What Kind of Soluble Fiber Should Be Added to a Dog's Diet?

Instead of giving your dog traditional dog treats, opt instead for a high fiber, organic treat like a small piece of fruit.

Generally, a combination of 3 to 7 percent of insoluble and soluble fiber in a dog's diet promotes overall digestive health. While both types of dietary fiber provide different health benefits, soluble fiber dissolves easily in water, which gives the body a better chance to absorb all of the available nutrients. It can even help your pet lose weight by stimulating the feeling of fullness. While processed dog foods contain some sources of soluble fiber, such as beet pulp and soybean hulls, there are certain things you can do to make sure your dog gets all the soluble fiber that it needs.

Fruit

Feed your dog fruit on an empty stomach as a snack or healthy treat at least 30 minutes before regular mealtime. Certain fruits, like grapes in their raw form or dried as raisins, are extremely harmful to dogs and can cause health problems like kidney failure and even death. Apples and pears are common household fruits that contain pectin, a good source of soluble fiber that is safe to feed your dog. Nonetheless, too much fiber in the form of pectin can cause problems with your dog's stool, so you should only feed your dog a very small amount.

Vegetables

Vegetables like carrots, peas and green beans contain soluble fiber that your dog can eat when added to its regular food. Like fruit, dogs should only eat vegetables in small amounts. Pumpkin, a fruit which is often confused as a vegetable, is another good source of soluble fiber. You can add a scoop of canned pumpkin to your dog's food at mealtimes.

Grains

Many types of grains are forms of insoluble fiber. However, certain grains like oats and barley qualify as soluble fiber, while wheat and rice grains are insoluble fiber. Oat bran has the highest levels of soluble fiber out of all the grains at 14 percent. There are dog foods that contain oats as one of the main sources of carbohydrates and fiber. If you feed your dog one of these foods, you do not need to add additional oat fiber to your dog's diet.

Products

There are many fiber products out on the market for humans. However, the Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats reports that certain products, like sugar-free Metamucil, are safe for dogs as well. Guar gum is a product made from guar beans and used to thicken food. It is also a source of soluble fiber and you can add it to your dog's food at 8 grams per 400 kcal of food. Too much guar gum can have the same negative effects as too much pectin because of its tendency to ferment. Therefore, do not exceed the suggested amounts.

References

• "The Naturally Healthy Dog: Real Dogs Don't Eat Kibble!"; Sandra Bailey; 2007
• "The Dog: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health"; Linda P. Case; 2005
• Precious Pets: Fiber and Your Pet
• Vet Info: Dietary Fiber for Dogs
• "Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats: Your A-Z Guide to Over 200 Conditions, Herbs, Vitamins and Supplements"; Shawn Messonnier; 2001