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| The Importance of Fiber |
| A Vital Part of Any Healthy Diet |
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Many people know that dogs and cats are carnivores...though some may call dogs "omnivores", since they will eat anything they come across. Few people will disagree that dogs' teeth are, physiologically, those of a carnivores - sharp and pointed, for piercing and tearing - and dogs do eat meat as a dominant source of protein. Of course, cats can't survive at all without a meat source.
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However, these facts do not mean cats and dogs can survive on meat alone. They need many other nutrients, such as those found in plant sources. In fact, a diet of only meat is well known to cause nutrient deficiencies, such as a shortage of vitamins and calcium. Another very important dietary need is fiber, and that's what I'd like to discuss with you now.
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What makes fiber a little different from things like vitamins, minerals, and protein is that fiber itself does not contain or provide any nutrient to the body. Fiber isn't even digested! But this does not make fiber any less important for keeping your dogs and cats healthy. On the contrary, fiber plays many crucial roles in your pets' bodies, especially for keeping your pets' intestines in good condition.
Fiber helps to avoid constipation and diarrhea. Fiber absorbs water in the digestive system, becoming bulky and giving firmness to your pets' stools - ensuring a smooth bowel movement and contributing to regular, easy defecation each day.
Food with fiber helps animals feel full, stopping them from over eating. This alone helps reduce the risk of obesity, which is why many diet foods associated with pet weight-loss programs are often formulated with extra fiber.
Fiber helps diabetic animals control their blood sugar levels. Diets high in fiber help food to be digested and absorbed more slowly. Otherwise, blood sugar levels may surge up and down drastically after eating. Slower movement of food in the digestive system helps slow the absorption of glucose to a more even pace.
Fiber is also good if you're worried about anal sac disease (a problem more common in dogs than in cats). As dogs defecate, a distinct-smelling substance is released from two glands located near the anus. However, in some cases this release may not happen smoothly. Although many reasons are considered, one theory is this is caused by a shortage of fiber in diet. Increased fiber helps form firmer stools, which stimulate the glands properly as dogs defecate, releasing the liquid with ease.
A portion of the fiber your pet eats becomes fermented within your pets' body, becoming food for the friendly bacteria living inside the large intestine and colon. This way, the normal and balanced flora in the body is maintained, contributing to the overall health of your dogs' and cats' digestive systems.
In some of the more recent commercial, "off-the-shelf" pet foods, more (often, too much) fiber is included as a way of making the food bulkier at a reduced cost. Though fiber is good, this specific approach can be a problem. In order for your dog or cat to get enough regular nutrition from these overly fiber-filled foods, you have to feed your pet a LOT of it. (Remember, fiber itself is not digested - fiber is not a nutrient by itself.) Too much fiber in a food can block the absorption of important nutrients. Chances are, these nutrients will be pushed along with the excess fiber, right out of the body, moving much more quickly than they should through the intestines. This may result in poor digestion and nutritional deficiencies among pets who mainly eat inexpensive supermarket brand pet foods.
Yet, on the other hand, too little fiber may cause difficulties when stools are not properly formed and become loose or runny. Note that in general, most dog foods contain about 3% to 6% fiber. There are fewer standards where cat foods are concerned.
In the wild, both dogs and cats hunt animals for food, eating the prey's entire body. This includes the organs and everything found inside - often plant nutrients. A suitable level of fiber is surely one of those wholesome "ingredients" found in this natural mix. In the modern world, where cats and dogs are domesticated and have no need to hunt, you owe it to your pets as their caretaker to find a wholesome pet food (or provide a nice home-cooked alternative) that provides these seemingly minor yet very important ingredients, such as fiber.
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Special Note: Although every effort has been made to present healthy products and useful information to support your pets' health, the products and information contained within this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The contents of this site are not meant as a substitute for consultation with a trained veterinarian. If you are concerned about the health of your pets, you should ask your veterinarian for proper guidance suited to the specific condition of your pets. The owners of this website accept no liability for any consequences resulting from the use of products and/or information provided through this site. Please use your discretion when attending to your pets' health. |
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