`Choosing the best food for our furred companions is no easy task, and with more options and specialized diets available than ever, pet parents are often left in the dark about what goes into their pet’s food. Powdered cellulose is a powder made from the pulp of fibrous plants. It adds bulk to your dog’s food and increases satiation, making them feel fuller for longer. And, yes, it’s safe for your dog to eat.

Is Powdered Cellulose Good for Dogs? Whether powdered cellulose is suitable for dogs or not has been a hot debate in the companion animal science community. While powdered cellulose is undoubtedly non-toxic, that’s not the same as being healthy. Proponents for using powdered cellulose in dog food cite the ease of use, necessary fiber content, and cost efficiency as reasons why the ingredient should stay on labels. But, detractors point out that none of those things a healthy diet component makes. To some extent, the detractors are correct. Powdered cellulose is essentially a fiber supplement that is okay in and of itself, but empty calories are a primary ingredient in the food. In small amounts, this could be a healthy addition to your dog’s usual diet. But it’s not food. It’s a vitamin supplement. So while powdered cellulose is undoubtedly safe for dogs, you should be considering it more like a daily multivitamin than a staple of your dog’s diet. Even more, powdered cellulose is the lowest quality form of insoluble fiber. So, even when it comes to what it does best, powdered cellulose doesn’t do it very well.   Should Dogs Even Be Eating Plant Materials? Image Credit: Kristesoro, Shutterstock While many people picture dogs, and their cousins, the wolves, as perfect depictions of carnivores, they seem to tend more towards an omnivorous diet. Wolves eat nuts and berries and even gorge on grains found in their prey’s stomachs. Dogs may be a bit more omnivorously inclined than their wild cousins, but even wolves will subsist off primarily foraged plants if hunting is exceptionally scarce. So it’s safe to say that you don’t have to fear a nutritional boogeyman as long as the powdered cellulose is way down the list of ingredients. However, it’s worth considering whether you’d prefer that fiber to come from the supplement or from the food ingredients that the dog food is composed of. What Alternatives Are There to Powdered Cellulose? If you’re interested in getting your dog a bit higher quality nutrition by improving the ingredient quality of their food, consider getting dog food and treats with fibrous fruits and vegetables like apples or carrots.

Final Thoughts Doing research into the food we feed our dogs is a good thing, and more people should do more research into the products they buy! Powdered cellulose is one of those “won’t kill you, but probably better to skip” ingredients. But, don’t worry because it isn’t toxic for your dog! If you’d rather cut this supplement from your dog’s diet, we’d understand, though.

See also: What Is Crude Fiber in Dog Food?

Sources

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/pet-food-ingredient-and-label-guide https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-ingredients/0084/cellulose

 

Featured Image Credit: Yuliya Padina, Shutterstock

`Choosing the best food for our furred companions is no easy task, and with more options and specialized diets available than ever, pet parents are often left in the dark about what goes into their pet’s food.

Powdered cellulose is a powder made from the pulp of fibrous plants. It adds bulk to your dog’s food and increases satiation, making them feel fuller for longer. And, yes, it’s safe for your dog to eat.

Is Powdered Cellulose Good for Dogs?

Whether powdered cellulose is suitable for dogs or not has been a hot debate in the companion animal science community. While powdered cellulose is undoubtedly non-toxic, that’s not the same as being healthy.

Proponents for using powdered cellulose in dog food cite the ease of use, necessary fiber content, and cost efficiency as reasons why the ingredient should stay on labels. But, detractors point out that none of those things a healthy diet component makes.

To some extent, the detractors are correct. Powdered cellulose is essentially a fiber supplement that is okay in and of itself, but empty calories are a primary ingredient in the food. In small amounts, this could be a healthy addition to your dog’s usual diet. But it’s not food. It’s a vitamin supplement.

So while powdered cellulose is undoubtedly safe for dogs, you should be considering it more like a daily multivitamin than a staple of your dog’s diet. Even more, powdered cellulose is the lowest quality form of insoluble fiber. So, even when it comes to what it does best, powdered cellulose doesn’t do it very well.

 

Should Dogs Even Be Eating Plant Materials?

While many people picture dogs, and their cousins, the wolves, as perfect depictions of carnivores, they seem to tend more towards an omnivorous diet. Wolves eat nuts and berries and even gorge on grains found in their prey’s stomachs.

Dogs may be a bit more omnivorously inclined than their wild cousins, but even wolves will subsist off primarily foraged plants if hunting is exceptionally scarce.

So it’s safe to say that you don’t have to fear a nutritional boogeyman as long as the powdered cellulose is way down the list of ingredients. However, it’s worth considering whether you’d prefer that fiber to come from the supplement or from the food ingredients that the dog food is composed of.

What Alternatives Are There to Powdered Cellulose?

If you’re interested in getting your dog a bit higher quality nutrition by improving the ingredient quality of their food, consider getting dog food and treats with fibrous fruits and vegetables like apples or carrots.

Final Thoughts

Doing research into the food we feed our dogs is a good thing, and more people should do more research into the products they buy! Powdered cellulose is one of those “won’t kill you, but probably better to skip” ingredients. But, don’t worry because it isn’t toxic for your dog! If you’d rather cut this supplement from your dog’s diet, we’d understand, though.

  • See also: What Is Crude Fiber in Dog Food?

Sources

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/pet-food-ingredient-and-label-guide https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-ingredients/0084/cellulose

 

Featured Image Credit: Yuliya Padina, Shutterstock

Sources

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/pet-food-ingredient-and-label-guide https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/dog-food-ingredients/0084/cellulose