Some dog’s we refer to as “canine garbage cans”, in that there are some dogs that seem like they will eat everything and anything. These dogs act as if they are endlessly hungry. This could just be a breed or individual trait but it may also be a sign that they do not have enough fibre in their diet.

So what actually is fibre? Fibre is a carbohydrate ingredient that contains a high proportion of slowly digestible or resistant starch. This type of starch is still digestible but it takes digestive enzymes longer to break the starch down for absorption. This means that fibre lasts longer in the gastrointestinal system than nutrients like protein or rapidly digestible starches and thus keeps dog’s feeling full.

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Exercise boosts metabolism and digestion. This is why we usually feel hungry after a good work out. A high fibre snack before or during exercise can help keep dogs full and provide them with sustained energy. 

Fibre also has other health benefits aside from just promoting satiety. Fibre has also been shown to help reduce blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity. A recent study by researchers Fabio et al. (2018) examined the glycemic effects of feeding dogs a high fibre pea/barley diet versus a processed maize diet. Results showed that the pea/barley diet had a lower average mean interstitial glucose, longer mean hypoglycaemic time, shorter mean hyperglycaemic time and smaller difference between maximum and minimum blood glucose levels. Ultimately, the higher fibre diet showed that it was much more effective in lowering blood sugar than the higher starch diet.

There are many different high fibre foods in different categories. Below are just a few examples:

1. Grains with resistant starch like brown rice, oats and quinoa
2. Pulses and legumes like pea, beans and lentils
3. Fruits and vegetables like broccoli, kale, carrots, apples and blueberries

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If you’re taking your dog on an adventure or doing a good amount of exercise, consider taking a Kabo Monch Bar with you. Monch bars are designed with a balance of healthy fibre and protein, such as oatmeal, coconut, apples and pumpkin. Monch bars are an excellent way to keep dogs full on their adventures.

Overall, fibre is a great ingredient that can help keep your dog full and lower blood sugar. If you have a very hungry doggo, consider adding some fibre to their diet.

References:

Teixeira, Fabio A., Daniela P. Machado, Juliana T. Jeremias, Mariana R. Queiroz, Cristiana FF Pontieri, and Marcio A. Brunetto. "Effects of pea with barley and less-processed maize on glycaemic control in diabetic dogs." British Journal of Nutrition 120, no. 7 (2018): 777-786.

Bosch, Guido, Adronie Verbrugghe, Myriam Hesta, Jens J. Holst, Antonius FB van der Poel, Geert PJ Janssens, and Wouter H. Hendriks. "The effects of dietary fibre type on satiety-related hormones and voluntary food intake in dogs." British Journal of Nutrition 102, no. 2 (2009): 318-325.

Weber, Mickaël, Thomas Bissot, Eric Servet, Renaud Sergheraert, Vincent Biourge, and Alexander J. German. "A high‐protein, high‐fiber diet designed for weight loss improves satiety in dogs." Journal of veterinary internal medicine 21, no. 6 (2007): 1203-1208.

Jackson, Janet R., Dorothy P. Laflamme, and Stephen F. Owens. "Effects of dietary fiber content on satiety in dogs." Veterinary Clinical Nutrition 4 (1997): 130-134.