Director, Division of Nutritional Sciences University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Urbana, Illinois, United States
Dietary fiber is not an essential nutrient per se, but the concentrations and types of fibers present in the diet are important for the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats. Because dietary fibers are complex structures, they are difficult to define, difficult to analyze in the laboratory, and are the source of confusion for many pet nutritionists and veterinarians. Given the upcoming changes to pet food labels and analytical and reporting requirements for pet food manufacturers, interest in dietary fiber will continue to increase. This presentation will define what dietary fiber is, describe how it may be measured in the laboratory, and discuss its primary roles in commercial pet foods.
Learning Objectives:
Define ‘dietary fiber’ and list the primary ingredients providing fiber in commercial pet foods.
Describe the primary fiber assays available and their implications on pet food analysis.
Describe the primary roles of dietary fiber in over-the-counter pet foods.
