Low-Fat Dry Dog Foods With Fiber

A dog's daily caloric requirements vary tremendously based on its exercise level, breed, bone structure and whether or not it has been neutered or spayed. Altered dogs generally burn fewer calories than intact dogs, and breeds such as beagles, basset hounds, cocker spaniels and collies tend to gain weight more easily than other breeds. While it is sometimes effective to reduce the dog's intake of its regular food, another option is to put the dog on a low-fat, high-fiber dog food to promote weight loss and maintain a healthy weight.

  1. Commercial Dog Food

    • Dry commercial dogfood accounts for the majority of dog food sales. Most commercial dog foods contain 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent fiber. High-fiber, low-fat dog foods may contain as much as much as 9 to 10 percent fiber. Grain sources high in starch such as corn and potatoes supply less fiber, while sources low in starch such as wheat, oat and barley products provide more. Recommended dietary fat for an adult dog is between 9 to 15 percent. Low-fat dog foods often have fat percentages at 7 to 8 percent.

    Natural Dog Food

    • Dog food labeled as natural means that the dog food contains no synthetic ingredients. Since some vitamins and minerals are only available in synthetic form, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) allows such dog foods to use the natural label with a disclaimer. Natural dog food that is high in fiber and low in fat is similar in composition to commercial dry dog foods.

    Holistic Dog Food

    • Holistic dog food is not regulated by AAFCO. In addition to low-fat and high-fiber dog food lines, most holistic dog food brands contain less harmful preservatives and meat by-products, and more meat. Look for a holistic dog food that uses brown rice as the grain source rather than corn; brown rice tends to be higher in fiber and does not cause as many allergies in dogs.

    Interpreting Dog Food Labels

    • To compare the fat content of different brands of dry dog food, you need to calculate the fat content based on the level of moisture in the food. Look at the Guaranteed Analysis label on the dog food and subtract the moisture percentage of the dog food to obtain the percentage of dry matter; for example, if a dog food is 10 percent moisture, it is 90 percent dry matter. Divide the percentage of crude fat by the percentage of dry matter to obtain the actual percentage of fat; for example, a dog food with 7 percent crude fat when divided by the dry matter (90 percent) actually has 7.77 percent crude fat.