Fiber for Dogs: How Much and What Kinds Are Best?

Digestive issues are among the most common reasons pet parents call their vets for help. The good news is that most of the time, an upset stomach is nothing to worry about. After ruling out anything more serious, your vet may recommend a simple approach: ensuring your dog is getting the right kinds (and amounts) of fiber.

Fiber for Dogs: Why Does it Matter?

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that comes from plants. It’s present in most types of dog food and also available as a supplement or topper. Unlike other nutrients in your dog’s food, fiber is not digested.

Instead, it is utilized by microbes in the lower GI tract. Optimal types and amounts in the diet support a healthy digestive and immune system, and also promote bowel regularity and firm, well-formed stools.

Just like with people, the type and amount of fiber your dog needs depends on a few things, especially their age and health status. There are two main types of fiber:

Soluble Fiber

Solube fiber is dissolved during digestion and serves as a food source for the billions of microorganisms, known as the gut microbiome, that live in your dog’s digestive tract. These microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and even fungi.

No matter if your dog is a puppy or a senior, the gut microbiome plays an important role in your dog’s digestive system, immune system, and overall health.

Soluble fiber is often referred to as a prebiotic. Prebiotics are nutrients that resist stomach acid and travel to the intestine, where they are a food source for the organisms that make up the gut microbiome.

Prebiotics are distinguished from probiotics, which are live organisms like bacteria and yeast that are provided as supplements.

Insoluble Fiber

This type of fiber does not dissolve during digestion; instead it passes through your dog’s digestive system mostly intact. Insoluble fiber helps by absorbing water and promoting gastrointestinal movement.

Together, at optimal levels, these two types of fiber have numerous health benefits for your dog, including supporting healthy digestion and gut health, improved stool quality, and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.

If you’re wondering if your dog is getting enough fiber, or you have questions about their stool quality and habits, your vet is a great place to start. Before you make an appointment, gather information, including: 

• What type of food they’re eating

• Their stool characteristics (including appearance, consistency, and how often)

• Any troublesome digestive signs or questions you have

This information will help your vet decide if you should make a change in your dog’s fiber intake.

How To Ensure Your Dog Gets the Right Amount and Type of Fiber

A balanced and high-quality diet will support the digestive health of most dogs. For those that might benefit from a little extra fiber, however, you can consider a fiber-enhanced dog food.

To help ensure that dogs receive the appropriate amount and types of fiber, in the right combination, Hill’s created a proprietary blend of fibers called ActivBiome+. ActivBiome+ was designed to activate your dog’s unique gut microbiome, releasing compounds that nourish the gut and support digestive health.

Hill’s has developed ActivBiome+ blends in a variety of formulas designed to support specific health conditions (such as kidney disease), as well as general digestion-support formulas including:

• Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Digestion: Breakthrough nutrition supports ultimate digestive well-being and a healthy microbiome. This food is easy to digest and is not artificially preserved, with no synthetic colors and no artificial flavors. It’s available without a vet’s recommendation.

• Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome: Only available with a vet’s recommendation, Hill’s Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome contains ActivBiome+ technology and is clinically shown to help firm loose stool in 24 hours and reduce risk of recurrence, under the supervision of a vet.

Working with your vet to match your dog’s food to their health status is the easiest and best way to ensure they’re getting the right fiber—it removes any guesswork, so you can be confident that you’re providing the best food possible for your dog.

Does My Senior Dog Need Extra Fiber?

As dogs age, they can’t process food and nutrients as efficiently as they could when they were younger adults. As a result, you might notice changes in your dog’s stool habits and consistency.

Dogs are generally considered middle-aged around 7 years of age and become seniors around 11 years old, although this may vary somewhat based on the breed.

If you notice your senior dog experiencing constipation or other signs related to eating, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your vet to talk about transitioning to a senior dog food or one designed to support a healthy gut microbiome.