Best High Fiber Dog Food for Anal Gland Problems

Is your dog facing digestive issues with stools softer than usual and a change in its behavior? Do you find him scooting often and frequently pooping with discomfort? Then, your dog is probably going through anal gland problems, which needs your immediate attention. To know more and how to tackle the situation, read further.

The Anal Gland in your dog’s anus is two small scent glands, which produce your dog’s unique scent. They use this scent to express themselves and mark their territory. When these glands are unable to secrete regularly, your dog faces problems and becomes uncomfortable.

Dogs mostly suffer from anal gland problems due to soft and inconsistent passing of stools, which doesn’t allow these glands to secrete, as they require a little pressure for the expression. When left unreleased, these glands get overfilled, and your dog tries helplessly to express them through frequent scooting and passing of stools on places, not marked.

The issue is uncomfortable for your dog and needs immediate care to avoid an increased risk of infections and even severe ailment like rupturing of glands, which may require surgery. 

You can simply help your dog with this issue through a change in their diet and right at home with fiber-rich content. Yes, a high fiber diet will certainly help your dog easily express the glands as firm stools help in the process. A diet rich in fiber will make the stools firm adding help for your dog’s glands to express.

So, let’s discover the best high fiber dog food for anal gland problems in the list down below, which will help you shop better. And, also a piece of information under the buyer’s guide for an insight into the issue and how to tackle it effectively for better health of your pooch. So, let’s go through.

Best High Fiber Dog Food for Anal Gland Problem – Review

1. Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Easily digestible grain-free dog food for daily consumption

Nature’s Recipe grain-free dry dog food is an ideal choice for your four-legged friend with anal gland issues. The grain-free formula of the dog food is rich in healthy digestible and fiber-rich ingredients like pumpkin and sweet potato. The crude fiber content in the formula is 4.5%, which is ideal for addressing the issue after absorption.

The dog food also has chicken as the first ingredient, which makes it taste great for your dog. The formulation is also rich in carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants, which is necessary for the overall health of your dog. The formula also has added minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. The best part, the dog food contains no fillers like wheat, soy, corn, soy proteins, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

You can buy Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free dry dog food in two other flavors and also in different quantities. This is an ideal dog food to be introduced as a regular meal to your dog, who has shown anal gland problems and soft stools.

2. Lucy Pet Formulas for Life – Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food, All Breeds & Life Stages – Salmon, Pumpkin, & Quinoa

• Balanced dog food for sensitive stomach and better gut health

Sensitive Stomach & Skin, Dog Food from Lucy Pet Formulas for life is an exceptional product to address the sensitive stomach of your dog, which gets affected easily and results in other ailments like the anal gland problems. The dog food from Lucy is rich in fibrous ingredients like pumpkin and quinoa, along with the great taste of salmon for your dog. It is specially formulated for easy digestion and gut health with prebiotic balanced fiber, which helps in balancing bacterias in the digestive tract.

Apart from formulated for easy digestion, the food is balanced for the overall health of your dog. The food is rich in protein, omega acids, and antioxidant nutrients. It also helps your dog with increased immunity, which is the result of a healthy gut. Altogether, the product is an ideal choice for a healthy stomach with improved digestion and gut health with the overall health of your dog, including muscle health, skin, coat, and immune health.

The product is ideal for all the breeds and growth stages of dogs and is available in different quantities and also flavor.

3. Simply Perfection Super Premium Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Kibble

• Nutrient and vitamin-rich dog food with fibrous content

Simply Perfection Super Premium Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Kibble is a premium product for the nutritional and digestive needs of your dog to handle problems like anal gland issues and other digestive issues. The formula of Simply Perfection dog kibble is infused with chicken, fibrous brown rice, along with fiber-rich rice bran and healthy vegetables and their fibers.

The formula of the kibble also includes various added vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin B12, D3, and more like calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. It is also rich in omega acids for a healthy coat and skin. The formula is free from soy, corn, wheat, colors, preservatives, and artificial flavors, which makes it more healthy for your dogs.

4. Royal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Small Digestive Care Dry Dog Food

• Dog food for special digestive care of small dogs and fussy eaters

The Royal Canin Canine care nutrition small digestive care dry dog food is for the individual needs of your small dogs with a sensitive stomach. The dog food is specially formulated with digestible proteins, prebiotics, and essential dietary fibers. The optimal blend of the fibers, prebiotics, and proteins helps in better digestion and firm stool.

The product includes chicken and fibrous brown rice along with many nutrient-rich ingredients to support the overall health of your dog. The small and crunchy kibble, along with the taste of the food is very much ideal for fussy small dogs with sensitive stomachs. The food is also rich in various vitamins, minerals, calcium, and other such necessary supplements for your dog’s health.

The product is also available for medium and large size dogs and also in different quantity packaging.

5. Nulo Puppy & Adult Small Breed Freestyle Limited Plus Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Natural formula for digestion, immunity, and allergy sensitivity

Nulo Puppy & Adult small breed grain-free dry dog food is a grain-free dry dog food with tons of goodness. The food is loaded with GanedenBC30 probiotics, other probiotic fibers, antioxidants, fatty, and omega acids. The grain-free formula and inclusion of fibers make it ideal for dogs with anal gland condition and other digestive issues.

The four flavors available in the food includes one animal source, which makes it simple and ideal for dog owners to take care of allergies and taste their dog prefers. The food is perfect for a rich nutrient diet, along with taking care of digestive issues. The food is free from fillers like peas, tapioca, potatoes, wheat, corn, and more. Users can get the dry dog food in salmon, Alaska pollock, small breed turkey, and in Turkey. 

6. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin

• Dog food formulated for effective digestion and firm stool

Hill’s Science range of products is vet recommended, and also they have a range of prescription dog food and supplies. Hill’s Science diet dry food for sensitive stomach and skin is an ideal product to introduce if your dog faces anal gland issues, digestion issues, or issues with stool. The formula of the food is rich in prebiotic fiber, which promotes a balanced gut microbiome for better digestion, immunity, and absorption resulting in the consistent and firm stool.

Its formula is ideal for the sensitive stomach of your dog with all-natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. The food is also rich in Vitamin-E and Omega 6 fatty acids, which is excellent for a healthy and lustrous coat of your dog. It has chicken so that your dog loves it and all essential goodness that the stomach of your dog loves it. The size of the kibble is small, and the product is available in three different quantity packaging.

7. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Fiber Balance Formula Dry Dog Food 

• Balanced formula for high digestibility and healthy GI tract of your dogs

Next on the list is a premium product from Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. The Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Canine Formula Dry Dog Food is specially formulated for high digestibility.

The food is rich in prebiotic fiber, and healthy ingredients, which promotes a healthier GI tract, and the high digestibility of the food encourages nutrient absorption. The healthier GI tract of your dog eventually results in a better immune system.

The food contains medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) vegetable oil or coconut oil, a source of MCTs, and antioxidants for more excellent health. It is also rich in protein with a great taste, which your dog will love. The size of the kibble is also ideal for the consumption of various sizes of breeds. The product is trusted and is available in two different sizes.

8. Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

• Grain-free everyday nutrition with digestive and all-around body care of your dog

The grain-free formula of Wellness Core natural grain-free dry dog food is best suited for your dog with anal gland problems. The formula is rich in prebiotics and probiotic fibers along with other necessary nutrients. The formula is also rich in protein but is low on fats to promote a healthy weight. It also includes glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for better joint health.

The formula of dog food includes the goodness of turkey, chicken, and salmon oil. For rich fiber content, the food consists of pea fiber, flaxseeds, and a lot of dried fiber-rich ingredients along with a grain-free formula. The best part of the formula is that it has no fillers like wheat, corn, soy, and artificial flavor, preservatives, and color.

Its formula lets your dog enjoy a tasty, crunchy treat with high-fiber and nutrition-rich content without excess fats, to keep weight under control along with leaner muscles and better gut health. The product can be purchased for dog breeds of various sizes and in different quantity packaging.

Buyer’s Guide to High Fiber Dog Food for Anal Gland Problems

If the anal gland problem in your dog is a relatively new thing for you or you know a little about it then, we have a simple piece of information, which will help you to understand it quicker and better.

Anal glands are scent glands in your dog’s anal cavity or precisely in the muscle layer of their rectum. These glands, or also known as scent glands, have liquid, which is the unique smell of your dog, which it uses to mark its territory. Dogs even sniff each other back for this very smell to know more about them.

These glands are expressed or in simple language released when a dog passes stool, through the pressure, which secretes them. These glands get filled and need to be released. When the expression of the glands doesn’t happen naturally, they get overfilled and make your dog uncomfortable, which it tries to release helplessly. You can find your dog popping around, or scratching it back, licking it frequently, scooting abnormally, and more.

The problem can get worse if left untreated. These glands can get infected, get abscess or pus, may become abnormally large, and can also rupture. The problem can get worse, which may also require surgery. And, the best way to help your dog is to address the problem in the beginning and act accordingly.

However, how can you get to know if your dog is suffering from Anal gland problem? So, we have possible signs that will help you determine and address the issue.

Possible signs that your dog is suffering from Anal gland problem

• Soft, inconsistent, and frequent passing of stool
• Scooting on the ground or other places like carpets, rugs, mats, and more
• Biting or licking of the back
• Inflammation, irritation, pus from the anus

What causes Anal Gland problems in dogs?

Anal gland problems in dogs are caused mainly when fiber requirement in their diet is not met along with other digestive and tract issues. The lack of fiber and indigestion in dogs results in soft stool, which discourages the expression of the anal glands.

Other medical reasons for the problem are misplaced anal glands, which makes their expression not possible and also gland cancer.

What do you need to do to help your dog with anal gland problems?

It is always better to consult a veterinarian if your pet is suffering from any ailment. Although it is quite simple to address the anal gland issue, which is also a common problem and too very frequent with some breeds.

Preventive measures must be taken by introducing your dog with a high fiber diet, be it dry food, supplements, or home-cooked fiber-rich meal. The diet will naturally bring back the firm stool of your pet and will help them in expressing. You can always rely on the above-listed product for the purpose.

You can also manually help your dog in expression. To help your dog with the manual expression, you need to insert your finger in the anus and gently apply pressure to the glands, which will help them secrete. The process will be uncomfortable for your dog, and you will require extra hands to handle your pooch.

Also, hygiene must be maintained with gloves, tissues, and, most importantly, lubrication. The glands are located approximately at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock and will be of pea-size, which will squirt out while expressing.

The change in diet and sometimes the manual expression will solve the problem. However, if the problem remains persistent or gets worse, it will be better to see a veterinarian and get your dog checked and treated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the Best High Fiber Dog food for Anal Gland Problems.

1. How can I add more fiber to my dog diet?

The easiest way to introduce a fiber-rich diet is to change to high-fiber dry dog food and add fiber supplements to your dog food. You can also introduce home-cooked fiber-rich food to your dog like pumpkin, brown rice, and more. We have a list of high fiber dog food for anal gland problems in the above article.

2. What can I feed my dog for fiber?

You can feed your dog with fiber-rich food items like pumpkin, rice bran, flaxseeds, oats, brown rice, psyllium husk, and other such ingredients. You can also get your dog fiber-rich dog dry food or high fiber supplements.

3. What is the best high fiber dog food?

There are various high-quality, high fiber dog foods available in the market for different types of breeds and problems. We have a list of eight of them in the above article, which are some of the best.

4. What causes anal gland problems in dogs?

The anal gland problem is dogs are generally caused by soft stool, which doesn’t allow the expression of their anal glands. Without expression, these glands get overfilled and irritate your dog. The other reasons included misplaced glands, cancer, and a few more medical problems.

5. How much fiber is in regular dog food?

Dog foods are available in 1 to 10 % of fiber content. The regular dog food has somewhere around 1 to 4 % of the fiber content.

Conclusion

High fiber dog food is a preventive measure as well as an ideal treatment of your dog’s anal problem right at home. And, there is no harm in introducing it without the problem, if you think your dog needs a high fiber diet. And with the list of best high fiber dog food for anal gland problems, you have a list worth shopping for and for the better health of your dear dog.

We also hope that along with the reviews of the best dry dog food for loose stool and anal gland problems, you also had a good insight into what is the problem is, how to identify, and treat it with our buyer’s guide.

So, go ahead and make the best decision for the best health of your furry friends and order goodness for them from the links above.