Dogs
Many people do not know that fiber is an essential ingredient in a dog's diet. The fact is that most of the dog foods you buy contain some amount of fiber. Fiber is always recommended by doctors to human beings as it is helpful in cleansing the digestive track. For the same reason, fiber is crucial also for dog health. Let's understand importance of fiber for your loving pet.
What is Fiber?
Fiber is present in the cell walls of grains and plants and are basically made up of carbohydrates. They are known as insoluble carbohydrates which prevent enzymatic digestion to occur in the small intestine. Some of the fibrous food sources include resistant starches, pectin, cellulose, gums and hemicellulose.
Why is Food High in Fiber Important?
Fiber rich diet can help in preventing as well as controlling a number of dog health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, constipation, colon cancer etc.
Obesity: Giving your dog foods that are high in fiber can help to control weight gain. Nowadays, obesity has become a serious health issue among canines because they are being fed with foods that are high in fat leading them to gain extra calories. To avoid dog obesity, it is important to feed your pet with fibrous foods. As fibrous foods are bulky, dogs feel that their stomach is full even if they eat moderately. This is a good way of giving them essential nutrients and keeping them healthy and fit.
Colon Cancer: Another advantage of feeding fiber food to your dog is to prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria in the body which can lead to some diseases. The fibrous food is turned into fatty acids by the good bacteria present in the dog's body. Eating foods rich in fiber can also aid in preventing the risk of colon cancer in canines.
Constipation: The most important function of low fat and high fiber food is to cure stomach and gastrointestinal problems in the dog. Constipation in dogs, can be treated by giving foods high in fiber, along with adequate amount of water will be the best remedy. It is also said to be beneficial for treating diarrhea, as fiber absorbs the excess water present in the feces.
Diabetes: Dogs suffering from diabetes mellitus can benefit from the foods that are high in fiber. Just like in human beings, the secretion of insulin is stopped by the pancreas in case of canine diabetes, leading to increased blood sugar levels. Fibrous dog foods can help to control and maintain the level of blood glucose.
Anal Gland Disease: Canines have anal glands at either sides of the anal opening and when they become infected or abscessed, they are said to have anal gland disease. You may come to know about the disease, when the dog starts scouting and licking the anal area very frequently. Though this disease needs proper medical attention, putting the dog on a fiber diet would aid in their recovery process.
What Foods are High in Fiber?
One of the easiest way of feeding fibrous food to your dog is to buy fiber fortified canned food. Other fibrous foods that you can include in your pet dog's diet include citrus and beet pulp, wheat, oat bran, tomato and apple pomace, rice, soy and soybean hulls, etc. You should also see that you feed protein rich food to your pet because protein is very essential for the strong immune system, healthy growth and structural makeup. However, if your dog suffers from urinary tract infection, kidney ailments or kidney failure, it is very important that you feed it with low protein dog food.
Though fiber is essential for the dog, it is very important to remember that foods high in fiber should not be given in excess amounts. When the quantity of fiber intake exceeds the required amount, it can cause loose stools as well as gas trouble in canines. Feeding your dog with adequate amount of dog food would help to prevent several dog illnesses and keep it healthy and playful.
- What The Terms On Your Dog Food Bag Mean
There are many terms on the dog food bag. Do you know what they mean and what their function is?As I mentioned in my last article, every dog food label has the same basic information. The guaranteed analysis lists protein, fiber, fat and moisture contents...
- Remedies For Constipation In Dogs
Constipation in dogs can be caused due to various reasons, most common being lack of exercise, dehydration and lack of fiber. Sometimes it might be caused due to a rather serious problem like an enlarged prostate, when you can observe painful laxation...
- Choosing The Diabetic Dog Food
Many of the pet dogs are at a risk of suffering from diabetes. In fact, canine diabetes is reported as an important chronic disease of dogs. This commonly reported dog health problem is resulted due to improper insulin metabolism in the body. As...
- What Causes Dog Constipation?
Man's best friend shares quite a few common diseases, health issues and physical discomforts with Man. Although dogs and humans have very different anatomical and physiological constitutions, certain health problems that affect certain organs...
- Dog Constipation: Symptoms And Treatment
Constipation is a common medical problem for dogs, especially the older ones. A dog is considered constipated, if it does not defecate for two consecutive days. The causes of irregular bowel movement in dogs are many, of which some include less water...
Dogs
High Fiber Dog Food
Many people do not know that fiber is an essential ingredient in a dog's diet. The fact is that most of the dog foods you buy contain some amount of fiber. Fiber is always recommended by doctors to human beings as it is helpful in cleansing the digestive track. For the same reason, fiber is crucial also for dog health. Let's understand importance of fiber for your loving pet.
What is Fiber?
Fiber is present in the cell walls of grains and plants and are basically made up of carbohydrates. They are known as insoluble carbohydrates which prevent enzymatic digestion to occur in the small intestine. Some of the fibrous food sources include resistant starches, pectin, cellulose, gums and hemicellulose.
Why is Food High in Fiber Important?
Fiber rich diet can help in preventing as well as controlling a number of dog health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, constipation, colon cancer etc.
Obesity: Giving your dog foods that are high in fiber can help to control weight gain. Nowadays, obesity has become a serious health issue among canines because they are being fed with foods that are high in fat leading them to gain extra calories. To avoid dog obesity, it is important to feed your pet with fibrous foods. As fibrous foods are bulky, dogs feel that their stomach is full even if they eat moderately. This is a good way of giving them essential nutrients and keeping them healthy and fit.
Colon Cancer: Another advantage of feeding fiber food to your dog is to prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria in the body which can lead to some diseases. The fibrous food is turned into fatty acids by the good bacteria present in the dog's body. Eating foods rich in fiber can also aid in preventing the risk of colon cancer in canines.
Constipation: The most important function of low fat and high fiber food is to cure stomach and gastrointestinal problems in the dog. Constipation in dogs, can be treated by giving foods high in fiber, along with adequate amount of water will be the best remedy. It is also said to be beneficial for treating diarrhea, as fiber absorbs the excess water present in the feces.
Diabetes: Dogs suffering from diabetes mellitus can benefit from the foods that are high in fiber. Just like in human beings, the secretion of insulin is stopped by the pancreas in case of canine diabetes, leading to increased blood sugar levels. Fibrous dog foods can help to control and maintain the level of blood glucose.
Anal Gland Disease: Canines have anal glands at either sides of the anal opening and when they become infected or abscessed, they are said to have anal gland disease. You may come to know about the disease, when the dog starts scouting and licking the anal area very frequently. Though this disease needs proper medical attention, putting the dog on a fiber diet would aid in their recovery process.
What Foods are High in Fiber?
One of the easiest way of feeding fibrous food to your dog is to buy fiber fortified canned food. Other fibrous foods that you can include in your pet dog's diet include citrus and beet pulp, wheat, oat bran, tomato and apple pomace, rice, soy and soybean hulls, etc. You should also see that you feed protein rich food to your pet because protein is very essential for the strong immune system, healthy growth and structural makeup. However, if your dog suffers from urinary tract infection, kidney ailments or kidney failure, it is very important that you feed it with low protein dog food.
Though fiber is essential for the dog, it is very important to remember that foods high in fiber should not be given in excess amounts. When the quantity of fiber intake exceeds the required amount, it can cause loose stools as well as gas trouble in canines. Feeding your dog with adequate amount of dog food would help to prevent several dog illnesses and keep it healthy and playful.
- What The Terms On Your Dog Food Bag Mean
There are many terms on the dog food bag. Do you know what they mean and what their function is?As I mentioned in my last article, every dog food label has the same basic information. The guaranteed analysis lists protein, fiber, fat and moisture contents...
- Remedies For Constipation In Dogs
Constipation in dogs can be caused due to various reasons, most common being lack of exercise, dehydration and lack of fiber. Sometimes it might be caused due to a rather serious problem like an enlarged prostate, when you can observe painful laxation...
- Choosing The Diabetic Dog Food
Many of the pet dogs are at a risk of suffering from diabetes. In fact, canine diabetes is reported as an important chronic disease of dogs. This commonly reported dog health problem is resulted due to improper insulin metabolism in the body. As...
- What Causes Dog Constipation?
Man's best friend shares quite a few common diseases, health issues and physical discomforts with Man. Although dogs and humans have very different anatomical and physiological constitutions, certain health problems that affect certain organs...
- Dog Constipation: Symptoms And Treatment
Constipation is a common medical problem for dogs, especially the older ones. A dog is considered constipated, if it does not defecate for two consecutive days. The causes of irregular bowel movement in dogs are many, of which some include less water...