Chicory Root

Chicory is grown largely for the inulin in its roots. Some roots are dried and ground whole for feed; extracting the inulin instead leaves chicory pulp, a separate feed ingredient.^6,8,9

1. 01 // Source Chicory roots Growers harvest the taproots used by the inulin industry and by makers of whole-root feed ingredients.
2. 02 // Process Dried and ground Processors remove water and mill the roots, keeping the inulin mixed with the rest of the root.
3. 03 // Output Dried root powder The ground root reaches the food plant as a dry ingredient, distinct from extracted inulin and spent pulp.

1. 01

   Feeds gut bacteria

   Dogs do not digest inulin before it reaches the colon. Bacteria ferment it, and a 9-dog trial found a small rise in fecal bifidobacteria on a 3% chicory diet against glucose.¹

2. 02

   Adds fermentable fiber

   Whole-root powder brings inulin alongside other root material. Its crude fiber result alone understates that role because inulin is soluble.^5,6

3. 03

   Skips inulin extraction

   Drying and grinding the roots avoids the tedious and expensive extraction that purified inulin requires. The root and the extracted product serve different purchasing needs.^8,9

4. 04

   Offers a prebiotic label

   Manufacturers can name a recognizable root on the ingredient list. That name identifies the source of fiber, but the list does not disclose the amount added.^6,7

How much A 9-dog crossover fed 3% chicory, supplying 1.5% inulin; separate trials tested purified inulin at 0.2 to 0.9% of the diet.^1,2,3

1. Brands say

   Chicory feeds beneficial gut bacteria

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 9-dog crossover, a diet with 3% chicory (1.5% inulin) produced slightly higher fecal bifidobacteria counts than glucose. Protein source and level mattered more, and a 5-dog trial of lower-dose purified inulin found no microbiota change.^1,3

2. Brands say

   Chicory makes dog poop smell better

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A 7-dog trial found less total fecal phenol with purified inulin. It did not test perceived odor or chicory root, so a promise that root on a bag reduces smell goes beyond the result.²

3. Brands say

   Chicory keeps stools firm and regular

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a 9-dog crossover, the chicory and glucose diets both gave firmer stool than a different high-protein diet, with no difference between chicory and glucose. A separate fructan trial found no change in stool scores.^1,4

4. Brands say

   Chicory helps dogs lose weight

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A trial of 9 overweight beagles fed inulin-type fructans while maintaining body weight. It measured blood and fecal outcomes, not weight loss, and tested a supplement rather than chicory root.⁴