What s the best high fibre dog food
High Five to High Fibre!
Ahh, glorious complex carbohydrates.
Tasty and good for us. Fibre is a very important part of the human diet- it lowers our cholestorol, keeps our digestive system ticking over nicely and can even help our heart to stay strong and healthy.
But what about our canine chums? Should you be exercising the same philosophy with your dog?
Over to our nutritionists
As with humans, the function of dietary fibre for dogs is primarily to maintain the health of the gastrointestinal system. Fibre can be classed as both soluble and insoluble, both types are important and affect the health and function of the gastrointestinal tract. Chomping on foods high in fibre can aid the prevention of certain diseases such as diabetes, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis. Fibre facilitates smooth bowel movements and helps to prevent constipation. So does your dog need more fibre and what are the best high fibre foods for dogs? Take a look though the information below
7 Healthiest & Best High Fiber Dog Food Brands in 2024
We all know how important the four-legged addition to your family is, and that you want to ensure they are receiving all the right ingredients when it comes to mealtime.
For some canines, the right dog food means a high fiber diet. A high fiber dog food is often advised for dogs who suffer from diabetes, obesity, and digestive problems. (More on this later.)
But many pet parents are confused when choosing high fiber foods. How do you choose? And which products are best?
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That is why we have put together a list of the 7 of the best high fiber dog food options for your furry friend to enjoy, as well as ensuring they are getting the proper amount of nutrients that they need for a balanced diet.
Ive researched this topic thoroughly to make sure that I provide the best review possible on the best high fiber dog food products below.
(If you are unsure as to whether a high fiber diet is suitable for your dog, make sure you speak to your veterinarian first!)
How much Fiber is Considered High Fiber?
Generally, dog food has a fiber content of 1-10%, with anything above the 5% level being considered high fiber. If food has over 10% fiber content, this can negatively affect stool volume and firmness, which is not beneficial.
Overall Best High Fiber Dog Foods
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our #1 Pick  | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
| Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal High Fiber
| Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon | |
American Journey Healthy Weight Chicken & Sweet Potato
| Check Price on Chewy | |
Wellness CORE Reduced Fat Turkey & Chicken Recipe
| Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon | |
Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe
| Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon | |
FirstMate Endurance/Puppy Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Formula
| Check Price on Chewy | |
Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous with Fresh Caught Alaskan Pollock
| Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon |
What is the Best High Fiber Dog Food?
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal High Fiber
- American Journey Healthy Weight Chicken & Sweet Potato
- Wellness CORE Reduced Fat Turkey & Chicken Recipe
- Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe
- FirstMate Endurance/Puppy Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Formula
- Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous with Fresh Caught Alaskan Pollock
1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch
Rating: 4.75/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
This high protein dog food contains 34% protein, 15% fat and 6% fiber. This essential balance is great for your dog because they need this protein to maintain healthy energy and muscle development.
Blue Buffalo is one brand that I have tried for my pets and fosters and liked. Its still one of my go-to dog food brands today when I have a new foster pup that needs a lot of TLC. One of the top reasons I love it is that it doesnt use any of those cheap additives that some dog food manufacturers like to include in their products, and yet Blue Buffalo is quite affordable.
Anyway, this particular high fiber food leads off with two chicken ingredients: deboned chicken and chicken meal. In case youre not that familiar with meal ingredients, theyre quite alright. The short explanation of what a chicken meal is simply chicken that has been processed to remove most of its moisture content.
Its not a low-quality ingredient, and the addition of a chicken meal ingredient boosts the protein content of this dog food by a lot. If youve noticed, the crude protein is pegged at 34%. That is considered way above average because the AAFCO minimum for adults is only 18%. In fact, your dog can probably go through a whole day of pure action and still have enough energy to
Its a grain-free formula so instead of grains, this food relies on pea fiber instead. Green peas contain an impressive amount of fiber, plus they are also packed with antioxidants that help build up your dogs immune system.
I wouldnt worry about the inclusion of peas here. Although theres a significant amount, the volume of meat far outweighs it. If you had any concern about DCM and this food, the connection is only seen in dog foods that contain far too much legume and potato ingredients.
As for the omega fatty acids that keep your dogs coat healthy and his heart properly functioning, the Blue Buffalo brand used three quality sources for these: fish meal, chicken fat, and flaxseed. These three together create a balanced ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids.
Key Takeaways:
If its quality that matters, youd be hard-pressed to find something better than this grain-free dog food recipe at a price point thats affordable. It is high-quality food that dispenses with fillers, by-products, and other unnecessary ingredients.
I have personally seen this specific Blue Buffalo recipe in action with several of my fosters. Previously dull coats became more lustrous and itchy skin became less so. For those who suffered from a sensitive stomach or digestive system, the positive results were quick to show up. Less noxious farts, better stools, and healthier skin were seen.
However, the calories are a little high in this grain-free diet. If your dogs on the chonky side and needs to come down to a healthy weight, this dog food probably is not for him.
Best for: Active dogs of all breed sizes
What We Like
- Contains no meat by-products
- Grain-free formula
- Contains zero artificial preservatives
2. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal High Fiber
First 5 ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Chicken Fat, Powdered Cellulose, Corn
Rating: 4.75/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
A tasty blend of chicken, soluble and insoluble fibers for a distinct meal thats full of protein and highly digestible energy. It is suitable for most types of breed size, from small to large.
Dogs with gastrointestinal issues need a special kind of diet to help them maintain a healthy digestion and resolve or alleviate their condition.
Royal Canins prescription high fiber food for dogs with gastrointestinal sensitivities helps soothe the GI tract. It does this through the high levels of dietary fibers included in the dog food coming from the numerous grain ingredients included.
Since cereal grains are higher in dietary fiber than fruits and vegetables, its understandable why the brand chose to put a bunch of them together in this recipe. Its a mixture of refined grains and whole grains put together.
How does fiber work? Fiber regulates the digestion. It bulks up stools to make them more solid (soluble fiber) and at the same time softening them up (insoluble fiber) by absorbing water so that stools pass more easily. It so happens that the mixture in this recipe contains both kinds.
There is just one source of animal protein in this dog food, and that is chicken. This explains why the protein content is somewhat low. However, the single animal protein source is extremely helpful for pups who are sensitive to other kinds of animal protein.
The calorie content is also low, which makes this formula ideal for dogs who also need to go down to a healthy weight, but there is enough energy here to fuel your dogs play time.
Key Takeaways:
Royal Canin isnt really known for premium ingredients, but the recipes for the most part work. Its hard to understand, but the way the brand crafts its food makes it really effective for its target doggies. This is especially true for Royal Canins vet diets.
The nutritional value is there, and of course, the high fiber content. Just dont look too closely at the ingredients because as Ive mentioned, theyre not that impressive. Put together though, and its one effective recipe.
Its also a bonus that this recipe has a low calorie formulation. Dogs who are easily prone to weight gain can maintain their healthy weight better with this low-calorie food. And the grains included provide a fuller feeling longer.
Best For: Adult dogs with gastrointestinal issues
What We Like
- Highly effective high-fiber dog food for gastro sensitivities
- Formulated with a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber
- Appropriate energy levels for weight management
The Drawbacks
- Ingredients arent all that impressive
3. American Journey Healthy Weight Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Rating: 4.5/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
A high fiber, reduced calorie dog food that is at an affordable price point. It contains deboned chicken which provides much of the flavor and not to mention the heaps of other benefits offered by this mix.
American Journey offers dogs with extra poundage a grain-free weight management dog food that keeps them full and highly active.
The grain-free dog food starts nicely with three quality animal protein ingredients in the first five. These three make up the most volume in the food, and unsurprisingly, keeps the protein content at above average level.
To ensure that your dog gets all the natural fiber that he needs, the brand decided to include these healthy carbohydrates to boost the fiber content: sweet potatoes, beet pulp, chickpeas, tapioca starch, and pumpkin.
Since this is a weight management dog food, it has fewer calories. It also has L-carnitine to support regular levels of fat metabolism and lean muscle mass, and natural sources of fiber to ensure your canine stays fuller for longer all which help with maintaining an active lifestyle and weight loss.
What I find nice about this dry dog food is that it also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for good joint health and overall mobility. Biggie pups are prone to joint pain because of the extra pounds that put stress on their joints. These supplements reduce or remove the pain and help them become more mobile than before.
Key Takeaways:
This dry dog food weight loss blend offers small, medium and large breeds a healthy meal choice that isnt super expensive. It keeps the calories down to a minimum but doesnt skimp on the extras that make it a nutrient-dense meal.
Its filled all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs and then some. The list of guaranteed levels of nutrients is long, and most are naturally-sourced.
I find that its one of the best high fiber foods around that doesnt need a prescription from a veterinarian. But if theres any that I would want to change in this dog food, its the inclusion of powdered cellulose.
While powdered cellulose has fiber, it really acts as more of a filler because it offers no nutritional value for dogs. There are far better sources of fiber than this.
Best For: Adult dogs on a weight management diet
What We Like
- Fewer calories to assist with weight loss or weight management
- Grain-free dry dog food recipe
- Contains L-carnitine for fat metabolism
- No meat by-products or unneccessary extras
4. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Reduced Fat Turkey & Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Lentils, Peas
Rating: 4.5/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
This recipe has a great turkey taste that is sure to satisfy your pet's hearty appetite. This food is a good option for lazy dogs, injured pups who arent getting much exercise or senior dogs who are slowing down.
Wellness Core Reduced Fat is another excellent option to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Its a grain-free recipe that makes use of legumes and potatoes to provide the high fiber content.
Turkey and chicken ingredients make up the most volume in this dry dog food, which is why the crude protein is at a high 33%. This is way above the average in dry dog food for adult dogs and is perfect for keeping your overweight dog up and moving. (Pea protein lends a hand, but majority of the protein comes from animal sources.)
There are three sources of fat here, which dogs also burn for fuel, and they are all premium: flaxseed, chicken fat, and salmon oil.
Flaxseed is especially high in omega-6 fatty acids, which are required for a strong immune system and skin and coat health. Chicken fat also provides a large helping of omega-6s like flaxseed but also gives this grain-free dry dog food a taste profile thats highly tempting to most dogs.
Salmon oil, meanwhile. Also has omega-6 but has loads of omega-3s too, which contain EPA and DHA. These are really good for curbing inflammation and reducing allergy symptoms.
And since a healthy gut is vital to good health, its only natural for Core to include prebiotics and probiotics in this high fiber dog food to help your dog maintain a healthy digestive system.
Key Takeaways:
If your pet has an anal gland issue or any medical condition that requires large amounts of fiber in your dogs food, this might be the ideal choice for him. (Do get your vets approval first, though.)
This is one of the best high fiber dog food options for small, medium and large breed pets. However, a word of warning. This food may give your dog gas due to the high fiber content.
Best For: Chunky adult dogs who love turkey and chicken
What We Like
- Extremely high fiber content
- Gluten-free and grain-free recipe
- Has prebiotics and probiotics
- Reduced fat recipe to keep extra weight off
5. Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Turkey Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Menhaden Fish Meal
Rating: 4.75/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
This recipe uses real raw bits of meat freeze-dried and mixed in with premium kibble to give your precious dog an extra burst of protein. Loaded with L-Carnitine to help burn fats and support a healthy metabolism.
Many high-fiber dog food products are often marketed as weight control food. This makes sense since one of the risk factors for dogs with gastrointestinal issues is obesity. Digestive issues often have a significant impact on the way dogs eat and absorb foods.
Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight is designed to keep the pounds off while serving your dog with plenty of protein to keep his energy stores up. And of course, lots of fiber to keep his digestion working as it should.
It is a grain-free dog food that keeps the protein high by packing the formulation with meat and then freeze-drying it to preserve all the nutrients. In the first five ingredients alone, we see that three are occupied by animal proteins, but in the whole recipe there are seven animal protein sources in all.
Raw is always a good choice as it means the food has gone through minimal processing. The taste comes through more compared with cooked food so even picky eaters will have a hard time resisting it.
Key Takeaways:
Ive always like freeze-dried dog food formulations because these often use up very minimal preservatives, and often these preservatives are naturally-sourced and not artificial ones. And Instinct is one of a few dog food brands that I trust because I know its ingredients are carefully slected. I already knew before reviewing this particular high fiber dog food that I would probably like what I find out.
I wasnt wrong.
First, the animal proteins are all quality ones, and there are lots! Some are cooked while some are freeze-dried raw. These freeze-dried pieces are highly enticing to dogs. I should know as I often use raw food to entice my picky eaters or ailing pups to eat.
Second, the protein content is high. Its enough to fuel even performance dogs who need to replenish much of their energy stores. Imagine what this much energy could do to your chubby pooches. It can get them moving and playing more.
Third, the fiber is just high enough to aid in your pups digestion but not too much for pups who dont need that much in their diet.
Lastly, it does keep the extra weight off.
Best For: Adult dogs who like raw dog food
What We Like
- Minimally processed
- High in protein
- Raw nutrition
- Works to keep the weight off
The Drawbacks
- A little more expensive than most dog foods (kibble)
6. FirstMate Endurance/Puppy Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Formula
First 5 ingredients: Potato, Pacific Ocean Fish Meal, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat, Fish Oil
Rating: 4.25/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
A limited ingredient formula catered for puppies that need high fiber meal. With only a single, novel protein, it reduces the risk of any allergic reactions.
With 8% max crude fiber, this high fiber dog food mix uses only a single type of novel meat (wild fish from the herring family) to provide heaps of benefits to your puppy as they are growing.
There are no other animal protein sources and yet, this grain-free food manages to reach a nice level of protein content. This means that the ocean fish that leads off the recipe makes up a very significant volume in the food.
The fiber comes from two types of potatoes and tomato pomace. If youre concerned about what tomato pomace is and what its doing in your dogs food, worry no more.
Yes, tomato pomace is a by-product, but not all by-products are bad. Its whats left after a tomato is juiced to create ketchup or tomato sauce or other tomato-based products. It contains a significant amount of (soluble) fiber that your dog can definitely benefit from, particularly in lowering cholesterol and keeping blood sugar levels stable.
It can be difficult to say, however, if its nutritional beyond giving fiber. If a high-quality tomato was used, then the pomace should contain lots of antioxidants. Lower quality ones will provide only minimal amounts.
Key Takeaways:
A single source animal protein is always the best when it comes to dogs with allergies, which is why we highly recommend this puppy food for pets with sensitivities. Ocean fish meal is the only animal protein, and the ingredients list is also very limited. Its quite easy to see if there are any ingredients that your dog might possibly react to.
There is nothing in the food that shouldnt be there because the brand keeps it strictly functional. Of course, functional doesnt mean not tasty. In fact, it gets the thumbs up from many little doggies.
It is quite expensive though, which isnt suited to everyones budgets and the kibble size can be a little big and tough for some puppies. Overall though, it is a good choice for high fiber puppy food.
Best for: Puppies
What We Like
- Single animal protein source
- Limited number of ingredients
- Hypoallergenic formula
The Drawbacks
- Kibble size can be a little too big for some puppies
7. Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Low Fat/Low Calorie with Fresh Caught Alaskan Pollock
First 5 ingredients: Pollock, Pollock Meal, Pea Fiber, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice
Rating: 4.5/5
WHY YOU SHOULD BUY
Created specifically for weight control, this recipe is low in fat and caloric content. It is a tasty and nutritious formula because of its freshly-caught Alaskan Pollock along with superfoods for overall system support.
This high fiber dog food is created specifically for weight control, meaning while it is high on fiber, it is also low fat and low calorie. The fiber slows down your dogs digestion so that he feels full and satisfied longer. Fiber also keeps his bodys response to the carbs in his food slow so that eating doesnt result in excess weight.
The formula uses a mixture of whole grains, refined grains, and pea fiber to provide the carbs and fiber.
Oatmeal (one of the two whole grains in the recipe) not only provides fiber for your pup but also vitamin B and linoleic acid both excellent at keeping the skin and coat of dogs in good health; Brown rice (the other whole grain) is chock full of antioxidants; Pearled barley, although a refined grain, contains iron, magnesium, and several vitamins. Its also much easier to digest for many dogs.
Pollock provides most of the protein content, although ocean fish provides additional protein boost. The 26% protein content may not look much compared to the first several products Ive reviewed here, but this is actually much more than the required AAFCO minimum of 18%.
Key Takeaways:
Solid Gold has always been a solid brand. This high fiber dog food from them proves it. Its a good diet to put your pups on when you think they are starting to get rounder.
It doesnt contain too many ingredients and focuses only on a few key and functional ones. It relies on grains to provide much of the fiber, but this shouldnt worry you. I myself like to feed my (non grain sensitive) pups grains as much as possible as I believe these are healthier and contribute more nutritional value.
Pollock and ocean fish are also quite good as main protein sources. For some dogs, these act as novel proteins. However, do be aware that this recipe contains dried eggs too. If your pup is allergic to poultry, this many not be the recipe for him.
Best for: Fish-loving adult dogs
What We Like
- Low in calories and fat
- Features healthy grains
- Contains probiotics and omegas
What Should You look For In High Fiber Foods?
How much fiber is high fiber? Generally, dog food has a fiber content of between 1-10%, and anything above the 5% level is considered a high fiber food. If youre looking for high fiber dog foods, select those with a fiber content of over 5%.
But higher is not always better. Dont go beyond 10% fiber content unless this type of high fiber dog diet is recommended by your veterinarian. Too much fiber in your dogs diet can negatively affect stool volume and firmness, which will defeat the purpose of adding more fiber in your dogs diet.
5 Reasons to Choose a High Fiber Dog Food
High fiber foods are surprisingly beneficial to dogs. These offer plenty of health benefits to canines, but lets just talk about the five most significant ones:
Digestion Aid: This is the most common advantage to a high fiber diet. Fiber maintains your dogs digestive health through a variety of ways it can draw water into the intestine if your dog is constipated or draw water from the intestine if your canine has diarrhea.
And since fiber is essential in maintaining a healthy intestinal flora, it is also therefore a vital ingredient in maintaining your dogs health as it helps the colon recover from injury and keeps bad bacteria from multiplying.
Improved Blood Sugar Levels: Blood sugar levels are important for both weight management and canine diabetes. Adding proper amounts of fiber into your dogs diet ensures their blood sugar stays within a healthy and consistent range, which helps fight obesity and avoid a diabetes diagnosis.
Weight Management: Fiber is a great addition to your dogs diet as it takes up room in their stomach and isn't digested, meaning it stays in their system for longer periods. This ensures they won't feel hungry, allowing them to feel full without adding calories.
Reduce the chance of diabetes: Insulin regulates blood sugar levels and, when there isn't enough, blood sugar levels don't act as they should. Fiber can keep blood sugar levels where they should be by slowing down the rate that sugar is absorbed by a dog's body. Some studies have shown that if a dog consumes regular amounts of fiber, their susceptibility to diabetes decreases.
Alleviate clogged anal glands: Fiber can help with your dogs anal gland problems. Small dogs especially can be affected by blocked anal glands, however, fiber can assist by changing your dogs stool texture.
As fiber changes the consistency of stools to firm and bulky, this assists with allowing the release of the anal glands naturally due to pressure caused when dogs go to the bathroom.
The Two Types of Fiber
There are two types of fiber that your dog can get from food and both offer unique benefits for him. These are soluble and insoluble fiber.
Insoluble fiber absorbs water and draws it from outside the colon and into a dogs feces. It helps with constipated canines by letting the stools pass through more easily.
Soluble fiber, meanwhile, forms into a sort of thick material that bulks up your dogs stool, which is needed when your dog has diarrhea.
Adding more fiber content to your dogs food will help him keep a properly functioning digestive system.
Best Sources (Ingredients) for Fiber
Not all fiber sources are equal so its important that not only is your dog getting more fiber, but that he is getting it from a high-quality source. The best high fiber foods use whole fruits and vegetables as the main sources. These include the following:
Carrots: Carrots are packed with vitamins K, A, and B6. They offer more than just fiber, including positively benefiting heart health and helping with digestive issues.
Apples: Apples are low calorie, full of fiber, packed with vitamins, and have great overall health benefits for all types of dog breeds.
Flaxseed: Flaxseed joins with different things, such as fat, cholesterol, and bile, which ensures your dog's digestive system stays in top condition and they have continuing digestive health.
Pumpkin: Pumpkin isnt just high in fiber, it is also low in calories and high in potassium.
Sweet Potato: Normally found in a grain-free dry dog food formula, sweet potato is often used in place of grains. Not only do sweet potatoes provide loads of fiber to a dog food, but theyre also a great source of essential vitamins.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear to see that high fiber dog foods are vital to your furry best friends in more ways than one. Additionally, there is a food option to meet almost every budget and every need, without sacrificing quality.
Remember, if you are unsure as to whether a high fiber diet is suitable for your dog, take this list of the best high fiber food choices to your local veterinarian and discuss the options available. They will be able to advise you on the best actions for your dogs health and put your mind at ease.
We know that your dog is a super important addition to your family, so they should get great food too!
