Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How dietary fiber helps dogs and cats with gut problems
By Moreno, Adam A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2022·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dietary fiber aids in the management of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease.
Plain-English summary
A dog or cat with gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea or constipation, may benefit from a diet high in dietary fiber. Fiber helps regulate digestion, manage appetite, and can even provide energy for gut bacteria. Many commercial pet foods already contain fiber, but adding more can help pets with common digestive problems. Veterinarians can evaluate your pet's diet and suggest fiber supplements if needed, which can lead to better digestive health and fewer symptoms.
People also search for: dog diarrhea treatment · cat constipation diet · high fiber food for dogs and cats
Abstract
Dietary fiber describes a diverse assortment of nondigestible carbohydrates that play a vital role in the health of animals and maintenance of gastrointestinal tract homeostasis. The main roles dietary fiber play in the gastrointestinal tract include physically altering the digesta, modulating appetite and satiety, regulating digestion, and acting as a microbial energy source through fermentation. These functions can have widespread systemic effects. Fiber is a vital component of nearly all commercial canine and feline diets. Key features of fiber types, such as fermentability, solubility, and viscosity, have been shown to have clinical implications as well as health benefits in dogs and cats. Practitioners should know how to evaluate a diet for fiber content and the current knowledge on fiber supplementation as it relates to common enteropathies including acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, constipation, and hairball management. Understanding the fundamentals of dietary fiber allows the practicing clinician to use fiber optimally as a management modality.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36288203/