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After careful analysis, our top recommended high-fiber dog food for anal gland problems is Nutro Natural Choice.
Its high fiber content (10% – the best on this list) helps digestion and the passing of stools. It’s also high in antioxidants to aid your dog’s immune system.
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If you are finding that your dog needs his anal glands manually expressed regularly you might be wondering if there is something you can do to help.
Here are some things to look out for when choosing a diet for a dog that has anal gland issues.
Increasing fiber intake can help many dogs with anal gland issues. Fiber helps draw in water creating a bigger bulkier stool, which presses more effectively on the anal sacs as it passes through, emptying them fully.
A mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber is ideal to aid with digestion and you should look for a dog’s diet that contains 5-10% fiber on a dry matter basis.
Many dogs with anal gland issues have underlying hypersensitivities or allergies. Choosing a diet that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction may help. A hydrolyzed diet is the best option for dogs with possible allergies.
The addition of prebiotics (a special type of fiber) and probiotics (healthy gut bacteria) in the diet can help dogs that suffer from digestive upset.
When stool quality is poor, this can lead to secondary anal gland problems. Loose or watery stools are unable to apply pressure on the anal glands, so they may not be emptied effectively.
A diet that aids with digestion could therefore be beneficial.
Obesity makes anal gland problems worse, so make sure you are feeding your dog the appropriate number of calories each day.
Your vet team can help you to work out how many calories your dog needs each day to lose weight safely.
All of our dog food suggestions are carefully selected by professionals. We extensively research the products to check if they’ve been approved by governing bodies before making recommendations. You can read more about our stringent review standards here. And remember, always consult your veterinarian first, before changing your dog’s food.
Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight has been specifically formulated to help dogs maintain a healthy weight and excellent digestion.
This diet is based on the correct balance of protein to dietary fiber to encourage fluid digestive processes.
A high-quality diet, Nutro Natural Choice takes whole deboned lamb as its primary ingredient, an excellent source of amino acids to support a healthy body condition.
Whole grains are included in this food. Each was selected for its high dietary fiber to help dogs feel physically satisfied after a meal.
Several antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables have also been added to this recipe to support a strong and healthy immune system.
Nutro Natural Choice is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, making it a top choice for families searching for the best dog foods with high fiber to address anal gland problems.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Healthy Weight is a food designed to assist dogs with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and ensuring good digestive processes to support intestinal health.
This food has been fortified with l-carnitine to provide a boost to the dog’s metabolism.
The diet is grain-free and includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that are high in fiber and nutrient-dense. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been added to provide vital support for joints.
For families looking for an excellent diet at a price point that won’t break the bank, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Healthy Weight is among the best high-fiber dog foods for anal gland problems.
Dr. Tim’s Grain-Free Kinesis Food is a high-fiber formulation that is designed specifically to help dogs maintain healthy digestion and to support the proper release of anal glands.
This well-balanced recipe is rated among the best high-fiber dog foods for anal gland problems and includes the optimal combination of protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and fiber to promote excellent health and fluid digestive processes.
Dr. Tim’s Grain-Free Kinesis Food is enriched with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to encourage skin and coat health. EPA and DHA have also been included, providing vital support for eye and cognitive function.
This grain-free diet bases its carbohydrates on easily digestible, high-fiber fruits and vegetables to help dogs process and utilize their food effectively.
I and Love and You Naked Essentials is an excellent quality diet to help dogs maintain optimal health and fluid digestive processes.
This grain-free food has whole chicken as its main protein, a meat that is high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to assist with the development of a healthy coat and skin.
Both prebiotics and probiotics have been added to encourage healthy gut flora to aid in digestive processing.
I and Love and You Naked Essentials is also free from fillers, by-products, corn, wheat, rice, soy, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, making it an excellent choice for dogs with skin and stomach sensitivities.
This diet, rated among the best high-fiber foods for dogs with anal gland problems, takes its carbohydrates from high-fiber fruits and vegetables that are also rich in antioxidants to fortify the dog’s immune system to better fight disease.
Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch hits all the high points dogs struggling with anal gland issues need from their diet.
A food that takes a variety of different fish species as its foundation, Earthborn Holistic is high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to provide vital energy and support for good skin and coat quality.
Each of the proteins is easy to digest, ensuring ease of processing of this food.
Earthborn Holistic is a grain-free formulation, making high-fiber fruits and vegetables their main source of carbohydrates.
Each carbohydrate included also offers a powerhouse punch of antioxidants to support strong immunity.
A diet that is renowned for its excellent support for digestion, Earthborn Holistic earns top marks as one of the best high-fiber foods for dogs with anal gland problems and sensitive stomachs.
Dogs that suffer from blocked anal glands can experience many different symptoms from mild discomfort to pain and even abscesses, infections, and ruptures.
When a dog has loose stool on a frequent basis, their anal glands can easily become plugged.
Feeding dogs that struggle with anal gland problems food that is rich in dietary fiber is the easiest means to eradicate the issue.
A High-fiber diet encourages ease of digestion, helping dogs to eliminate their waste on a regular basis and without any struggle.
However, it is not just the amount of fiber added to a diet but also the kinds that make the difference when it comes to the efficiency of a food’s ability to provide relief.
Any food suited for your dog’s anal gland problems should contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is not a digestible material; however, it plays a vital role in helping a dog’s stool by absorbing liquids contained in the food to encourage solid fecal matter.
Soluble fiber disintegrates in water. It is the digestible portion of the food that carries nutrients to the dog’s body and also helps the stool to pass easily through the digestive tract to enable elimination.
It is the act of defecation that causes the release of a dog’s anal glands. When a dog’s stool is too soft, it lacks the pressure required to cause the glands to expel the liquid that accumulates there.
Therefore, if a dog eats a diet that does not contain sufficient fiber, blocked anal glands can become a recurring problem.
It is recommended that food to help with anal gland release contains 4 to 5% fiber; however, for dogs that struggle with this problem on an ongoing basis, a diet that includes 7 to 8% fiber or higher is best.
As a general rule, food for adult dogs should also include a minimum of 18% protein and 5% fat. This criterion should be an important consideration when searching for the best high-fiber food for dogs with anal gland problems.
Trying to determine how much food to feed a dog with anal gland problems can be challenging.
With most high-fiber foods, the formulation itself is very nutrient-dense, focusing on quality rather than quantity.
To determine how much high-fiber food should be fed, it is best to use the suggested serving size on the bag as a guideline. Adjust the portion accordingly to reflect the dog’s activity level and weight.
The best high-fiber dog foods for anal gland problems are typically lower calorie and more filling, so most dogs do not need to eat a large portion to feel satisfied.
It is important to check the dog’s stool quality to see if the food is effective at alleviating the problem. If the problem persists, wet dog food may be a better choice as wet foods are often higher in fiber and moisture.
It is important to select wet foods that are low in fat and calories, as these can cause anal gland issues to worsen.
By selecting wet dog food with the correct calorie count and high-fiber content, anal gland health can be maintained and chronic anal gland problems can be avoided.
A dog food rich in fiber and comprised of excellent quality ingredients can be a great help in keeping the digestive system healthy and resolving any ongoing anal gland issues.
One of the most important things to look for in the best high-fiber dog food for anal gland problems is a formulation that includes prebiotics and/or probiotics.
These powerhouse supplements are excellent support for digestive health and also encourage anal glands to express themselves on their own.
Food allergies can also be a common cause of anal gland problems. Most commonly, it is foods that are low in dietary fiber or that take their proteins from difficult-to-process items such as soy, corn, or wheat.
Diets that include meat as their primary ingredient are best for dogs with issues related to digestion such as anal gland blockages.
Sometimes, dogs who struggle with anal gland problems need food that is grain-free to provide additional dietary fiber to resolve the issue.
For some dog breeds, high-fiber food is not sufficient to alleviate recurring anal gland problems. In these cases, food such as pumpkin or psyllium husk powder can be added to the formulation to provide natural bulk to improve stool quality.
Regular exercise will also aid in the digestion process, encouraging good elimination and the natural release of anal glands.
When it comes to protein, meat is best. Whole proteins are preferable, but meat meals are also an excellent source of dense, high-quality protein.
Carbohydrates can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables, but they must be high in dietary fiber and preferably should also be rich in antioxidants to support a strong immune system.
No diet is complete without the addition of healthy fats. Healthy fats provide dogs with vital energy and also support a healthy coat and skin quality.
The best source for optimal fats is from animals and includes such ingredients as chicken fat and oily fish like mackerel, anchovies, salmon, and sardines. The omega-3 fatty acids in these ingredients provide essential nutrition and support a healthy digestive system.
In conclusion, choosing the best high-fiber diets for dogs with anal gland problems is essential in order to effectively alleviate the issue and support your dog’s digestive health.
Consider carefully the ingredients listed on the dog food package to ensure they are of high quality and provide the correct amounts of omega fatty acids, dietary fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and protein.
When in doubt, consult a veterinarian to get the best advice on how to properly feed your dog.
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in a high-fiber food for dogs with anal gland problems:
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