HAU DOLCE
Easily digestible dog food
Highly digestible food: simple, easily absorbed protein, little insoluble fibre and moderate fat. For dogs recovering from diarrhoea, older dogs and dogs with a sensitive digestive system.
Easily digestible food is a label that is convenient for marketing and not legally regulated. In practice it comes down to a few specific features of the recipe.
What determines digestibility
- Simple protein - a single, easily absorbed source. Hence its close link with single-protein food.
- Moderate fat - fat slows stomach emptying, so with a sensitive stomach too much of it gets in the way.
- Little insoluble fibre - while gelling ingredients such as pumpkin or psyllium are welcome.
- No irritating additives - no hot spices, excess salt or unnecessary fillers.
For which dog
After a bout of diarrhoea, during recovery, for older dogs, stressed dogs and wherever every change of food ends in loose stools.
How to judge it on the label
Look at the first three items in the composition and at the fat content converted to dry matter - otherwise you are comparing wet and dry food like apples and pears. In wet food, a crude 7% fat works out at much more once converted.
Frequently asked questions
What does easily digestible food mean?
That it has simple, easily absorbed protein, moderate fat and little insoluble fibre. The term is not legally defined, so what counts is the composition, not the words on the tin.
When should I give my dog easily digestible food?
During recovery after diarrhoea, for older dogs, for animals that cope badly with changes of food, and on a vet's recommendation.
Is wet food easily digestible?
Not by definition. What matters is the composition and the fat content on a dry matter basis, not the form of the food.
