Best High Fiber Dog Foods for Anal Gland Problems: Brands, Supplements, and Recipes

Anal gland problems are a fairly common issue in dogs. If your pooch is suffering from anal gland problems, the first step is to look into the pet's diet. One of the most effective ways to address this issue is to increase fiber in your dog's diet to ensure easier passage of stool. This typically fixes the problem.

Before we discuss some of the best high-fiber dog food anal glad problems brands that can help with the issue, let’s take a closer look at fiber itself and why it can help.

Why Is Fiber Important for Dog's Anal Glands Problems?

Dietary fiber can keep your dog’s bowel movements regular and functioning smoothly. There are two types of dietary fiber – soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber can’t be digested. It absorbs water and adds bulk to your dog’s stool. Soluble fiber breaks down and dissolves in water, which gives your dog’s body a chance to digest it.

Both soluble and insoluble fiber should be a part of your dog’s diet to ensure healthy digestion and easy elimination of feces. Firmer stool texture can help in naturally expressing your dog’s anal glands and prevent further anal gland problems. Soft stools are one of the causes of anal gland problems, and lack of fiber is usually the reason behind them.

While switching to the best high-fiber dog food for anal gland problems may often fix the issue, increasing fiber intake by itself may not always be enough to keep anal gland issues at bay. Your dog also needs regular exercise, and the next best step is to ensure more exercise and playtime with your pooch. Digestive issues like soft stools can also be caused by other reasons and health conditions, so talk to your vet before you increase your dog’s fiber intake.

How Much Fiber do Regular Dog Foods Have?

Most regular and commonly bought dog foods contain anything from 2% to 5% of fiber. This is typically enough for a healthy animal. With that in mind, anything higher than 5% fiber content can be considered a high-fiber dog food.

While foods higher in fiber can help with anal gland problems, brands with fiber content over 10% can also often be problematic for some pets, so it’s best to stick to those that have around 6-10% of fiber content unless your vet suggests otherwise.

The Best High-Fiber Dog Food Anal Gland Problems Brands

When you're shopping for the best high-fiber dog food for your dog's anal gland problems, make sure that it is also made with high-quality ingredients and can meet your dog’s other basic nutritional needs. It's best to look for dog foods that have both prebiotic fibers and probiotics. Below are some of our top recommended picks for anal gland issues.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High-Protein Grain-Free Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

This dog food is made of high-protein chicken and chicken meals as the primary protein source, with 10% dietary fiber. This can be a bit much for some dogs, and a number of owners have reported that their dogs suffer from digestive problems like diarrhea after eating this food. This is consistent with the high fiber content, so try to introduce this dog food slowly and increase the amount gradually.

Grain-free carbs that provide easy digestibility are included in this kibble, along with dried and fermented products that serve as probiotics. It is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and contains a variety of antioxidants, like blueberries and cranberries.

While this recipe is rich in lean protein from chicken, it also contains plant protein, which is not the same quality as animal protein. The price is a bit on the steep side as well.

Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

This is a high-protein raw food that is low in fat, which is perfect for weight management. It is made of freeze-dried raw chicken pieces mixed with high-protein kibble, so you get the nutritional benefits of raw food and the convenience of dry food in the same product.

It is full of digestible grain-free carbs, minerals, and probiotics and has around 7.5% of fiber content. As with most raw dog foods, this product is a bit expensive, so it is best to use it as a secondary option and not as a staple diet.

While the fiber content is not as high as in some other high-fiber dog foods, it can still affect your dog’s digestive system badly, so use it carefully. Some users also reported packaging issues.

 

Fromm Gold Coast Grain Free Weight Management

This dog food has an impressive ingredient list, with many high-quality ingredients like whitefish and salmon for protein and peas, potatoes, and chickpeas for carbs. It is a grain-free, all-natural product with protein sources suitable for dogs with sensitive tummies and probiotics for a healthy gut.

Fiber comes from vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots and celery, with total fiber content being around 7%, which is not too higher than regular dog foods.

On the flip side, some dog owners complained that their dogs refused to eat this food and that they had to add ingredients to entice their dogs to eat it.

Wellness Simple Natural Grain-Free Dry Limited Ingredient Healthy Weight Dog Food

This dry dog food is a good option for dogs that suffer from food sensitivities and allergies, but they require a high-fiber diet. The reason lies in its limited number of healthy ingredients. Along with the lower risk of triggering allergies, this dog food comes with a moderately high fiber content, which stands at around 6%.

The recipe includes fresh salmon and salmon meal as the two main ingredients, along with grain-free carbs that ensure digestibility. It is also filled with omega fatty acids, minerals, and probiotic supplements.

However, the main source of fat in this food is canola oil and plant-based fats are not as good as those coming from animals. Also, a small number of dog owners reported food that came crushed and powdered.

Nutro Lite And Weight Management Adult Dry Dog Food

This high-quality dog food made in the USA has the highest fiber content of all on our list, around 11%. As we already mentioned, this can be too much for some dogs and can cause digestive distress, especially if you don’t make the change gradually.

Lamb imported from New Zealand and Australia is listed as the first ingredient and primary protein source. It is low on calories to help your dog with weight loss but it doesn’t lack any nutrients. Other ingredients include chicken, whole brown rice, split peas and whole grain oatmeal.

This dog food is a bit high in price, and there have been reports of shipping and packaging problems. Some dog owners complained about the chicken, which was added to the list of ingredients without warning and led to health problems with dogs that were allergic to chicken. It is also not a suitable choice for dogs allergic to grains.

 

The Best Fiber Supplements for Dogs with Anal Gland Problems

Changing your dog’s diet completely is often a difficult task, and sometimes you may need to try a few different options of the best high-fiber dog food anal gland problems brands before you find the right dog food for you. However, you can also use fiber supplements for dogs with anal gland problems and add them to your pup's current diet (non-high-fiber food) to increase his fiber intake. Here are a couple of our top choices.

The Missing Link Ultimate Skin & Coat Supplement

This is a dog food supplement rich in both fiber and omega fatty acids. It comes in powder form and you can mix it with your dog’s food or sprinkle it on top of it. It has a very rich taste since it contains freeze-dried oysters, beef liver and ground beef bone, along with various fruits and vegetables for added nutrients. It even has dog superfoods like kelp and flaxseed.

This supplement can keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy, in addition to helping with his anal gland problems. However, it does come with a strong odor, which is not pleasant for most dog owners, although it doesn’t really bother dogs. Also, it contains garlic, which is toxic to dogs in large amounts.

Due to its high fiber content, you should slowly add this supplement to your dog’s diet. You can find detailed instructions regarding dosage on the label.

 

Diggin Your Dog Firm Up Pumpkin Supplement

This product is made with real pumpkin and apple fibers in order to promote the health of your dog’s digestive system and support stool consistency. Made in the USA, this supplement comes in a bag you can easily reseal and can last for two years without losing its freshness at all.

This product can be consumed alone or mixed with water or food. You can find instructions on the label for the correct serving, depending on your dog’s breed and size.

Even though this supplement is supposed to add bulk to your dog’s stool and make it firmer, some consumers reported that it made their dogs’ diarrhea worse. Also, some dog owners said that their dogs find it unpalatable and refuse to eat it.

Homemade High-Fiber Dog Food Recipes for Dogs with Anal Gland Problems

If your dog has a sensitive stomach or food allergies, finding store-bought best high-fiber dog food anal gland problems brands may be complicated, and the safest option for him might be a homemade dog food diet. That way, you can control all the ingredients and ensure your dog’s safety.

Increasing fiber intake can be easy with homemade dog food recipes. After all, you can simply use more of the high-fiber ingredients or add one of the above-mentioned fiber dog supplements to your pup's homemade meals. However, be sure to increase fiber in your dog’s food gradually to avoid potential digestive problems.

Some of the ingredients that are high in fiber include carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, peas, bran flakes, oatmeal, and canned pumpkin. There are many recipes out there for homemade high-fiber dog meals, and we have chosen a couple of simple recipes for you. You can also watch Samantha's video on making this high-fiber recipe here.

Oatmeal and Chicken Meal Recipe

Oatmeal is one of the healthiest fiber sources for both humans and dogs. This recipe is good for dogs with grain allergies since oatmeal is a good substitute for carbs from wheat and grain.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of dry quick oats
• 2 cups of chicken (cubed)
• 1/2 cup of mixed vegetables
• 1 tbsp. of coconut oil
• 1/8 cup of uncooked brown rice
• 1 cup of water

Preparation:

Boil the water in a saucepan, and then add the coconut oil. Let it melt, and add the chicken, oatmeal, and rice. Cook it on medium heat for about 20 minutes.

Stir the mixture to combine all the ingredients before you add mixed vegetables to the mix. Let it cook for 10 more minutes and then remove the saucepan from the heat. Let it stir for around 10 minutes. Cool it off before you serve it to your pooch. The recommended serving size is about half of cup for every 25 pounds of body weight.

Ground Turkey with Brown Rice Dish

The fiber in this dish comes both from brown rice and pumpkin puree. Protein sources are both very lean, with ground turkey and shredded chicken as the main ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of ground turkey
• 1 lb. of shredded chicken
• 2 cups of brown rice
• 1 medium sweet potato, diced
• 1/2 cup of lentils
• 2 tbsp. of pumpkin puree
• 1 cup of chopped spinach
• 2 tsp. of olive oil
• 3 cups of water

Preparation:

Boil chicken and turkey in a saucepan over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Once it boils, get the meat out of the water and set it aside.

Add rice, sweet potato and lentils to the water and let it boil again. Cook the mix for about 15 minutes. Add all of the remaining ingredients and cook it all until liquid is absorbed.

Add the cooked meat to the mixture and stir it all together until it is thoroughly combined. Serve it warm to your pooch. Unused portions can be refrigerated or frozen for later use.

READ NEXT: 11 More High-Fiber Dog Food Brands

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