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Dog Gastrointestinal Health

Archive document IAMS COMPANY

Iams is since 1999 a registered trademark of The Procter & Gamble Company. This is an archive document used historically by the Iams Pet Food company or for Iams Pet Food products. Any and all mentions included herein needs to be replaced in context of the time and geography of its initial use as circumstances and products may have changed since then. Products and relative data are for US only. No assertion or further use of these documents can be made without P&G's authorization.

HOW IS YOUR DOG'S GI HEALTH?

By Dr. Donna M. Waltz, Ph.D.
The Iams Company

Gastrointestinal (GI) health problems (such as vomiting and diarrhea) are a major concern for many canine owners and breeders. Infections and other disorders of the GI tract have an impact on the entire dog and are a major health problem - one that accounts for a large percentage of veterinary visits and costs. Additionally, GI tract problems that cause diarrhea can lead to death in very young or already ill animals.

Diet can play an important role in optimizing GI tract health, with the type and amount of fiber in the dog's diet having the largest impact. Dietary fiber influences the health and function of the canine's GI tract in several ways. These include physical effects, nutrient effects, and fiber's impact on the types and number of "helpful vs. harmful" bacteria in the gut. All of these depend on the amount and specific type of fiber in the diet.

Role of fiber for canines

Although dogs are best fed as carnivores, there are bacteria in the dog's GI tract that can digest certain types of fiber. These bacteria produce substances - short-chain fatty acids - that are used by the cells of the dog's intestinal lining for energy. In fact, research has shown that feeding diets that contain only readily digestible and absorbable ingredients (that is, containing very little or no fiber) effectively "starve" the lower GI tract. This may lead to intestinal disturbances and can have a detrimental affect on health. Diets without fiber have also been shown to reduce the ability of the GI tract lining to serve as a barrier to germs and can increase the risk of disease.

While a diet with too little fiber is not good for a dog, diets with too much fiber can be a problem, as well. A healthy level of fiber for a dry dog food would be indicated on the guaranteed analysis panel of the package as "crude fiber" and can range from 3 percent to 5 percent. Very high levels of fiber can reduce the digestion of the entire diet and cause deficiencies of certain nutrients; they also can affect the rate at which food passes through the dog's digestive tract, either speeding it up and causing diarrhea or slowing it down and causing constipation.

Fiber types: pros and cons

The type of dietary fiber is important because of its potential to modify the number and types of GI bacteria. Changes in the normal bacterial populations - whether due to changes in diet, use of antibiotics, or other means - can increase the risk of digestive, nutritional, and disease problems.

Basically, three types of fibers are found in canine diets. The first type - highly fermentable fibers - are rapidly broken down and digested by bacteria in the dog's GI tract. Pectin, carob bean gum, locust bean gum, and gum talha are highly fermentable fibers. Feeding excessive amounts of highly fermentable fibers can result in liquid stools, unformed stools, and gas production in dogs.

The second type is called moderately fermentable fiber. GI bacteria digest these fibers at a moderate rate. Inclusion of moderately fermentable fiber, such as beet pulp, in dog diets helps in maintaining a healthy GI tract lining and producing moist, well-formed stools. Moderately fermentable fiber sources also feed beneficial bacteria, allowing them to "crowd out" the harmful species.

The last type of fiber is called poorly fermentable fibers. These fibers, such as cellulose, are not digested to any great extent by gut bacteria. Although many people think feeding this type of fiber help with constipation, studies in dogs have shown high levels may actually increase constipation.

In summary, dietary fiber can have a major influence on the health of a dog's GI tract. A diet containing an appropriate level of moderately fermentable fiber provides nutritional benefits to the GI tract lining and can positively influence intestinal bacteria populations. Feeding such a diet can help optimize GI health and reduce the risk of GI disorders (vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation) in healthy dogs.

About Dr. Waltz

Dr. Waltz received a B.S. in agriculture and a M.S. in animal science from The Ohio State University and a Ph.D. in animal science (nutrition) from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, she spent over five years as a primary reviewer at the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine in the division of animal feeds. Dr. Waltz is currently the Manager of Veterinary Communications Development with The Iams Company. She has been involved in various stray animal rescue organizations and currently shares her life with nine pets.