Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fiber content in dog diets for diabetes obesity and fat disease
By Farcas, Amy K et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2015·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of total dietary fiber concentration and composition of commercial diets used for management of diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dietary fat-responsive disease in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at different dog foods designed to help manage obesity, diabetes, and certain fat-related health issues. It found that the amount and type of dietary fiber varied widely between brands and between dry and canned versions of the same food. Some diets for diabetes had more insoluble fiber, while those for fat-related issues had different fiber compositions. This means that not all diets labeled for the same health issue will work the same way, and some may not restrict fat as much as needed. Pet owners should check with their vet about the fiber content in these diets to ensure they are choosing the right one for their dog's needs.
People also search for: dog diabetes diet fiber content · best dog food for obesity · low-fat dog food options
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine total dietary fiber (TDF) concentration and composition of commercial diets used for management of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and dietary fat-responsive disease in dogs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE: Dry (n = 11) and canned (8) canine therapeutic diets. PROCEDURES: Insoluble and soluble dietary fiber (IDF and SDF), high-molecular-weight SDF (HMWSDF), and low-molecular-weight SDF (LMWSDF) concentrations were determined. Variables were compared among diets categorized by product guide indication, formulation (dry vs canned), and regulatory criteria for light and low-fat diets. RESULTS: SDF (HMWSDF and LMWSDF) comprised a median of 30.4% (range, 9.4% to 53.7%) of TDF; LMWSDF contributed a median of 11.5% (range, 2.7% to 33.8%) of TDF. Diets for diabetes management had higher concentrations of IDF and TDF with lower proportions of SDF and LMWSDF contributing to TDF, compared with diets for treatment of fat-responsive disease. Fiber concentrations varied within diet categories and between canned and dry versions of the same diet (same name and manufacturer) for all pairs evaluated. Diets classified as light contained higher TDF and IDF concentrations than did non-light diets. All canned diets were classified as low fat, despite providing up to 38% of calories as fat. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Diets provided a range of TDF concentrations and compositions; veterinarians should request TDF data from manufacturers, if not otherwise available. Consistent responses to dry and canned versions of the same diet cannot necessarily be expected, and diets with the same indications may not perform similarly. Many diets may not provide adequate fat restriction for treatment of dietary fat-responsive disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26295555/