The Best High Fiber Dog Food for Regulating Poop and Anal Gland Problem – Reviews and Ratings of the Best Wet and Dry Brands in 2021

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that is not easily digestible, which causes it to remain intact as it goes through the digestive system. While this doesn’t necessarily seem like a good thing at first glance, fiber plays a crucial role in our and our pet’s digestive system. 

It helps regulate digestive function, slows the flow of glucose from our intestines to the bloodstream, and promotes colon health. 

In general, dogs only need about 1% fiber in their dog food. However, some dogs might benefit from more fiber, such as those who are trying to lose weight, have irregular bowel movements, or anal gland problems. 

For dog owners who are interested in putting more fiber into their dog’s diet, many options are available. We took a look at some of the best high fiber dog foods out there to help you make the best purchase decision for your canine. 

Reviews of the Best High Fiber Dog Foods

Now that you know why you might want your dog on a high-fiber dog food, let’s take a look at some of the best options available on the market. 

Top 3 High Fiber Dry Foods

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• Protein: 36%
• Fat: 20%
• Carbs: 34%

While this food isn’t advertised as high-fiber, at 4%, it beats most other commercial dog foods out there. This is a great choice if your dog only needs a little bit of a fiber boost to help regulate their digestive system. At 4% fiber, you won’t have to worry about your dog producing horrific amounts of gas, but the fiber increase should be enough to alleviate their intestinal problems. 

This dog food is also created out of high-quality, natural ingredients. It’s grain-free and uses turkey as the primary protein source, which is a good option for most dogs. Plus, it has sweet potatoes as the primary source of carbohydrates – a high-quality vegetable source that is not associated with any health problems. It also does not contain beet pulp.

Last but not least, our favorite thing about this dog food is that it is formulated to meet the nutritional levels set by the AAFCO. This means you can rest assured that it contains everything your dog needs to stay healthy. 

Furthermore, this brand is not insanely expensive, like some dog foods can be. It is easily accessible for most families without breaking the bank. 

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis): 

• Protein: 45%
• Fat: 20%
• Carbs: 25%

This is another dog food that is technically advertised as high protein. But it does have 4% fiber, which should be enough for most dogs with minor to moderate digestion problems. The high protein and high fiber amount make this an excellent option for dogs who have difficulty maintaining weight. 

We were delighted with the macronutrient composition of this dog food. With 45% protein and only 25% carbohydrates, this is much closer to the natural intake of dogs than most other foods out there. While dogs can, of course, eat carbs, they generally prefer a diet made out of mostly protein when given the option to control their food in a laboratory setting. 

Plus, it also contains no corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or artificial preservatives. However, it does contain pea protein as the third ingredient, which is disappointing. Pea protein is not the same as animal protein sources and has been connected to heart problems, such as DMC, by some veterinarians. Luckily though, this food does contain some extra Taurine, which supports heart function. 

This dog food is also quite expensive. Of course, as a high-protein dog food, it does cost more to make. It also uses only sustainable ingredients and is made in the USA, which raises costs a little. In the end, we think the extra cost is worth it for those who can afford it. 

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• Protein: 37.5%
• Fat: 13.64%
• Carbs: 39.77%

low fat high fiber dog food

With 8.5% fiber, this dog food has the highest fiber content of any food we’ve reviewed so far. With such a considerable fiber percentage, we recommend this food for canines with more severe health problems, like diabetes, who might benefit from a high-fiber diet. This might also work for canines who did not show improvement with one of the other foods we’ve mentioned. 

However, with such a high fiber content, this food should be switched to very slowly. Suddenly increasing your dog’s fiber intake can create some serious gas problems and might exuberate intestinal discomfort. There are directions on the bag for the switch to this high-fiber food. We suggest you follow them carefully and speak to your vet as well.

We approved of almost all ingredients in this food. With turkey as the main ingredient, most dogs should not have to worry about allergy problems. Turkey is also one of those “proven” protein sources that we know most dogs do well on. This dog food also includes flaxseed oil and other helpful ingredients.

However, peas clock in at the fifth ingredient with potatoes at number 4. Because both potatoes and peas have been loosely linked to heart problems in dogs, this is something you want to keep an eye on. Of course, if you need a high-fiber food for your dog, you aren’t going to find anything better than this one, so you might have to compromise on this aspect. Luckily, this dog food does include added taurine, which supports heart health.

Top 3 High Fiber Wet Foods

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• Protein: 44.44%
• Fat: 22.22%
• Carbs: 16.67%

Best high fiber dog food For anal gland problems

This is one of the highest-quality, high-fiber dog foods out there. The first ingredient and main protein source is beef, which is a dependable protein that is not tied to many cases of allergies. Furthermore, it also contains quite a bit of chicken despite the formula name, giving dogs a broad base of protein sources and preventing the development of allergies. 

Plus, it is grain-free with a proper macronutrient break down. It contains only 16.67% carbohydrates, which is lower than nearly every other dog food on the market. Plus, it contains 44.44% fat, which is pretty high as far as most dog foods are concerned. Perhaps most importantly, though, this food contains 1.5% fiber. This is enough fiber to impact most dogs but isn’t so high that it might cause gas or intestinal difficulties. If your dog has some problems with loose stools or minor anal gland clogging, this might be enough fiber to get them back on track. 

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis)

• Protein: 50%
• Fat: 11.11%
• Carbs: 22.22%

high fiber Low Carb canned dog food

Purina makes this high-protein food that is designed to help dogs lose weight. It contains the same amount of fiber as our previously reviewed food at 1.5%. However, it contains 50% protein and only a minimal amount of fat at 11.11%. 

This composition makes it perfect for dogs who need a little help in maintaining a healthy weight. The little bit of extra fiber and protein will keep them fuller for longer. The calorie content is also lower as well thanks to the small percentage of fat. Plus, as wet food, the moisture will help your dog stay full for longer. Your dog will also feel like they’re eating more thanks to the higher water content. All these things mean that your dog will eat less, leading to weight loss and achieving a healthy weight. 

Another thing we liked about this food was the absence of peas. In today’s dog food industry, it is difficult to find a dog food without peas even though they’ve been linked to heart problems by the FDA. This dog food contains no peas or any of the other ingredients linked to health problems. 

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, this food might also be helpful. It has limited ingredients and only two protein sources, so it should be easy to avoid what messes with your canine’s stomach. 

Best for Serious Weight Loss

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• Protein: 26% 
• Fat: 22.22%
• Carbs: 35%

This high-quality dog food is designed to help dogs lose a serious amount of weight. It contains 7% fiber, which is the highest you’re going to find in a wet dog food. This high amount of fiber helps keep your dog fuller for longer, which helps them lose weight. 

The carbohydrate percentage is a little higher than we would like at 35%, but it makes up for this by using quality and safe ingredients. It contains absolutely no peas, potatoes, or any of the other foods connect to heart problems in dogs by the FDA. 

Top 2 High Fiber Puppy Foods

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• Protein: 40%
• Fat: 20%
• Carbs: 31.1%

high fiber puppy food

For puppies with digestive problems, a high-fiber diet might be helpful. However, because puppies are still developing, you often don’t want to put them on a very high-fiber diet unless you speak to your vet first. Because of this, we recommend putting your puppy on a pet food with only a slightly high fiber content, like this on by Go! Solutions, which contains 3% fiber. 

This was one of our favorite puppy foods because it contains lots of protein, and the first six ingredients come from animals. Plus, it also includes a wide variety of protein sources, which can prevent allergies from developing and provides a more well-rounded diet for your puppy. 

Macronutrients (Dry-Matter Basis):

• Protein: 43%
• Fat: 22.7%
• Carbs: 25%

This puppy food contains almost all animal ingredients. From chicken to flounder, Orijen has created this puppy formula using only the best ingredients. Most meat products are whole, which means that it includes meat, organs, and cartilage. This produces more nutritionally complete food for your puppy, as dogs evolved to eat the whole animal, not just the meat. 

Containing 6% fiber, this puppy food has plenty of fiber to help even moderate, intestinal problems. If foods containing lower amounts of fiber have not improved your pup, this formula is worth trying. 

Top High-Fiber Dog Treats

These fiber supplements are a suitable solution to moderate gland problems if you don’t want to switch your dog’s food. They’re mostly made out of pumpkin and apple, two excellent sources of both types of fiber. Results usually appear in 3-5 weeks, though your pet will need to continue the treat supplement to prevent the problem from recurring.

Treat dosage is based on the size of your dog. There are a few different flavors available, including peanut butter. 

Read More Dog Food Reviews: Best Diabetic Dog Food and Best Pitbull Food

How Much Fiber Should Dogs Get?

The vast majority of dog foods have about 1% fiber in them. You will find some regular dry dog food formulas with up to 4%, however, depending on the carbohydrate sources used. In the vast majority of cases, this is enough for most dogs. 

If your dog has a health condition and needs more fiber in their diet, you’re going to want to aim to find a new food with between 4% to 10% fiber. Wet dog foods have less fiber in them by percentage than dry dog foods because of the higher moisture content. For wet dog food, a high fiber amount would be considered closer to 2%.

Consuming too much fiber can be problematic for some dogs, as fiber takes the place of more digestible ingredients. In general, we recommend giving your dog the least amount of fiber they need to see a considerable improvement. 

Some dog food brands have specific foods that are labeled as high-fiber, including Royal Canin, Taste of the Wild, and Blue Buffalo. However, what counts as “high fiber” depends on what brand you’re looking at. Many dog food brands formulate foods with high fiber that aren’t necessarily advertised as such. 

If you switch your dog to a high fiber food and still see no improvement, speak to your veterinarian. Some underlying medical conditions can look similar to a fiber problem, or your pet might need a diet with a more concentrated amount of fiber. 

Health Benefits of Fiber

Fiber does a lot for your canine’s digestive system. While it isn’t digested, fiber does play a crucial role in digestive function and the immune system. Here are some key benefits of fiber:

Feel Fuller for Longer

If you’ve ever looked at a dog food designed to help your dog lose weight, you likely found that it was high in fiber. This is for a good reason. 

Because the body does not digest fiber, it does not increase the calorie count of a dog food. However, it does sit in your dog’s stomach, which makes them feel full. As you can imagine, fiber also helps dogs feel full for longer, because it sits around in the digestive tract.

For this reason, if you’re looking for a high-fiber dog food, you’ll often find what you’re looking for among formulas designed for weight management. 

Regular Bowel Movements

One of fiber’s most important benefits is its ability to regulate the digestive system and bowel movements. Water-soluble fiber soaks up water from outside the colon, making it easier for waste products to move along. 

Furthermore, fiber can also help absorb any excess water in the intestines, preventing diarrhea. It can also help bulk up your dog’s food, which can help ensure regularity. 

Of course, too much fiber can regulate your dog’s digestive function a little TOO much. Suddenly raising your dog’s fiber intake will cause them to poop way more than usual. It can also cause horrifying amounts of gas. 

Blood Sugar Stabilization

Fiber slows the speed in which digestible carbohydrates are absorbed into the digestive tract. This prevents spikes and subsequent falls in blood sugar, which can prevent diabetes and obesity. 

Of course, diabetes can also be caused by obesity, which fiber helps to prevent, as we have already discussed. So, fiber acts as a double-whammy when it comes to improving blood sugar levels.  

Improves Colon Health

Fiber works with the colon to regulate the digestive system and push food through the digestive tract faster. This lowers the amount of time substances are in the colon, including carcinogens and other chemicals that can be harmful to colon health and even cause colon cancer.  

Furthermore, when soluble fiber begins fermenting, one of the byproducts it produces is short-chain fatty acids. These acids provide extra energy to the cells in the intestine wall, which helps keep it clean and repaired. 

Health Conditions Fiber Can Help Treat

There are a few health conditions that fiber can help treat and control the symptoms of. 

Diabetes

When a dog has diabetes, they are unable to regulate their blood sugar properly. Their body either does not produce enough insulin or has developed a resistance to the insulin it does create. 

Fiber slows down digestion and prevents sugars from being absorbed by the digestive tract quickly. Because the fast absorption of sugar causes blood sugar levels to spike, fiber can help keep your dog’s level stay more even. 

Plus, fiber will make your dog feel fuller for longer, which prevents obesity. Obesity can cause diabetes later in life, so in this case, fiber helps treat diabetes in a two-pronged manner. 

Obesity

As we’re discussed, fiber does not get digested by your dog’s digestion tract. Instead, it sits around, helping your dog feel fuller for longer. This makes your dog eat less and consume fewer calories, which can help prevent or even counteract obesity. 

Anal Gland Problems

Dogs have a set of anal glands around their anus. These glands are supposed to get emptied when your dog has a regular bowel movement, thanks to the pressure exerted. 

However, these glands can become clogged and stop emptying regularly. This can be quite painful for your pooch and also lead to a host of other problems. 

Because fiber can bulk up your dog’s stools, it increases the amount of pressure exerted during a regular bowel movement. This prevents the glands from clogging in the first place and can help get the glands unclogged when it does happen. 

Intestinal Irregularity

Fiber’s primary purpose is to regulate the digestive system. If your dog has problems with irregular bowel movements, diarrhea, or pretty much anything else that involves the regularity of the digestive system, fiber can help curb these issues. 

Of course, these problems can also be caused by other underlying medical disorders, especially if they come on suddenly. If your dog is suddenly experiencing intestinal problems, it is a good idea to speak to their vet. 

How to Add More Fiber to your Dog’s Diet

On top of your dog’s usual, protein-rich diet, you might also want to consider adding some natural supplements to their usual routine. Foods like pumpkin, apples, carrots, and oats all contain fiber and can be easily added to your dog’s diet. 

Try to provide your dog with many types of high-fiber food, so they get both types of fiber. Soluble and insoluble fiber are both critical for digestive health. 

Many of these foods can be added easily to your dog’s regular dog food or used as treats. Canned pumpkin can easily be mixed in with most wet foods, for example. You can also use these treats alongside a new dog food that is high in fiber. 

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve been a dog owner my whole life, growing up with puppies to adopting my newest pup, Max. We have reviewed hundreds of different dog foods over the years, so we have an expert view of what the market currently offers. All of our reviews are based on scientific evidence, not marketing campaigns or ads. We carefully stay up to date on the latest research so that we can recommend only the best to you and your pets. 

Before making it into any article, each dog food has to pass a rigorous review process that involves more than just surface-level information. We calculate all of our own macronutrient data. While we pay attention to the ingredient list, we also consider macronutrient ratios and recall frequency. Additionally, we speak to the dog food brands, vets, and dog trainers to make sure our recommendations are the most healthy options for your dog.