Comments on: The Amazing Benefits of Dog Food Fiber (Part 1)

By: Jeffrey A

Jeffrey A — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:37:23 +0000

Thank you Mike! It does help me know what to look for.

By: Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:36:16 +0000

Hi Jeffrey… There are a number of potential dog food fiber ingredients. The most common (but not the only ones) include rice hulls, soybean hulls, beet pulp, bran, peanut hulls and to a lesser degree natural “whole” grains, fruits and veggies. Hope this helps.

By: Jeffrey A.

Jeffrey A. — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:31:39 +0000

Mike,
So far from reading your column and the comments, I have seen only beet pulp and powdered cellulose as materials that are used for fiber. What are the other materials that are commonly used? (Both in high and low quality dog foods)

By: Sapphire

Sapphire — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:58:09 +0000

Thanks for the info.

Hmm I wonder if there’s something else that my puppy is sensible or allergic in the other food? he is doing better in the other food.

But I see the formulas of the royal canin mini puppy in the us is different from the one I got, I’m in latin america.

By: Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 04:06:53 +0000

Hi Sapphire… Actually, it’s a rumor. That’s because there’s no red pigment in the type of beet pulp used to make pet food. The ingredient itself is a whitish color. So, contrary to what many of us have heard, beet pulp is not the cause of tear stains.

By: Sapphire

Sapphire — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:04:07 +0000

About beet pulp I want to know if is true the rumor that it can increase tear stains?

My toy poodle pup was on Royal Canin junior when we got him, he had a lot more tear stains when he was on this food and this has beet pulp.

Now his current food is pro plan puppy for small breed mixed with pro pac puppy lamb and they doesn’t have beet pulp and his tear staining has reduced a lot, he still have them but not like before.

By: Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:06:49 +0000

Hi Margery… Try using a limited ingredient diet. These are special hypoallergenic dog foods with very short ingredient lists. This way you’ll have a better chance at isolating the offending allergens.

Look at our navigation tab near the top of our website labeled Tag Cloud and click on the link that says “Hypoallergenic”. This will give you a list of brands that contain at least one limited ingredients dog food. Hope this helps in your detective work.

By: Mike Sagman

Mike Sagman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:52:39 +0000

Hi Matt… We consider beet pulp a controversial ingredient because many denounce the raw material as an inexpensive filler… plus some believe it can “stain” a dog’s coat.

However, others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call our readers’ attention to beet pulp due to the controversy surrounding it and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

By: matt

matt — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:10:49 +0000

Why is dried beets a controversial ingredient.

By: MARGERY R

MARGERY R — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:26:01 +0000

MY DOG ITCHES ALL OVER AND HER SKIN IS REAL SENATIVE,WHEN I GIVE HER DOG FOOD.I HAD THE BLOOD PANEL TEST TO SEE WHAT SHE IS ALLERGIC TO, THEY TOLD ME WHAT MEAT AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS,SHE IS ALLERGIC TO,BUT I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS BOTHERING HER IN THE FOOD,HER ANAL GLANDS BOTHER HER. I TRIED GIVING HER FRESH GREEN BEANS FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND THE ITCHING,STOPPED ALOT. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT IS BOTHERING HER?