Dietary fibre is something humans need, but you’ll find dogs and cats need it to stay healthy, too.
Just like us humans, dogs and cats need fibre to help their digestion. Good quality fibre is an ingredient that features in your dog’s and cat’s digestive health. It’s really the ingredient that ensures that they can break down and absorb the nutrients in their food.
The primary role and benefit of fibre in your pet’s diet is to increase bulk and water in intestinal contents, provide “food” for essential good gut bacteria and keep the gut healthy. Incorrect levels of fibre can cause diarrhoea or constipation, so it’s important to get it right! Your local Greencross Vets can assist if you are seeing these symptoms. Fibre is a complex carbohydrate that is essential for keeping your pet regular.
The role of fibre for cats
Cats also benefit from fibre in their food to keep them regular and finding the balance is very important, as they too can experience digestive unease if they aren’t getting what they need. Cats that are prone to hairball issues will also benefit from natural fibre in their food, as it assists the passage of hair through the gut and in faeces without causing obstruction or constipation. You’ll notice specific hairball-focused cat foods contain fibre, such as yucca extract, for this specific reason.
Should my pet have a high-fibre pet food?
Though higher fibre pet foods are a smart move for weight management for overweight pets, there are also prescription diets on offer that are tailored to pets with digestion issues. These foods can contain a high amount of fibre, but should only be used after consultation with a vet. These types of foods are created for very particular needs and will need to be prescribed.
If you need additional advice on choosing the right food for your pet, be sure to chat with a friendly Petbarn team member in-store.