- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Bran is a high fiber grain that’s so good for a dog’s digestive system it is already found in most commercial pet foods. Bran can also be used to make treats, as a meal topper or as part of a nutritionally-balanced home-cooked meal.
Can My Dog Eat Bran?
Yes. Bran, the nutritious skin that protects a grain seed, has significant quantities of protein, iron, fatty acids and B-vitamins. It is also rich in fiber, which helps with colon health, weight management, constipation, diarrhea, and diabetes mellitus.
Bran, in fact, has a whole lot more good stuff in it than milled grains like wheat flour, which explains why it’s commonly used in commercial dog foods. But because it is so common in dog food, adding additional bran to your pup’s diet may result in too much of a good thing. A dog that has too much fiber in their diet can experience flatulence, bloating or diarrhea.
What Is Bran?
Bran isn’t actually a single food. It’s a description of the hard, outer layers of any cereal grain, including wheat, oats, barley, rice, corn, rye and millet.
Bran is removed during the process of milling and refining cereals in part because it contains fatty acids that spoil more quickly than the seeds, themselves. But bran is more than just its fatty acids. The outer skins of cereal grains are rich in fiber and provide a variety of other vitamins and minerals.
Dogs can eat bran from any cereal grain and different varieties of it are found in most commercial dog foods.
How Can Eating Bran Benefit My Dog?
Bran is an excellent source of fiber, which makes it a powerful tool for keeping a dog’s digestive system running smoothly. Unlike fiber-rich foods like oats, peas and beans, bran contains insoluble fiber which does not dissolve in water. Insoluble fiber keeps food moving through the digestive system and increases the bulk of a dog’s stool.
Bran can be fed to your dog daily (and probably already is, if you’re feeding a commercial diet) or when problems like constipation or irregular poop arise. When fed regularly, bran can help to regulate bowel movements, to control blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and to maintain a healthy weight. There is also some evidence that eating bran regularly may help reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Are There Any Risks To My Dog In Eating Bran?
Consuming too much bran won’t do any long term damage to your dog but it can make them (and you, if you’re downwind of a gassy pup) pretty miserable. Because the insoluble fiber in bran promotes the production of bigger bowel movements, it also promotes fermentation and gas formation in the gut. That excess gas has to come out somehow, most likely along with a powerful stench.
An excess of fiber can also make the body go overboard in its stool production. Instead of forming healthy, bulky poop, too much bran can result in diarrhea along with dehydration, stomach cramps and bloating. Nutrient deficiencies can also occur as a result of eating too much fiber because it binds with minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron, preventing the body from absorbing them normally.
Before adding bran to your dog’s diet regularly, it’s best to discuss with your vet how much they need daily based on their digestive history, size and age.
Are There High Fiber Alternatives To Bran My Dog Can Eat?
If your dog isn’t a fan of bran or has an allergy to it, there are a number of other high-fiber foods that you can offer them as snacks or mix into their food. Both soluble and insoluble fiber are good for your dog but the insoluble type tends to speed up digestion and help waste pass more quickly through the intestines.
If your dog’s kibble already contains significant amounts of bran, feed these foods in moderation so as not to cause stomach upset, gas and boating. When in doubt, check with your vet!
Dog-friendly insoluble high fiber alternatives to bran include:
- Green peas
- Chickpeas and other legumes
- Apples
- Spinach
- Cauliflower
Other high fiber foods include:
How Should I Feed My Dog Bran?
It’s best to serve bran only if you notice a need for it—if your dog is older and having digestive issues, if they are having a bout of diarrhea, or if they are not having regular bowel movements. And even then, it’s best to check with your vet first.
If your dog could use some extra fiber in his diet, bran can be sprinkled on their meal as a topper or included as an ingredient in homemade dog cookies. If you cook your dog’s meals from scratch, bran can be a nutritious addition. Consult your vet or a veterinary nutritionist about how much bran to incorporate for maximum health.
For More Information
We offer a collection of articles on foods that are healthy or dangerous for dogs to eat, covering everything from grains, fruits, and vegetables. You might also be interested in reading “Can My Dog Eat Bran Flakes?“