Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Psyllium fiber diet helps improve constipation and stool in cats
By Freiche, Valerie et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·Clinique Vé, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Uncontrolled study assessing the impact of a psyllium-enriched extruded dry diet on faecal consistency in cats with constipation.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 66 cats with constipation were switched to a special dry diet enriched with psyllium, a type of fiber. After two months, most cats showed improvement in their stool consistency, with 93% of cats in the first trial and 82% in the second trial benefiting from the new diet. The cats tolerated the diet well and found it tasty, which helped reduce the need for additional medications like cisapride and lactulose. This suggests that a psyllium-enriched diet could be an effective way to manage constipation in cats.
People also search for: cat constipation treatment · psyllium for cats · best diet for constipated cats
Abstract
Two field trials, involving 66 cats (15 trial 1; 51 trial 2) were conducted to assess the efficacy of a psyllium-enriched diet for management of constipation in cats. After investigations and faecal evacuation (by enema if required), all cats were fed on a moderate fibre, psyllium-enriched, dry extruded diet. Additional therapy was either not used (trial 1), or initially allowed but was subsequently withdrawn if possible (trial 2). The diet was well tolerated, and palatability was excellent. Most cases improved after initial therapy (at 2 months; trial 1: 14/15 [93%]; trial 2: 42/51 [82%]), and faecal consistency improved significantly in both trials (P < 0.001). Use of cisapride and lactulose decreased significantly in trial 2 (P < 0.001 for both). The diets used in these pilot studies were efficient in the management of recurrent feline constipation. Randomised control trials are now recommended to examine whether a clinical benefit can be proven.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21944542/