High-fibre foods for dogs – How to add fibre to dogs’ diet naturally

Fibre is a complex carbohydrate found in a variety of plant-based ingredients, including vegetables, fruit, grains (e.g. brown rice and quinoa), beans and lentils. It is not found in any animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs or fish. 

Fibre is different from simple carbohydrates as it cannot be completely broken-down during digestion. Instead of being absorbed in the small intestine, like the simple starches glucose and fructose, it ferments in the large intestine. Fibre is essential for helping food material to move along the digestive tract, bulking out faeces and absorbing excess water in the bowels, leading to a more formed stool.

Dogs are not strict carnivores, in fact, they are omnivores. This means that they use plant material in their diet for valuable nutrition as well as meat. The digestive tract of dogs has adapted to eat a variety of food sources, and the fibre contained in plants is essential to maintaining good digestive health.

Fibre helps to bulk out your dog’s stools, making constipation much less likely. It also absorbs water, which can reduce the risk of sloppy, loose stools. The right balance of fibre can therefore help your pet produce firm and well-formed poop. For further information on what your dog’s stool says about their health, take a look at this blog.

Fibre also helps your pet’s digestive tract to maintain the right pH level. A healthy intestinal pH will help to prevent the overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria. Certain types of fibre act as a food source for friendly gut bacteria, allowing their numbers to flourish.

Although fibre is important for most dogs, there are certain health conditions where fibre can make even more of a difference:

Diabetes  – A fibre-rich diet can help to prevent fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Obesity – Fibre can help to bulk your pet’s food out and keep them fuller for longer while consuming lower amounts of calories.

Anal gland issues – Some vets will suggest fibre for dogs' glands. Creating bigger, bulkier stools with a fibre supplement may help your dog express their anal glands by themselves. This has the potential to reduce the frequency that they will need to be manually expressed.

There is no universally agreed-upon value for optimum fibre intake in dogs. The amount of fibre your dog needs will depend on their size and weight, as well as their lifestyle and health. However, it is thought that the average dog should have a diet containing 2-4% fibre, but many will benefit from having more than this.

Many owners wonder how to add fibre to a dog’s diet naturally. You can add extra fibre to your dog’s diet by including fruits or vegetables. Whole grains like oats, brown rice, barley and quinoa can also help, as well as high-fibre seeds like chia and flaxseeds.

However, it can be hard to know how much to add to your pet’s food without accidentally causing dietary imbalances. Too much fibre could cause issues like flatulence, bloating and tummy upsets. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you! Our adult dog recipes and puppy meals feature a careful formulation of high-fibre ingredients alongside delicious cuts of fresh meat.

There are many different fruits, vegetables and grains that provide natural fibre for dogs. Some examples of particularly high-fibre food for dogs include:

• Carrots (2.8g of fibre per 100g)
• Sweet potato (3.3g of fibre per 100g)
• Quinoa (2.8g of fibre per 100g)
• Chia seeds (34g of fibre per 100g)
• Oats (11g of fibre per 100g)
• Parsnips (4.9g of fibre per 100g)
• Barley (3.8g of fibre per 100g)

Amongst other quality ingredients, Years includes quinoa, carrot and sweet potato in their meals for added fibre and additional vitamins.

A supplement is another way of increasing dietary fibre for dogs. Our superfood supplements contain psyllium husk, a type of fibre made by grinding the outer layers (‘husks’) of the psyllium seed. Psyllium forms a natural gel-like substance after absorbing water, causing it to increase its volume by ten times. Its bulk-forming properties can help to reduce the risk of constipation as well as improve the stool quality in dogs prone to diarrhoea.

Fibre supplements may also contain prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibre compounds that act as a food source for the healthy bacteria in your dog’s guts. Prebiotics may be paired with probiotics in supplements aimed at supporting digestive health. Probiotics are live microorganisms used to boost the levels of your dog’s own friendly gut flora. Our superfood supplements contain up to 400 million good bacteria as well as custom prebiotics to help feed them.

High-fibre foods for dogs can maintain digestion and stool health as well as help in the management of medical issues like diabetes and obesity. Our meals contain a variety of fibre-rich ingredients, gently cooked with prime cuts of meat, along with added pre & probiotics to support gut function and provide your dog with the best nutrition possible. If you have any questions about our recipes then don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more.