon cancer.
Adding high fiber foods like carrots to your dog’s diet improves digestion, maintains weight, and helps prevent colon cancer.

Most dog owners want the best for their four-legged friends. The least you can do for your pets is to take them to the veterinarian, play with them, and feed them well. That’s how you make sure your dog feels loved and safe in your house. But to truly help your dog be healthy, you’ll add high fiber foods to your dog’s diet.

Nutrition plays a vital role in your dog’s growth, well-being, and life expectancy. Every pet should get enough fiber since it can support the proper function of the digestive system and provide multiple health benefits.

You might feed your furry friend the most expensive dog food. That doesn’t mean; however, the food contains enough fiber to keep your pup healthy. Putting your dog on a diet that includes plenty of soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, can help control your dog’s weight and digestive problems.

Want to know more about adding high fiber foods to your pet’s diet? You can read reviews of the best grain-free dog foods or do your research to understand why fiber provides health benefits for your dog.

High fiber dog food benefits

Some dogs suffer from being overweight. Obesity can lead to heart and breathing conditions, arthritis, skin diseases, tumors, and difficulties after anesthesia.

Unfortunately, some dog owners are unwilling or unable to decrease the amount of food they give their dogs or start playing more with their four-legged friends. Problems with weight affect the dog’s quality of life and can take up to three years off the life of your pup.

Switching to a high fiber diet can help your dog maintain his weight and lead a healthy life. Fiber can make your dog feel full and energetic without overeating.

If you don’t want to put your dog on a diet, you can at least start by adding a few green beans (a natural fiber source) to daily meals.

Fiber also helps improve your dog’s digestive system and helps keep dogs that suffer from either chronic diarrhea or constipation.

Additionally, a high fiber diet can promote colon health. According to a study, fermentable fiber helps prevent colon cancer by speeding up the elimination process and protecting the colon wall.

Consider giving your pup more fiber is he has diabetes. Certain foods can help slow digestion and keep your dog’s blood sugar levels under control.

High fiber diets also help with digestion for dogs that have kidney disease or pancreatic insufficiency.

If your dog has a severe health issue like diabetes or kidney disease, consult with your vet before making any diet changes.

Good high fiber sources

High fiber foods for your dog aren’t expensive. You can find a lot of fiber in vegetables and fruits that are safe dogs to eat. Some good options include:

Canned pumpkin

Yes, dogs can eat pumpkins. Canned pumpkin is the source of vitamins, minerals, and soluble fiber. Eating pumpkin can help stop diarrhea and manage your dog’s weight. Just be sure to buy canned pumpkin without any added sugar or salt.

Sweet potatoes

One average-sized sweet potato contains around four grams of dietary fiber. Most dogs love the taste of sweet potatoes.

If you want to give some to your pup, wash sweet potatoes with warm water and pierce them with a fork. After that, cook them in your microwave for about ten minutes. Once cooked, cut and mash the sweet potato with a fork. Then, add two teaspoons of sweet potato to your dog’s food.

Other foods that contain both soluble and insoluble fiber include:

  • Green beans
  • Carrots
  • Tomatoes
  • Green vegetables
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Whole grains
  • Oats
  • Flaxseed
  • Beet pulp

Introducing new food to your dog’s diet

You should change your dog’s diet gradually since his body needs to get used to high fiber food, especially if you have never given him fiber before. Sudden changes can lead to digestive problems.

You can either contact your vet to get recommendations or monitor your dog’s behavior after giving him some fiber on your own. If you start on your own, add a few carrots or green beans to your dog’s food. Your dog will let you know what foods he likes.

Don’t hesitate to contact the vet first since they can create a diet plan according to your dog’s individual needs.

Adding excessive amounts of fiber is not healthy. Doing so can dilute some nutrients and decrease the absorption of some minerals. When in doubt, always talk to your vet.

The bottom line

Packaged dog food usually contains less than 5% fiber. That’s why you should consider adding natural sources of fiber to your dog’s diet.

Doing so will help improve your four-legged friend’s digestive system while beating obesity and prolonging your dog’s life expectancy.

Keep in mind some dogs can’t tolerate human fiber foods. For instance, most have trouble digesting corn and other grains.

Talk to your vet before changing your dog’s diet. Reliable veterinarians can create a high fiber diet by taking into account your dog’s allergies and individual needs.

 

Related Posts

  • Cute Havanese puppy with dog food dish. Enzymes in dog food improve digestion by improving the absorption of nutrients, removing excess fat, and breaking down plant materials.
    Enzymes in dog food help digestion

    Enzymes in dog food improve digestion by helping dogs absorb…

  • Cute Havanese puppy with dog food dish. Enzymes in dog food improve digestion by improving the absorption of nutrients, removing excess fat, and breaking down plant materials.
    Feed your pup more sustainable and environmentally-friendly dog food

    Millennials treat their pets like their children and spend more…

  • Use a dog food guide to find what's right to feed your puppy.
    Confused about what to feed your dog? Check out this handy dog food guide.

    Use a quality dog food guide to learn more about…

  • slow-cooker dog food
    Healthy dog: Create your own slow-cooker dog food

    Slow-cooker dog food ensures your dog gets healthy meals. Taking…

  • Spoil your pup: Dog cakes for special occasions

    Bake dog cakes to celebrate your pup’s special occasions including…

  • Large dog balances a blueberry on his nose. Blueberries are one of the best superfood snacks for dogs. Eating blueberries helps repair cell damage and control blood sugar.
    Give a healthy reward: Superfood snacks for dogs

    Treat your pup to natural, healthy superfood snacks for dogs.…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on X (Twitter) Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Health, Home Page Tagged With: Dog food

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

  • Thinking of getting a furry friend? Use the DogsBestLife.com perfect dog breed quiz to find the perfect canine companion.

    Take our dog breed quiz to discover the perfect breed for you!

Tags

SocializationRottweilerWorking dogsPuppy kindergartenTicksWaterSmall dogsVeterinarianRescue dogPetfinder.comSeparation anxietyPomeranianValentine's DayPawPoodleSheddingPuppy-proofYorkshire terrierPet sitterOld dogstraining tipsPotty trainingOutdoor activitiesPet parentsVacation dog carePit bullTwo dogsThanksgivingPandemicService dogs

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • Why is my dog restless and panting at night? 9 warning signs
    Panting at night has many causes, and it's up you to determine why your dog pants excessively and then take action. […]
  • Picture perfect pups: Meet 5 naturally photogenic dog breeds
    Photographers should recognize which dogs are photogenic dog breeds and have a friendly nature. Discover five photogenic dog breeds. […]
  • Sibling rivalry in dogs: Understanding the cause and how to manage it
    Owning multiple dogs can lead to sibling rivalry, with causes including health issues, competition, and changes in routine. […]
  • Unleash the potential of 7 incredibly trainable dog breeds
    Trainable dog breeds: English Springer Spaniel, Rottweiler, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Papillon, Labrador, Sheltie, and Doberman Pinscher. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2023 DogsBestLife.com online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/

Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.