A proper diet for a pet is perhaps the first thing on the priority list of every pet owner. You should be proactive about keeping the meals rich in various nutrients, essential vitamins, minerals as well as fiber content, which forms a crucial component of a dog’s diet. A highly nutritious diet is the key to a dog’s longevity.
However, the challenge lies in the number of options available to choose from. It’s not easy to select the right food for your dog from the vast range of dog foods available in the market. Here are a few good high fiber food options for your dog.
High Fiber Dog Food, Reviews
#10 Wellness CORE Protein Rich Grain Free Dog Food
This dog food is 100% grain-free and has a very low fat content. It has several nutritious ingredients that dogs love to eat. It is one of the best foods for dogs that need high fiber content.
For ensuring a healthy coat and skin, the food contains probiotics, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins and a mixture of flax omega and fish too. It is also free from fillers.
The main ingredient is deboned Turkey and it also contains chicken and Salmon oil which help in dog’s weight management. It doesn’t contain artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, corn, soy, wheat or meat by-products.
Pros: The high fiber content helps in treating dog’s anal gland problems as well as yeast infections.
Cons: This food can’t be served to dogs with allergies. Some dogs hate it due to its bad smell.
#9 Purina Pro Plan Fiber Balance Formula
The Purina Pro Plan is a well-balanced diet that has all the right nutrients for your dog. This formula has been developed by trusted vets who have ample experience in dealing with problems faced by dogs.
Purina Pro Plan dog food consists of essential ingredients that help the dogs develop hunger and stay energetic. With complex carbohydrates, highly soluble fiber content, calories, and fats present in the food, it provides optimum level of nutrition for your dog. Carbohydrates provide the required energy while the other ingredients strengthen the hunger-inducing factors.
Pros: It is a well-balanced food that is rich in fiber and offers a lot of benefits for the overall development of the dog.
Cons: It is only available for adult dogs so you can’t use this to feed young puppies.
#8 Small & Toy Breed Protein-Rich Dog Food
Small dogs need extra care as their digestive systems, at times, are quite sensitive to the things they eat. Their diet must provide important nutrients in the right amounts. This Small & Toy food has natural ingredients and it’s free from grains and gluten. The kibble size is so small and you can’t find many dog foods with such smaller-sized kibbles.
This dog food has the right amount of protein, fiber and fat content that’s appropriate for toy-breed and small dogs. It contains sweet potatoes that are extremely rich in fiber content and cranberries which are rich in antioxidants. The food also contains probiotics which ensure proper digestion and healthy gut. It is available in both dry and wet forms.
Pros: The tiny kibble size makes it easy for small puppies to chew and digest the food. Suitable for dogs with a sensitive stomach.
Cons: The wet food can be a little strong for puppies of a few breeds. This can result in bad stools and complications in digestion.
#7 Royal Canin Dog Food for Gastrointestinal Response
The Royal Canin veterinary diet has been formulated exclusively for dogs with gastrointestinal sensitivities. It contains prebiotics and digestible proteins which help your dog easily digest the food. It also ensures good stool quality in your dog.
The best part of this food is its composition. The presence of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA improve the GI health of dogs. A blend of insoluble and soluble fibers in the diet also makes it better for dogs to remain healthy and active for a prolonged period.
Pros: This is an excellent food for adult dogs with digestive and stool problems.
Cons: The price of this food is relatively higher when compared to other dog foods. This makes it unaffordable for some dog owners.
#6 Zignature Whitefish Formula for Dogs
This dog food is arguably one of the best options for your dog as it has the right mix of vegetables, meats, oils, legumes and fruits in it. Being highly nutritious and suitable for any age group, it assists in weight management and provides essential minerals in the process.
The dry nature also aids in easy handling and storage. It is also certified for having a low glycemic level.
The Whitefish formula consists of many healthy edibles like Whitefish, Peas, Lactic Acid, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E and so on. The food is gluten-free and contains antioxidants and fish proteins as well. It comes in three seized packets of 4 pounds, 13.5 pounds and 27 pounds.
Pros: This food is extremely tasty and your dog will love it. It can be used for both adult dogs and young puppies.
Cons: For some dogs, its contents can be too much to handle. Some dogs do not prefer fish as their primary food.
#5 Earthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Diet for Dogs
This dog food consists of ingredients that are essential for the development of the dog. It contains pumpkin, flaxseed and Alaska Pollock but it doesn’t have peas, grains, gluten, egg, potato, fillers or artificial preservatives. 96% of the protein in this food comes from Alaska Pollock Meal (70%), pumpkin (22%) and flaxseed (4%).
Pumpkin, a fruit with high quality fiber content, is a vital ingredient in this diet as it helps in improving the digestive system of the dog and reduces the risk of having to deal with diarrhea. The meal has garnered wide attention from pet owners.
Pros: The pumpkin content is beneficial for dogs with troubled digestive systems. It can be consumed by dogs that are allergic to chicken.
Cons: The fish content can be a little intense for a few sensitive breeds. The high concentration of fish makes it smell bad if not stored properly.
#4 Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free
Blue Wildnerness dog food contains real chicken which satisfies a dog’s love for meat. The protein content in the food helps in the development of strong muscles in the dog. The food doesn’t contain grains, chicken or meat by-products, corn, soy, colors and preservatives.
The ingredients are natural and have abundant minerals and vitamins too. The food also contains healthy vegetables and fruits in it.
The Lifesource Bits formula is a perfect mixture of minerals, antioxidants and vitamins in the right mix and it has been formulated by expert vets and nutritionists. The food contains all the energy a dog needs in its daily life.
Proteins constitute 30% of the food whereas fat and fiber are present in 10% each. The remaining 50% includes all other ingredients.
Pros: The unique Lifesource Bits formula protects a dog’s immunity and ensures oxidative balance in dogs. It strengthens teeth and bones due to the presence of phosphorus and calcium.
Cons: Not suitable for dogs with a sensitive stomach as it may cause diarrhea.
#3 Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain Free
This dry dog food contains freeze-dried raw pieces and protein-rich kibbles. The primary ingredient is this food is cage free chicken. This food is rich in fiber content and contains L-Carnitine which helps in burning fat and increasing metabolism. It is free from potato, grain, soya, corn, colors and artificial preservatives.
The food has real, pure nutrition of raw and non-GMO veggies and fruits. It also contains natural probiotics and antioxidants which improve the digestive health and ensure a healthy coat and skin. It’s available in two different sized bags of 4 pounds and 20 pounds.
Pros: The food improves digestion and the immune system in dogs and the price tag justifies the value.
Cons: There are very few pieces of chicken in this food and a few dogs tend to hate this food due to foul smell.
#2 Zignature Kangaroo High Protein Dog Food
Since puppies need a lot of calories in their early stages, it is important to feed them with foods that offer proper nutrients. The best part about Zignature’s Kangaroo dry food is that it is made of high quality Kangaroo meat which packs more nutrients than most of the other dog foods available in the market.
Kangaroo meat is highly rich in protein and it’s one of the healthiest foods available for dogs. It contains low glycemic carbohydrates which are rich in fiber and has twice the amount of Vitamin B12 in it than other meats. Apart from this, it has iron, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids as well. It does not contain potato, grain or chicken.
Pros: Helps in digestion and cures food allergy in dogs.
Cons: The presence of lentils is reported to have caused heart issues in some dogs.
#1 Earthborn Holistic Ocean Fusion Natural Dog Food
This dog food contains wholesome grains such as rye and barley which can be easily digested by dogs. They are also rich in fiber content which helps in keeping the dog’s intestinal tract healthy.
The main sources of animal proteins present in this food come from Whitefish and Menhaden fish. The unique potato and whitefish ingredient in this food has very little protein and carbohydrates than other dog foods.
The food also has L-Carnitine which converts the fat present in the dog’s body into energy and muscles thereby improving the body and muscle condition.
The Ocean Fusion Natural dog food has the right nutrients in a balanced ratio. Some of the notable elements from the mixture are barley, rice, fatty acids and whitefish.
Pros: The food helps in proper maintenance of the dog’s skin and coat due to the presence of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
Cons: It has a very strong odor. Proper care should be taken while storing the opened package.
Importance of fiber in a pet’s diet
Fiber plays a vital role as it helps in the functioning of the digestive system. It reduces the pace at which glucose is absorbed in the blood, keeps a check on colon health, keeps the gut clean and ensures intestines are working properly.
There are two types of fibers namely soluble and insoluble. The main difference between these two is that insoluble fibers don’t absorb a lot of water whereas soluble fibers do.
How much fiber should be present in dog food?
Dog foods usually have fiber content in the range of 2 to 5%. High fiber dog foods might contain more than 5%, up to 10%. If the fiber content exceeds 10%, then it could cause various problems in your dog. Before buying dog food, do check the amount of fiber present in it.
Advantages of fiber in dog food
Dog food that is rich in fiber content offers several benefits to dogs. The most important function of fiber is ensuring digestion in dogs. Fiber rich food keeps the blood sugar levels in check and ensures it stays within the safe range. It also prevents canine diabetes and obesity. Your dog won’t be hungry all the time and it will feel full.
Kibble sizes do matter
The kibble size does matter as one wouldn’t want his/her pet to swallow a big chunk that can pose a problem. Smaller and medium pieces are the preferred choices for most of the dogs as they’re easy to chew down. You should check this part before finalizing the food for your dog.
Not all dogs show the same results
It is a well known fact that not all dog breeds show the same results when they are served a specific type of food. Some breeds might like the food and might even show good results, but some might not. Purebred dogs show different symptoms when exposed to a healthy diet. As a result, their food must contain nutrients that are included explicitly for them.
Look at the ingredients first
Always check the list of ingredients to know what and how much of any ingredient is part of the food. You can also consult a medical professional if you are trying to select a dog food for the first time. Don’t hesitate to ask all the questions that might pop up in your head.
Always store the food safely
Due to the mixture of various ingredients in dog foods, leaving them in the open or in places where moisture content is high can result in them giving foul odor. Therefore, you should always keep the food in an air-tight container. This will preserve their shelf life as well as prevent foul odor from spreading.
