So what constitutes high fiber dog food and is it good for your dog? What does expert advice say about giving your pet that kind of food?

Fiber is found in the cell walls of plants and grains and the most common fibers are cellulose, gums, hemicellulose, resistant starches and pectin. It's made up of different carbohydrate compounds which resist enzymatic digestion in the small intestine. There are many different sources of fiber; in pet foods the sources include corn, rice hull, soybean hulls, bran, beet pulp, pectin and peanut hulls.

A high fiber diet is not really considered an essential nutrient in a dog's diet but most commercial foods contain fiber. It's believed that it helps with weight management, colony health and may also help when your dog is constipated, has diarrhoea or diabetes mellitus. When fiber is fermented in the intestines, it becomes fatty acids and these are essential in preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.

If you are trying to manage your dog's obesity, a high fiber dog food diet may be essential for this. It also helps your dog feel full without adding too many calories.

With diabetic dogs, a diet high in fiber has been found to be beneficial in that it helps such dogs to experience less fluctuation in blood sugar levels. Feeding diabetic dogs high fiber dog food or on putting them on such a diet has now become common and many diabetic dogs are being helped this way.

High fiber dog food and diet is usually recommended for anal gland disease. If your dog has recurrent anal gland impactions, then placing the dog on a high-fiber diet would help bulk up the stool. The bulky stool will put more pressure on the anal glands and thereby causing them to express themselves when your dog defecates. Although this does not a cure the anal gland disease in your pet, it is beneficial in many dogs. There are various commercial brands of dog food that are available in a high-fiber formula.

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It's always a good idea to consult your vet before making any significant changes to your pet's diet especially if your pet is unwell. Your vet will be able to advise you on what is the best course of action to take and may also be able to recommend some specific high fiber dog foods that you can feed your dog.