fiberand yourpet

What we humans first tend to realize when we hear the word 'fiber' is laxative! Why on earth would we even consider giving our pets a laxative, especially when their stools are already soft & loose or even 'normal' (firm, but not hard)? Perhaps I should start by explaining some differences.

Fiber comes in two basic forms: soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water. Foods that are high in soluble fiber include fruits, vegetables, oat bran, barley and some beans. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water but retains water, and is used to soften and build up stool, thus preventing or easing constipation. It can be found in vegetables, whole grains and wheat bran.

So what exactly is the main difference between soluble and insoluble fiber? Insoluble fiber comes from the structural parts (cell walls, etc.) of the plant world. Insoluble dietary fiber is found in grain bran's and makes up most of the fiber in vegetables and part of the fiber in fruits.

Physiologically, insoluble fiber is the roto-rooter of the intestinal tract and tends to speed up passage through the body. Anything that adds bulk to the stuff traveling though your intestines makes peristalsis easier. Just watch out for too much bran because bran's are high in phytates which can bind minerals.

Soluble fiber in many ways is the opposite of insoluble fiber. It comes from the storage materials of the plant world used to store water. There are many different types, but they are all hydrocolloids and bind from 20-200 times their weight in water. This thickening characteristic not only gives you more bulk but it acts almost like grease in soothing and smoothing passage through the intestinal tract. They can get VERY thick and interfere with movement, so they tend to slow digestion, increase the feeling of fullness, and improve mineral absorption -- probably because they cause the nutrients to spend more time in the right zone. Some of soluble fiber's health benefits are attributed to this viscosifying effect. Others are attributed to its ability to bind things to itself.

Whether or not dietary fiber is ‘required' by the dog has been debated. Although fiber is not technically required in the diet of the dog, small amounts of dietary fiber are necessary for normal functioning of the intestinal tract. Wild dogs that hunt for their food consume the entire animal that is caught, including the intestines which contain fiber. Fiber is important for maintaining normal gastrointestinal transit time and motility, and contributes to the feeling of fullness. Dogs with stomach upsets can be found eating grass or other vegetation, possibly in the attempt to sooth their gut with increased fiber. Common fiber sources in pet foods include beet pulp, wheat middling, tomato pumice, peanut hulls, and soybean hulls. Carbohydrate sources such as corn, wheat, rice, and barley also contribute small amounts of fiber to the diet.

Although fiber is not digested by the dog, certain bacteria present in the large intestine can break apart the fiber present. This fermentation produces short-chain fatty acids. These short-chain fatty acids are important as an energy source for the cells lining the intestinal tract. Intestinal cells have a high turnover rate, and require a high level of energy to function properly. Short-chain fatty acids from fiber fermentation aid these highly active intestinal cells in the digestion of other nutrients.

Fiber sources differ in how well they are fermented by intestinal bacteria. Feeding highly fermentable fiber sources such as cabbage fiber, pectin, or guar gum results in poor stool quality. Moderately fermentable fiber such as beet pulp or rice bran are the best fiber sources for pets, since the fermentation of these fibers results in adequate short-chain fatty acid production, and maintain excellent stool quality. Cellulose found in plant hulls has low fermentability due to the short nature of the dog's intestinal tract, and therefore does not result in the production of adequate short-chain fatty acids.

So, want to add some bulk-firming fiber to firm up your pet's stools? Want your pet to feel 'naturally' full after meals? Then add some soluable fiber! Soluble fiber is found in oats, oatmeal, oat bran, beans, legumes, barley, citrus fruits and certain fruits, psyllium (the main ingredient in Metamucil), vegetable gum include konjac gum, pectin, guar gum and gum arabic, to name a few. Oats have the highest proportion of soluble fiber among cereals. Add it to yogurt for even higher nutrition!

Usually, soluble fiber is hard to get from foods. Normal food has a very small percentage soluble fiber. The cereal containing highest level of soluble fiber is oat bran, which has about 14% soluble fiber. All other food grains contain much less soluble fiber than oat bran.

Glucomannan is soluble fiber derived from the konjac plant (tuber). Fresh konjac contains an average of 13% dry matter, 64% of the dry matter is glucomannan, 30% is starch. That makes Glucomannan the richest soluble fiber resource in nature. Glucomannan has the highest water holding capacity and the highest molecular weight among all dietary fibers. These properties help to increase its effectiveness against stroke, cancer, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders.

So take charge of those loose stools today and help your pet feel nutritionally satisfied...ADD soluble fiber to your pet's diet today! Soluable fiber is a great addition for pets who need to shed a pound or two, while their food is being cut-back!

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