fiber - is 6.5% high?

[Jen W]

I'm looking to switch Dory to a new limited ingredient food.  I am debating between the Wellness Simple and Acana Singles.  The latter appeals to me b/c it's ingredient list is much much shorter (though the length of the Wellness list seems to be b/c of added vitamins and minerals) but the fiber content of the Acana is 6.5%.  Doesn't that seem really high?  Her current food is 3.5%  

Even the Wellness is higher than current at 5.0%, but I just don't want to cause any new issues with a sudden boost in fiber which seems like it could have some GI impact.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That 3.5% fiber could well be contributing to her stool issues. It's typical for dry dog food, but not optimum. Dogs with chronic diarrhea and digestive issues need a LOT of fiber. Many of us have to add fiber supplements to our dogs diets on a daily basis. I feed a Wellness formula with a 5.0% fiber content and still have to add fiber to his meals twice a day. 6.5% is not too high or too much, especially when the diet consists of mostly dry food.

Regarding the ingredient lists between the Wellness Simple formulas and the Acana Singles formulas, the Wellness line formulas contain far fewer actual food ingredients than the Acana line does, regardless of how long the list appears. You are correct in that the difference is the vitamin & mineral supplements. 

Either one would be a good choice. 

[Jen W]

Thank you, Karen. You are the best!

[Marie and Hoka]

Karen, I have a related question.

Background: So it's been a month and a half since Hoka's bowel resection.  He's off antibiotics for 3 weeks. He is doing absolutely wonderful. We are feeding him  Zignature Lamb which has the higher level fiber already (6.5% think) and I still have to add lots of fiber.  He gets at least a small sweet potato a day plus a table spoon of metamucil.  I am also still adding about 1/2-3/4 can of wellnesss simple lamb and oatmeal for extra calories. He gets 1 proviable probiotics capsule every day. He is getting Vitamin B-12 shots once a week for a course , then we'll check him again. 

If I skimp on any extra fiber, he gets pretty mushy stools. Not diarrhea, and no trouble with house-breaking. But now that things are settled out, I am thinking of fine tuning him.

I'm thinking of seeing if I can find a food that works more stand-alone.  Zignature is potato free, so I am wondering if I should just change to a LID with sweet potatoes. Should I try a different protein source in a limited ingredient diet, or more likely he just needs a ton of fiber due to his gut issues?  Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Stay with the Zignature. Even the kibbles that contain sweet potatoes rarely have a fiber level above 5.5%. And when you find a kibble that works for these guys, you're better off staying with it. As time goes by, you often have to change anyway, as they sometimes develop an intolerance, so don;t change when you don;t have to.

Jack's IMS has told me more than once that "these dogs (those with IBD and digestive diseases) need a lot of fiber." I mix powdered psyllium fiber into mashed sweet potatoes and add that to his breakfast and dinner without fail. I was using Metamucil but found a product called Konsyl at Walgreen's; it's the same soluble fiber as Metamucil, psyllium, but without all the flavorings and other ingredients. I know that he is always going to need the fiber, and it's likely that Hoka will too. But you may be able to reduce the amount as time goes by. 

[Marie and Hoka]

Thanks Karen!!! I want to get his things simplified if possible, but he is gaining weight and happy/healthy, so that is most important.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Believe me, I know how you feel. But after a while, all the special preparations become second nature, as long as your guy is doing well. In my IBD group, someone is always saying "If it ain't broke, don;t fix it." :)

It can be so hard to find the right regimen for these guys. When I read about some of the dogs whose owners can't find anything that works for them, I'm just grateful JD is eating and doing well.

I have a sheet of paper on the side of my fridge  with all of JD's mealtime preparations (supplements, meds, amounts of which foods when) so that my DD can feed him if I'm delayed, out-of-town, etc.