Crude Fiber

Crude fiber measures the indigestible plant material in a dog food, mostly cellulose and lignin. Most adult maintenance recipes run 3 to 5 percent crude fiber. Weight management formulas run higher, 7 to 12 percent, because fiber promotes satiety on lower-calorie diets. Sensitive stomach formulas often include moderately fermentable fiber sources like beet pulp and chicory root that support gut bacteria. Note that crude fiber underestimates total dietary fiber because it does not capture soluble fiber, so the actual fiber contribution can be higher than the label suggests.