Psyllium for wool block?

[MamaSheepdog]

Psyllium is used to move sand out of horse's guts to prevent colic, and I wonder if it would be helpful in moving wool out of a rabbit's system as well? It might be safest to use as a preventative rather than a cure.

Thoughts? opcorn:

 

[Sagebrush]

You know I have no idea. I do think that it might help but have to be a very small amount if given regularly, say every few days to a week.

 

[Bad Habit]

I've had no trouble with wool block, save one buck that I lost early on, which I did not cut open and I assume was wool block.

I simply make sure they have lots of hay, and the occasional pineapple/papaya/banana treat, and give papaya enzyme tabs when they're molting(or nesting).

I have no idea what psyllium is, nor if it would be good for rabbits. Just thought I'd toss my wool block preventative out there

 

[Miss M]

At least in humans, psyllium can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. It can cause gas and bloating. These effects can often be minimized in humans by starting off with a very small dose, increasing it gradually. I have no idea what its effects would be in rabbits.

I found this at HRS, which I normally avoid, but they do have good info on certain things:

Your vet will probably recommend some find of pellet “slurry” for your rabbit, or may prescribe Oxbow’s Critical Care. One standard recipe is 1/2 cup of pellets, blended with one cup of water, one tablespoon of psyllium husks, and one tablespoon of acidolopholus or Prozyme. You can throw it all in a blender or food processor; keep blending until it appears shiny. (Never give your rabbit straight psyllium, as it can suck the liquid out of the rabbit’s gut and cause serious problems.).

http://rabbit.org/faq-medicating-your-rabbit/

And this from Pet Place:

Precautions and Side Effects

Psyllium is generally safe and its use is associated with few side effects.

It can sometimes cause esophageal and intestinal obstruction in animals not permitted free access to water. Therefore, water should always be available to any animal treated with psyllium.

Increased flatulence is another more minor potential complication of psyllium treatment.

Psyllium should not be used in patients with intestinal obstruction. Also, it should not be used in rabbits.

http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/ps ... page1.aspx

Underlining is mine.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Good info, Miss M. Thank you.

The part about the psyllium sucking the moisture out of the gut made me laugh, as (with horses at least) you always mix it with water before feeding it. I don't give it straight either- it is always mixed with beet pulp and wheat bran, with oil thrown into the mix as well.

I wonder why it is added to the HRS food slurry? They don't give any indication what they are trying to accomplish by adding it. :? A TBSP also seems like a very high dose, since horses get less than a 1/2 cup.

I might just give it a try anyway, mixing it up with oats, pellets, bird seed, and maybe some banana for sweetness.

I simply make sure they have lots of hay, and the occasional pineapple/papaya/banana treat, and give papaya enzyme tabs when they're molting(or nesting).

I have been giving dried papaya and tablets to the ones that have danglers on the cage, and know all the standard wool block cures/preventatives- but felt yet another treatment to add to our arsenal would be helpful, providing it works without causing a host of other problems.

 

[Zass]

I'm not trying to contradict anything, but a stray thought did occur to me.
Anything very high in fiber can cause gas and discomfort in humans. Starting slowly and building up are a standard recommendation for increasing fiber in our diets.
Imagine what our guts would feel like if we filled them with hay?

I think psyllium was probably added for it's soluble fiber content. Dood posted a study recently that suggested that soluble fiber was easier on the systems of weanlings. Perhaps it can help with wool block too?

I'm personally more comfortable with feeding and recommending mashed pumpkin for soluble fiber, since it's readily available, inexpensive, and very safe. (Coincidentally, oats are also a good source of it, and we've seen the effects of feeding oats to weanlings and rabbits with GI problems. It's wonderful stuff for them.)

 

[Miss M]

I wonder why it is added to the HRS food slurry? They don't give any indication what they are trying to accomplish by adding it. :?

Well, the whole section was about treating a rabbit that stopped eating. Psyllium helps gut motility, so I would figure maybe it would help prevent stasis?

A TBSP also seems like a very high dose, since horses get less than a 1/2 cup.

I agree, that seemed really high to me, too.

Imagine what out guts would feel like if we filled them with hay?

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

Well since not many people seem to know this... psyllium is the main ingredient for all fiber pills etc.

Psyllium that they use theres high amounts in plaintain (ya, the weed one!) In the seed stalk, seedy bumps and all.

Just thought i'd toss that out... lol i have nothing more to add here...

 

[Bad Habit]

I simply make sure they have lots of hay, and the occasional pineapple/papaya/banana treat, and give papaya enzyme tabs when they're molting(or nesting).

I have been giving dried papaya and tablets to the ones that have danglers on the cage, and know all the standard wool block cures/preventatives- but felt yet another treatment to add to our arsenal would be helpful, providing it works without causing a host of other problems.

My mistake, I didn't realize that I shouldn't share information.

 

[squidpop]

I think it sounds like the psyllium since its fiber would be good for a rabbit that has wool block but hasn't stopped eating. If they've actually stopped eating I think the best thing to do it syringe lots of fluids to hydrate the gut, so it can function to break up the blockage. I would be afraid to force any solids if there might be a bad blockage because it might just make the block worse.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I simply make sure they have lots of hay, and the occasional pineapple/papaya/banana treat, and give papaya enzyme tabs when they're molting(or nesting).

I have been giving dried papaya and tablets to the ones that have danglers on the cage, and know all the standard wool block cures/preventatives- but felt yet another treatment to add to our arsenal would be helpful, providing it works without causing a host of other problems.

My mistake, I didn't realize that I shouldn't share information.

No, no- don't take it that way!

I think you misinterpreted my . It was meant as

providing it works without causing a host of other problems.

(translation: hopefully it wont kill the test subjects!), not "don't tell me the tried and true cures for wool block".

When responding to posts I often include info that I know the OP is aware of already, just to benefit other readers that may not be aware of those things... so I appreciate you mentioning it for me!

I've had a respiratory infection for about a week, so am not very clear headed right now. Sorry for the offense, Bad Habit.

 

[Miss M]

Well since not many people seem to know this... psyllium is the main ingredient for all fiber pills etc.

Psyllium that they use theres high amounts in plaintain (ya, the weed one!) In the seed stalk, seedy bumps and all.

Just thought i'd toss that out... lol i have nothing more to add here...

Plantago psyllium and Plantago ovata are the main sources of psyllium, but P. major also has it... in, like you said, the seed stalk and seeds. You can harvest it for your own use. For rabbits, it's usually the leaves that are used, though the "above ground parts" are listed as safe in the safe plants thread.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I use flax seed as a wool block preventative .. becareful with that bird seed MSD.. very high in fats and protein.. to much with make your rabbits blow their coat... I do use it.. but very little and they love it.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

I don't know. Maybe the psyllium would be cheaper but the approach I've been using seems to work for me. My concern with psyllium is if it would cause gas in the rabbit.

When I see dangling turds, I'm happy. It tells me that they're getting it cleaned out. I make sure my breeding stock always have plenty of hay. For treats, I give them dehydrated pineapple pieces. I've read that it's supposed to help and they gobble them up so I figure once in a while can't hurt. Tried pineapple chunks out of the can and they wouldn't touch them - only liked the dried-out pieces.

When I get an individual rabbit that is molting, I give them papaya extract pills. I get them at Walmart in the vitamin/supplement aisle. Usually, I give the bucks 6 to 8 pills a day and the does 4 to 6 pills. Usually for only four or five days. (I also try to comb out the extra hair when they're molting so they're not ingesting it all - and it isn't all over their pen - and isn't floating all over the place - and it isn't all over me - and up my nose.) Anyway, the rabbits seem fine and the results can be seen under the pens.