Why is fibre a must for dogs?

It is essential that a dog has a properly balanced diet, in order to help avoid a range of health issues and keep a dog healthy and energetic. A dog requires a variety of nutrients, minerals and vitamins in their diets, as well as other critical components to help their growth, development and repair of the body.
What is the role of fibre?
The role of fibre in a dog’s diet is essential and critical when it comes to looking after the overall health of the digestive system, immune system and nervous system.
Types of Fibres
There are two types of fibre. These are called soluble and insoluble.
Insoluble Fibre
This is not digested and pass-through the gut essentially unchanged. This type of fibre stimulates movement within the gastrointestinal tract, making it helpful in some cases of canine constipation.
Soluble Fibre
This acts as a food source for bacteria that aid digestion however too much can cause loose and watery stools.
The benefits of fibre
Including fibre in a dog’s diet is a great way to improve metabolism and facilitate the movement of food and faeces through the digestive system. This also helps to maintain a constant level of moisture in the intestines, as well as preventing diarrhoea and constipation.
Fibre also helps the intestines absorb more nutrients from the diet and helps make the stomach feel full. Whilst also helping to maintain the weight of the dog by controlling the consumption of calories, this can prove beneficial for breeds that are susceptible to obesity and weight control issues.
At Orchard House our recipes have been formulated to contain adequate levels of fibre in order to help benefit a dog’s overall health and help to maintain a normal intestinal transit time.