Some natural ingredients in high fiber food for dogs include fruits and vegetables such as apples and sweet potatoes, whole grains, cereals, rice, the hulls of soybeans, beet pulp, and corn products.

You’ve probably heard of the importance of fiber in our diet but many pet owners don’t realize the impact it can have on their dogs. Problems like obesity, constipation, and anal gland disease are all often treated with a high fiber diet, which is said to reduce the risk of colon cancer. High fiber ingredients are usually lower in calories and will cause your dog to feel fuller longer, but without the added calories that contribute to weight gain.

Switching to a higher fiber food for your dog will help create larger, bulkier stools, which may not be exactly pleasant when it comes time to clean up the yard, but it just may help to put extra pressure on the anal glands, helping to solve the common but also irritating problem of anal gland disease. Anal gland disease may include abscessed, impacted, or infected anal glands, which are the two sacs just inside the opening of the anus that secrete fluid. Bulky stools can help to ease constipation as they put pressure on the inside of the intestines as they pass through the digestive tract, stimulating the entire process.

But, as is the case with just about anything, too much fiber can be bad for your dog’s health. Besides diarrhea and excessive flatulence, too much fiber can inhibit the way the body absorbs the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs.

3 Top High Fiber Brands:

The following is a list of three of the best brands of high fiber food for dogs, taking factors such as consumer reviews, cost, and ingredients into consideration.

- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Calorie Control CC 26 High Fiber Dog Food: This formula for adult dogs is designed to promote weight loss in addition to providing more fiber. The food provides 18.30% of crude fiber and it must be purchased with a prescription from a veterinarian. Prices range from $20 for a 6-pound bag to $74 for the 33-pound size.

- Doctors Foster and Smith Adult Lite Dog Food Chicken Brown Rice Formula: This food contains 13% crude fiber, reduced calories, and has whole grains including barley and brown rice, fruits like apples, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots. A five-pound bag averages $10 and the 23-pound size is $35.

- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Light Dog Food: This dry dog food contains 18.5% crude fiber and ingredients such as soybean mill run, soybean meal, ground whole grain corn, and several vitamins. A five-pound bag averages $14 and the largest-40 pound size is $50.

Although it may seem like a good idea for you to switch to a high fiber food for your pet’s health, always consult with your own veterinarian first as there may be other underlying health issues to consider. When switching brands or types of dog foods after the approval of your vet, the process should be a gradual one to avoid stomach upset or the risk of causing additional digestive problems.

Health Disclaimer: Keep in mind that these are opinions only and are meant to provide general information. The content in this article should not be interpreted as medical advice. You should always check with your veterinarian before making significant changes to your dog’s diet.

Want to find out more about high fiber dog food? Visit my blog to learn how to compare dog foods and to find out how to make your own dog food.

Today’s article will focus on how this unique breed of coverage works. We’ll describe what you can expect after investing in a policy for your dog and how it can reduce the costs of veterinary care.

How It Can Reduce Veterinary Costs

Medical care for canines has come a long way over the past 20 years. Many procedures that are common today were not even possible a few decades ago. As a result, dogs can live longer, healthier lives and receive treatment for a variety of illnesses and disorders that would otherwise have deadly consequences. Of course, as with medical attention for people, the costs of veterinary care have skyrocketed.

For example, a condition called “bloat” (also referred to as gastric torsion) might cost more than $5,000 to treat. Because the condition is life-threatening, an owner who cannot afford treatment may be forced to euthanize his canine. Even a relatively minor leg fracture can cost several hundreds of dollars to set.

To be sure, performing tests and providing treatment for your pooch can be expensive. That is the reasons dog health insurance was created. It allows owners to invest in a policy that helps allay the high costs of veterinary treatment. If your dog becomes sick or is injured, the policy covers the expense.

It works in a similar manner as your health insurance policy. When you visit your veterinarian, he or she will present you with a bill covering the procedures that were performed on your canine. After you pay the bill, you would file a claim with your pet insurance provider. Your provider would then review your claim and send you a check to reimburse you for the treatment provided by the veterinarian.

Is It The Right Decision For You?

Only you can know whether your budget is able to accommodate the premiums attached to a dog health insurance policy. In truth, the premiums are usually slight, especially when compared to the amount of coverage a policy offers. Given that a large portion of veterinary care is attributed to unexpected circumstances (i.e. injuries, sudden onset of illness, etc.), it’s an investment that every owner should at least consider.

The worst possible scenario is to find yourself in a situation that forces you to choose between absorbing a significant veterinarian bill or allowing your pooch to perish. A dog health insurance policy can help you avoid that tragic circumstance.

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Continous Shaking of the Head

Constant Scratching at the Head and Ears

Continuous rubbing of the head and ears on the ground or floor

A distinct redness or irritation in the ear canal

Liquid leaking from the ears

A brown or yellowish discharge present in the ears

Foul smell emanating from the ear

Severe pain whenever the ears are touched or petted

The Veterinary Visit – Diagnosis of an Ear Infection

When you first notice symptoms of an ear infection, it is important to take your dog to see your veterinarian. You should be careful about putting anything into your dogs ears before a veterinary examination. If your dog has a ruptured eardrum, putting anything in its ears could lead to more severe symptoms including a head tilt, walking in circles, or other neurologic symptoms.

For those dogs that experience frequent ear infections or ear infections resistant to treatment, it is highly imperative to seek out the underlying cause. In most cases, a physical examination can deliver this information. Upon examination, small ear canals, excessive hair in the ear and floppy pinnae can easily be seen. In addition, foreign objects or tumors are also easily visualized with a physical exam.

Food allergies are usually ruled out with a food trial. During a food trial, a special hypoallergenic food is fed for a period of 8-12 weeks. The dog is monitored during this time to see if its symptoms improve.

Blood tests and skin tests are used to rule out Atopy or seasonal or inhalant allergies. These are performed just as they are in humans and can provide specifically what your dog is allergic to.

One or two blood tests may be given to determine if a certain endocrine organ is functioning properly. Usually, other symptoms present themselves besides ear infections to indicate there may be an endocrine problem.

Ear Infection Treatment

Addressing the underlying reason is an important part of treating ear infections. For dogs with food allergies, it is important to avoid those foods that they are allergic to. Dogs with atopy will probably be on a combination of medications to control their symptoms for the rest of their lives. This usually consists of a combination of corticosteroids, antihistamines, omega-3 fatty acid supplements and cyclosporine.

In addition, topical treatments, antibiotics, antifungals, shampoos and rinses may also be required. However, each dogs case is different and will depend on the severity of their allergy.

Most ear infections are treated with a combination of topical medication that you put in your dogs ear and oral medication. While treating an ear infection, it is important to clean a dogs ears once or twice weekly to prevent build-up of medication and debris in the ear. The ear must be dried well after cleaning. Ear infections are usually treated for at least two weeks but may need to be treated for longer. If an ear infection will not clear up, a culture should be done as well.

Preventing Ear Infections

Treat any underlying diseases that might be present.

Dry ears completely after bathing

Dry your dogs ears out every time it swims.

Do not put any water or cleanser in your dogs ears unless you have to and always dry the ears out well afterwards.

Always remember: Keeping dogs ears dry is the key element to prevention and treatment of ear infections.

An experience veterinarian with great passion for writing, Heather Fox loves to share her knowledge about Dog Illness Diagnosis with fellow pet lovers. You can find more of her lessons including Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis Symptoms on Clivir.com.

The simplest definition of a hot spot is a large area of the skin that has retained too much moisture, leading to infection. Commonly, dogs who swim a lot, have long, thick coats and those that reside in moist, humid environments tend to be more susceptible to these skin irritations. In addition, flea and bug bites can bring on the onset of hot spots as well. These spots occur when an area of the skin has retained too much moisture which then allows bacteria to grow. This bacteria changes the environment of the skin and creates inflammation and itchiness. As a result, a dog will seek relief by chewing, biting and licking the area. This action further irritates the area and allows the bacteria to spread making this a vicious cycle. Amazingly, a hot spot can appear in a matter of only twenty to thirty minutes. As stated earlier, flea and bug bites can be culprits of hot spots as well.

Hot Spots – The Symptoms

These spots are very easy to identify. They are large areas of the skin that are red, inflamed, hairless and sometimes oozing or scabbed over. Most commonly these spots are found on the rear legs and neck but can appear on other areas of the body as well. This are will be so irritating that a dog will not be able to stop licking, chewing, biting and scratching at it. This can make the area very painful to touch.

Diagnosing Hot Spots

Diagnosis of a hot spot is very easy and is usually made just with a visual inspection or physical examination.

If several hot spots are present, a visit to your veterinarian may be needed for testing. These include:

Skin Scraping – This test will rule out other possibilities such as mange.

Fungal Culture – This test is used to eliminate Ringworm as a cause.

Blood or skin tests to identify seasonal or inhalant allergies Dog

Blood and Skin Test – This can rule out an allergy to fleas.

Aggressive treatment for fleas even if none are seen

Food Testing – This is performed in order to rule out an allergic reaction to food.

Treatment of Hot Spots

The most important things to address when treating a hot spot are:

Stop the itching

Cure the Infection

Keep the dog from chewing or licking at the area

Keep the hot spot dry

The hair around the area must be clipped and the skin cleaned with an antibacterial soap and dried thoroughly. Sometimes the hot spot can be so severe that this procedure is painful and the dog must be sedated.

The next step is for the area to be treated with oral and topical antibiotics. The topical antibiotic will generally contain a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation while the oral antibiotic will contain a corticosteroid to reduce itching. The most important thing is to stop the itch, chew, infection cycle. By making your dog comfortable, the healing process can begin more quickly.

If your dog is unable to stop licking the area, an Elizabethan collar or lamp shade like collar may be needed. This is generally only needed for a short period of time as most dogs become comfortable within 24 hours. Within one week, the hot spot is usually healed.

Preventing Hot Spots

There are many things you can do to prevent hot spots. They include:

Using effective flea control both on your dog and in your environment

Trim the hair of long and thick haired breeds during the summer months

If you can, prevent your dog from swimming

If your dog does partake in a swim, be sure to dry them thoroughly

Heather Fox is an established writer and veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge about Dog Hot Spots Treatment with others. She has more lessons including Dog Pyometra Causes on Clivir.com.