Crude fiber in dog food – what exactly is it?

What is meant by the term "crude fiber"?

"Crude fiber" is the legally prescribed term that essentially covers the plant fibers present in feed. Put simply, crude fiber = plant fibers.

What "can" crude fiber do?

Crude fiber therefore consists mainly of fibrous plant components, commonly referred to as "dietary fiber". The relatively indigestible plant components grouped under the term "crude fiber" have a wide variety of physical and chemical properties and therefore play an important role in regulating the intestines during digestion in pets. The intestinal regulating effect of crude fiber can have two effects. On the one hand, it can have a solidifying effect on feces, but on the other hand, it can also have a laxative effect. You may be familiar with this effect from wheat bran, which still plays a certain role in human nutrition today. Wheat bran also consists largely of crude fiber.

The intestinal regulating effect of crude fiber is based in part on its water-binding capacity, the increase in stool volume due to its low digestibility, and its influence on the so-called intestinal flora.

Intestinal flora refers to the important and desirable intestinal bacteria that are always present in the intestines (especially in the large intestine) of healthy animals. In order to achieve healthy and natural intestinal activity, cats and dogs must therefore consume a certain minimum amount of fiber in their food, in the right form and in the right quantity.

Due to its low digestibility, an excessive amount of crude fiber leads to a significant increase in the amount of feces. In addition, too much crude fiber impairs digestibility and thus the utilization of other essential nutrients present in the feed. However, it must be emphasized at this point that, in addition to the dietary fiber measured by the crude fiber determination, there are a number of other plant substances that have an intestinal and digestive regulating effect. These include, in particular, soluble plant components that cannot yet be broken down by digestive enzymes in the front sections of the intestine, but can then be used as an excellent source of nutrients by the bacteria living in the rear sections of the intestine (especially in the large intestine). By specifically selecting these “dietary fibers,” certain groups of desirable bacteria can develop particularly well, which in turn inhibit the development of undesirable bacteria that can cause diarrhea, for example. This ultimately leads to better and more problem-free digestion.

So is dog food with a high crude fiber content better?

As is often the case, it is not only the amount of fiber in the feed that matters, but above all the right combination of different types of fiber, some of which are more soluble than others. From this perspective, the declared crude fiber content is more of a measure of the indigestible fibers, which should only make up about 2 to 3% of the feed, as higher levels—as mentioned above—lead to a significant reduction in digestibility and large amounts of feces.

Higher crude fiber contents are only necessary in feed where the energy content must be deliberately reduced (e.g., senior feed for older animals, light feed for overweight animals).

The best-known sources of fiber are generally the grain products, vegetables, beet fibers, and similar ingredients contained in the feed. As you now know, crude fiber is of secondary importance for the actual supply of essential nutrients.

Its most important function is rather to maintain intestinal activity, which is important for digestion.