Table of Contents
- Top 11 Best High-Fiber Dog Food Brands
- 1Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Canine Formula Dry Dog Food by Purina Pro Plan
- 2Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Dog Food by Royal Canin
- 3Wellness Complete Natural Healthy Weight Food for Dogs by Wellness Pet Food
- 4Original Whole Body Health High Fiber Food for Dogs by Natural Balance
- 5Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Food by Nature's Variety
- 6Gold Coast Grain Free Weight Management Dog Food by Fromm
- 7High Protein Natural Dog Food by Taste of the Wild
- 8Blue Wilderness High Protein Dog Food by Blue Buffalo
- 9Coastal Catch High Fiber Dog Food by Earthborn Holistic
- 10Blue Wilderness High Protein High Fiber Food for Dogs by Blue Buffalo
- 11Ultimate Skin & Coat High Fiber Dog Supplement by The Missing Link
If a vet recommends a high-fiber diet for your dog, it's probably for one of two reasons: (1) to form good or better quality stools or (2) to help regulate a dog's bowel movements.
You may also need to switch to a high-fiber dog food brand to alleviate constipation and diarrhea or to treat anal gland problems.
Some high-fiber foods are also recommended because they displace calories to help your (fat) dog feel more full.
There are many high-fiber dog foods on the market.
Some of them are better rated for reasons other than being well-formulated as a high-fiber food, and you must be aware of that when picking a diet that's specific for your pet's health-related case, such as anal gland problems or constipation.
This list has the 11 best high-fiber dog food brands based on their fiber content and formulation.
Benefits of High-Fiber Dog Food Brands
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that resists enzymatic digestion while being processed in the dog's small intestine.
It is most commonly found in the cell walls of plants and grains, but virtually every source of carbohydrates will contain at least traces of fiber.
When perusing the ingredients list of fiber-heavy dog food, the most common ones you may see are:
- bran
- brown rice
- soybean hulls
- beet pulp
- corn
A high-fiber diet was shown in studies to help regulate a dog's bowel movements and clear up diarrhea and constipation.
Some vets may recommend high-fiber dog food for anal gland problems.
Because high-fiber diets help to keep your dog feeling fuller longer, they can also help your overweight dog shed extra pounds.
Studies also show that insoluble fiber can help dogs with diabetes. Likewise, a high-fiber diet can be very beneficial for dogs with colon health problems.
As a result, it's often used for dogs with anal gland issues. It may even help reduce the risk of colon cancer in dogs.
The two telltale signs of an unhealthy colon in dogs are diarrhea and constipation, both of which can be helped with a high-fiber diet.
Finding the best high-fiber dog food brand for your pet may be a tall order since not all dogs enjoy the taste of these foods, so be prepared for some trial and error.
Remember to consult with a vet and consider your dog's age, weight, activity level, and health condition when selecting a dog food that will meet his needs.
Top 11 Best High-Fiber Dog Food Brands
1Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Canine Formula Dry Dog Food
by Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Dog Food is specially created for dogs that need help in improving intestinal transit, boosting gastrointestinal health, and regulating glucose absorption.
- One (1) 32 lb. Bag - Purina...
- Optimal level of fiber to help...
- Blend of soluble and insoluble...
- Contains a prebiotic fiber...
- Complex carbohydrates to help...
Its ingredients include corn, beet pulp, poultry by-product meal, barley, pea fiber, animal digest, wheat bran, dried whey, fish oil, a prebiotic called aleurone, and vitamin and mineral supplements.
The carbs used are complex, which means that they take longer to be digested and absorbed by the body.
This makes Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Adult Dog Food very beneficial to diabetic dogs with uncontrolled blood glucose.
The fiber level is at 10% and is a good mix of soluble and insoluble fibers, which have different roles in the digestive system.
This has helped many problematic dogs to have more regular bowel movements, lose weight easier, and sustain the beneficial microorganisms in their gut.
This is one of the best high-fiber dog food brands that tastes pretty good, we believe, because dogs take to it quite fast.
While it helps in weight reduction because of low fat and high fiber content, it also has adequate protein to help build muscles and a lean body.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
2Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Dog Food
by Royal Canin
ROYAL CANIN Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Veterinary Diet costs almost twice the price of Pro Plan in number 1 but has slightly higher fiber and fat content.
- WEIGHT MAINTENANCE: Royal...
- HEALTHY DIGESTION: Highly...
- HIGH FIBER LEVELS: Formulated...
- HEALTHY FIBER: Enriched with a...
- DOG GI HEALTH: Omega-3 fatty...
It is made with chicken by-product meal, brewer’s rice, chicken fat, powdered cellulose, rice hulls, corn, wheat, beet pulp, fish oil, grain distillers, dried yeast, psyllium seed husk, fructooligosaccharides, vitamin and mineral supplements.
As you may have noticed in our other posts, this is not the nutritional profile that we would normally recommend for dogs that are generally healthy.
However, dogs with major gastrointestinal maladies need not only optimal levels of fiber but also well-balanced proportions of soluble and insoluble fiber.
This normalizes intestinal motility and resolves constipation, anal sac disorders, and other GI tract issues.
Dogs that were constantly hungry and thus became overweight were able to trim down with ROYAL CANIN Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry because high-fiber diets give the feeling of fullness without adding so much in terms of calories.
Dogs that have been on prolonged antibiotic use normally suffer from unhealthy gut flora and weakened immune systems.
With probiotics and ROYAL CANIN’s dietary prebiotics, gut health can be regained in no time.
This formula is a therapeutic specialty food and, thankfully, also palatable and nutritionally balanced.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
3Wellness Complete Natural Healthy Weight Food for Dogs
by Wellness Pet Food
Wellness Complete Health Healthy Weight formula contains high-quality ingredients like deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, barley, peas, and a long list of fruits, vegetables, and other botanical ingredients.
- PROTEIN RICH ADULT DRY DOG...
- ALL NATURAL: Created by...
- SUPPORTS DIGESTIVE HEALTH &...
- NO CORN, WHEAT, OR SOY: Adult...
- MADE IN USA: Using only the...
This food from Wellness Natural Pet Food also contains probiotics and added vitamins and minerals.
The fiber content in this formula is less than half of either Pro Plan or Royal Canin, but it’s adequate to add roughage to the consumed food as it transits through the GI tract.
This moderately high-fiber dog food is a complete food that’s very flavorful, too, so dogs eat it in seconds. Losing weight has ceased to be a struggle, and bowel movements have never been more regular in this diet.
It’s also effortless since dogs need no coaxing or extra toppings; they just dive right into Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Healthy Weight Dog Food.
In terms of quality and wholesomeness of ingredients, none in this list would probably beat Wellness. For the moderate need for fiber, such as minor weight shedding or occasional constipation, this would be a great choice.
However, if your dog has the more serious conditions of diabetes, colitis, or chronic gut issues, then go for the top guns.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
4Original Whole Body Health High Fiber Food for Dogs
by Natural Balance
Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dry Dog Food is around the same price as Wellness and contains wholesome ingredients, too.
This makes it not only a great option for dogs that need significant levels of fiber in their diet, but also as regular nourishment for the other dogs in the house as well.
- CHICKEN IS THE FIRST...
- ORIGINAL ULTRA FORMULA...
- NUTRIENTS FROM OUR ULTRA...
- NUTRITION FOR EVERY TYPE OF...
- SAFETY & TRANSPARENCY Natural...
Its protein sources are chicken, chicken meal, and duck meal. Its complex carb and fiber sources are brown rice, oat groats, potatoes, brewer’s rice, and fruits and vegetables that are also rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial substances.
The carbohydrate sources in this formula were very carefully selected to create a perfect balance of insoluble and soluble fibers that result in slow digestion, easily-satiated appetite, and intestinal motility.
Natural Balance calls this layering of different types of fiber, and we see its effectiveness in how Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dry Dog Food has helped resolve cases of bowel obstruction and obesity in the easiest and most doable way.
And may we add – most enjoyable, too – because dogs simply enjoy their food. The ingredients must be natural and wholesome.
It was developed as food for whole-body health, and it does just that – it provides energy, keeps the skin clear, and makes the coat soft and shiny.
Without artificial dyes, flavors, and preservatives, it’s known to have stopped allergies and seizures, too.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
5Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Food
by Nature's Variety
- Find it on Amazon
- Find it on Chewy
Instinct Raw Boost grain-free recipe from Nature's Variety is more expensive than Wellness and Nature Balance, but so much cheaper than Pro Plan and Royal Canin. Its fiber content is also mid-range (7.5%).
- GRAIN FREE HEALTHY WEIGHT DOG...
- HEALTHY WEIGHT DOG FOOD PLUS...
- THE FIRST RAW BOOSTED KIBBLE...
- POWER OF RAW INGREDIENTS: Our...
- OUR BEST DOG FOOD BOOSTED WITH...
Its animal protein comes from chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal, fish meal, and freeze-dried raw chicken parts – such a mouth-watering treat for your canines.
It gets its fiber and other nutrients from pumpkin seeds, pumpkin, peas, apples, cranberries, blueberries, alfalfa meal, tapioca, tomato pomace, and other botanical sources.
The combination of high protein, low fat, and high fiber levels in this Instinct recipe makes it effective for managing weight in dogs that tend to be obese.
This is one of the best high-fiber dog food brands because it helps dogs build lean muscles, instead of storing fats, and they feel full even with a lesser quantity of Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food by Nature's Variety than they were used to eating.
Also, insoluble fiber does not add to the total calories that your dog’s body absorbs or needs to burn.
Dogs love the taste of this formula so it’s not difficult placing them in a healthy weight program with this. Once they notice the light-colored raw pieces, though, they realize how so much tastier they are and tend to pick them over the kibbles.
They end up eating their brown kibbles anyway because a cup often doesn’t even have a piece of the raw nugget. Some dogs would make a fuss over it and keep digging thinking it’s there somewhere.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
6Gold Coast Grain Free Weight Management Dog Food
by Fromm
- Find it on Amazon
- Unavailable on Chewy
Fromm Family Grain-free Gold Coast weight management formula uses fish – whitefish and salmon – instead of the usual meats for its main protein source.
It’ll be so much healthier for obese dogs since fish contains less saturated fat than red meats do.
- Only The Highest Quality...
- Many Variety'S Available From...
- The Best Dog Food Money Can...
Fromm is one of the best high-fiber dog food brands because it contains lentils, peas, chickpeas, potatoes, flaxseed, sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, chicory root extract, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. It has low fat and high fiber levels.
This is a wholesome meal for dogs that are made of wholesome natural ingredients, and it will be a very valuable part of a weight management regimen.
Its multi-nutrient and high-fiber plant ingredients provide dogs with vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that they need for proper development and health.
Pet owners noticed that their dogs get satiated with much smaller servings of Fromm Gold Coast Grain Free Weight Management, which is perfect for chubby dogs that need to trim down.
The presence of prebiotic fiber and probiotics in this formula helps maintain a healthy gut flora, which is vital in resolving digestive issues and in strengthening the immune system.
This is expensive dog food, though, but it is highly worth every cent.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
7High Protein Natural Dog Food
by Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Formula has high protein, high fat content, and moderately high fiber level.
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie...
- Nutrient-rich and provides the...
- Each serving includes...
- FAMILY-OWNED and MADE in the...
It’s a complete dog food containing a variety of animal-sourced proteins like buffalo, lamb meal, roasted bison and venison, beef, and chicken meal.
It contains antioxidant-dense fruits and vegetables, like blueberries and tomatoes, dog-specific probiotics, prebiotic fiber, optimally balanced omega 3 and 6, vitamins, and chelated minerals.
The fiber in this formula keeps your dog’s poops in perfect form and not dreadfully stinky.
There are no straining or constipation issues, and it’s easy to see how Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food is going to make your dog become more regular in the days and years ahead.
Probably one disadvantage is that dogs switched to this dog food would have poops that are much bigger than usual.
That means that TOTW contains highly insoluble fiber that passes through the GI tract unchanged.
You shouldn’t worry about that because that’s the role of insoluble fiber – to provide bulk to stools and improve intestinal motility.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
8Blue Wilderness High Protein Dog Food
by Blue Buffalo
Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet from Blue Buffalo is made with high-quality digestible animal-derived proteins, like salmon, chicken meal, fish meal, and fried egg.
- MORE SALMON IS COMING: An...
- PACKED WITH REAL SALMON: A...
- HEALTHY INGREDIENTS: BLUE...
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE...
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry...
Its plant-derived ingredients contain high-fiber complex carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, alfalfa meal, chicory root, barley grass, parsley, and yucca schidigera extract.
Probiotics, vitamins, and minerals were also added to ensure a completely balanced canine diet.
This formula is protein-rich and calorie-dense, so it will be great for dogs that need a lot of energy to burn or have high metabolic rates.
It has higher fiber content than TOTW, Natural Balance, and Wellness in this list.
This high fiber level indicates that Blue Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food would be good for dogs that need to lose weight or those that have bowel movement issues.
This is one of the best high-fiber dog food brands because it contains the antioxidant-rich LifeSource Bits (like all other Blue Buffalo products).
It is a grain-free diet so there’s a good chance that it will match the needs of dogs that have grain sensitivities and dietary restrictions. It’s not overly expensive, though not cheap either.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
9Coastal Catch High Fiber Dog Food
by Earthborn Holistic
Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch is a grain-free dog food that contains highly digestible proteins from salmon meal, herring meal, and whitefish meal, which are also good sources of omega 3 and vitamin D.
- Grain, gluten and potato-free,...
- Premium chicken meal provides...
- L-carnitine helps burn fat and...
- Fortified with glucosamine and...
- Packaging is BPA-free,...
It contains complex carbs like potatoes and sweet potatoes and high-fiber fruits and vegetables like peas, spinach, flaxseed, blueberries, cranberries, and apples.
These ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that a dog needs to boost its immune system and overall health. Probiotics are also present to ensure gut health.
Dogs on this diet showed improvement in their previous digestive issues, such as horrible and excessive gas.
That can be attributed to the absence of grains, especially corn and wheat.
The amount of stool they produce has also significantly decreased after switching to Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain-Free Dry Dog Food.
The kibbles are small to medium bite sizes and have a strong fishy smell, as to be expected from its fish ingredients.
Make sure your dog (or you) is not averse to that smell because it can be quite overwhelming. This is one of the best high-fiber dog food brands because dogs don’t overeat and look well-satiated after a meal.
This makes it great for a weight loss regimen and definitely good for the budget, too.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
10Blue Wilderness High Protein High Fiber Food for Dogs
by Blue Buffalo
Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet Grain-Free Chicken, adult dry dog food, is similar in the nutrient profile to the salmon variety.
Except for the first ingredient, which is deboned chicken instead of deboned salmon, it also has the same ingredients listed as that variety.
- MORE CHICKEN IS COMING: An...
- PACKED WITH REAL CHICKEN: A...
- HEALTHY INGREDIENTS: BLUE...
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE...
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry...
This formula from Blue Buffalo has a good balance of soluble and insoluble fibers from highly nutritious food sources, like peas, flaxseed, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, cranberries, barley grass, and parsley.
Recurring itching and diarrhea in dogs can be managed so much easier with this grain-free formula unless your dog is sensitive to one of the ingredients in Blue Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food or if the cause of said issues is not food-related and not treated correctly.
The kibble shape and crunchiness also help tremendously in keeping teeth and gums healthy.
The relatively high fiber content of this food helps make the dog feel full and slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, so it has been most helpful for dogs with diabetes.
Dogs love its flavor, too, which is very important when you need to give small meals more frequently over the day to maintain consistent blood sugar levels.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
11Ultimate Skin & Coat High Fiber Dog Supplement
by The Missing Link
The Missing Link Ultimate Skin & Coat is a dog food supplement, especially for diets that are significantly lacking in fiber, phytonutrients, and omega 3 and 6.
This supplement is in powder form and can be mixed in or sprinkled on top of your pet’s food.
- HEALTHY PET: Promotes soft...
- POWER: Powders are the most...
- PURITY: We use patented cold...
- PERFORMANCE: LactoSpore...
- VETERINARIAN FORMULATED FOR...
It contains freeze-dried beef liver, ground beef bone, and freeze-dried oyster, which lend it its rich flavor.
Combined, these ingredients provide protein, calcium, phosphorus, omega-3, zinc, and iron.
Missing Link also contains fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, and disease-fighting nutrients.
Your dog’s main food will provide basic nourishment, while The Missing Link Ultimate Skin & Coat Dog Supplement can help your dog thrive and flourish.
It will make your dog’s skin become healthier and its coat silkier and deeper in color. Given time, the shedding will be much reduced and hair may even start growing on bald spots.
If your dogs are fed with home-prepared food, this supplement will be your way to ensure that they get their optimal doses of omega 3 and 6, fiber, and nutrients that might be lacking in their meals.
Lack of fiber in homemade diets has often led to digestive issues, but none of these could be corrected with a good fiber dose.
This is cold-processed to ensure that nutrients are not damaged by heat. It’s also more palatable to dogs, which is what a food topper should be, after all.
PROS:
|
CONS:
|
Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you from the links on this page. This did not affect our assessment of products. Read more here and find full disclosure here.
Want to share this?