Fibre: The Overlooked Part of Your Pet's Diet

Growing up, we were raised on porridge and oats for breakfast. It was always a treat going round to a friend's house and being able to dive into a big bowl of Cocoa Pops. But what I didn't appreciate at the ripe age of seven was the effect the different nutritional components were having on my body, primarily in the form of fibre.

Fibre is a general term used in food to describe the part of plant foods that are indigestible for monogastrics (dogs, cats and humans). Although this means it does not contribute directly to nutritional value in the way protein or fat does, research shows it has a significant impact on digestive health.

Different types of fibre, different effects

Different types of fibre interact with the gut differently. One way fibre is categorised is on the spectrum of soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre dissolves in the water of the gut, forming a mucous-like layer. Insoluble fibre does not dissolve, instead adding to "faecal bulk", the general mass of the faeces.

Alongside this, viscosity also affects what a given fibre does. This is the ability of the fibre to "soak up" liquid. Some fibres can also be broken down by gut bacteria, a process called fermentation, to produce short-chain fatty acids and other signalling molecules. It's worth noting that these short-chain fatty acids can actually be used by the body as a source of energy, and play an important role in the health of the gut lining itself.

Why fibre matters more than you think

Fibre is a nutrient that, at either excessive or deficient levels, will affect the gut. Most people associate fibre with what "firms" stool up. Although fibre does modulate faecal consistency, it has more important, far-reaching consequences.

Fibre increases the feeling of fullness in our animals, reducing cravings for more food, which makes it a genuinely useful tool in weight management. Alongside this, it helps to regulate the spike in blood sugar after a meal, being especially important in diabetic dogs, as well as those who are "pre-diabetic" or have some degree of insulin dysregulation.

Why there's so much variation in pet food

Fibre is still not included in the AAFCO guidelines as an essential nutrient. What this means in practice is that there is huge variation in the fibre content formulated into animal feeds. For meals that need to be highly digestible, such as puppy diets and some geriatric diets, fibre can reduce overall digestibility, so it is often kept to a minimum.

The raw feeding gap

Many people choosing to feed raw at home are often not including sufficient fibre. A diet of raw meat, bone and cartilage, and offal is going to include almost no dietary fibre at all. It is worth remembering that dogs are, functionally, omnivores. Even wolves in the wild forage on various plant material to help modulate their diet and gain the benefits of fibre. (Cats are a different matter: they are obligate carnivores, with much lower fibre requirements, though even they benefit from small, appropriate amounts.)

This is one of the most common gaps I see in home-prepared raw diets. It's easily addressed once identified, but it's rarely accounted for when owners are focused primarily on the meat, bone and organ ratios.

Whether you are trying to get weight off your dog, reaching for better gut health, or generally feel they are not performing on their diet, having a proper plan around fibre intake is important.

Fibre is a vital part of your pet's diet, and one that, if given correctly, can help set up a solid platform for a healthy gut microbiome and a healthy pet.