How to Increase the Fiber Content in Your Dog's Diet

When you consult your veterinarian and he suggests that your dog’s diet needs extra fiber, you may be wondering how you can increase the overall amount of fiber to increase your dog’s health. In most cases, veterinarians will suggest higher levels of fiber in order to help your dog avoid constipation. Fiber also helps to keep your dog’s anal glands working how they should. Just like humans, older dogs need extra fiber to keep their digestive tracts moving and functioning properly. There are plenty of ways to add fiber to your dog’s diet. You can either take simple easy steps or completely change what your dog is eating.

One of the best ways to increase the amount of fiber in your dog’s diet is to put bran into his food. Bran is the outer most layer of grain that is removed. This can include rice bran, oat bran, and wheat bran, all of which have high fiber contents. Don’t give your dog too much bran at a time. A sprinkle works best. It’s also a good idea to soak the bran in water so that it can be easily digested.

Along with bran, brown rice is another option for you. Of course white rice does have fiber, but brown rice has at least three times the amount. This way, your dog is sure to get the extra fiber that his body needs.

If you’re at the store one day, stop in the aisle that has canned pumpkin. You will want to find a brand that is unseasoned. Make sure you are using canned pumpkin, not filling to make pumpkin pies. Add a tablespoon of the canned pumpkin to your dog’s food. Dog usually love how pumpkin tastes. You can also take the contents of the can and freeze it into ice cube shapes with added water.

A lot of people love fruits, so many households have apples in their refrigerator. Maybe you’re craving an apple. A great way to put more fiber into your dog’s diet is to split an apple with him! Be sure that you get rid of the seeds as they can be toxic to dogs. Some dogs prefer red ones as others like green apples. If your dog doesn’t enjoy chewing the apple, you can always use applesauce.

Adding fiber to your dog’s diet doesn’t require you to make an entire dietary change. However, there are dog food companies that make certain food formulas that are much higher in fiber than most. If you want to change your dog’s food, be sure to do it slowly.