You may have heard of psyllium, but if not, it’s an incredibly effective supplement that can easily be added to your daily diet. While taking psyllium is beneficial to the human heart, pancreas, and digestive system, it also contributes to a healthier lifestyle for your dog, too.
If you’ve found yourself interested in learning more about the benefits of psyllium husk for dogs, you’ve come to the right place.
What is psyllium husk?
Before doing a deep dive into all of the benefits of psyllium for dogs, it’s important to first understand what it is. Simply put, psyllium is a form of soluble fiber made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds. These shrub-like plants grow worldwide, but most commonly you can find them flourishing and thriving in India.
According to Mount Sinai, each one of these plants can produce up to 15,000 tiny, gel-coated psyllium seeds where the psyllium husk is derived. The interesting thing about these is that the source of their benefits can be found not only on the inside of the seed but on the outside, as well. The seed coating is a rich substance called hemicellulose mucilage, which absorbs water as it swells in the intestine.
How will psyllium husk help my dog?
As a dietary fiber, Psyllium can benefit your dog in a number of ways! If you need a better way to understand it, you can even think of it as Metamucil for pets.
Commonly known as a natural laxative, when given to dogs it can help with treating diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and other common culprits of digestive upset.
It promotes strong digestion and because the soluble fiber supplement works by absorbing water in the intestines, it helps to regulate bowel movements, ensuring your pup is making the most of its time spent outdoors. It also improves stool size, and in doing so it can help to naturally empty your dog’s anal glands to avoid any inflammation
Psyllium also has the ability to lower blood sugar levels which in turn can help to reduce the risk of your dog developing diabetes later in life.
BMC Veterinary Research also conducted a study where they provided dogs with daily doses of psyllium supplements. At the end of the study, they had very positive results! They found that the dogs involved had relief from their chronic diarrhea, decreased defecation frequency, and improved stool consistency. After two months, each animal also exhibited signs of weight gain. That means that psyllium can help those pets who need a little help putting on a few extra pounds.
Does Bold by Nature offer psyllium husk?
Yes! We recently launched Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics, one of our brand new pet food supplements.
The slippery elm found in this supplement supports a healthy digestive system while the psyllium is a prebiotic fiber that aids in healthy intestinal bacteria which promotes favourable gut flora. It can easily be added into your dog’s pet food by mixing the powder with equal parts warm water.
How much psyllium should I give my dog?
The dose and precise particular amount of psyllium that you add to your dog’s diet will all depend on its size, weight, and severity of the condition it is experiencing.
Our new Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics comes with a scooper so you can dish out the perfect dose with each meal. Need help figuring out how much to add to your dog’s diet? No problem! Feel free to use the following safe dosage guide to find the ideal amount for your pet.
Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics dosage guide for dogs
- 10 pounds or less = 1/2 scoop
- 20 to 40 pounds = 1 scoop
- 40 to 60 = 2 scoops
- 60 to 80 pounds = 3 scoops
- 80 pounds or more = 4 scoops or more
Remember, it’s always important to speak to your holistic veterinarian before dishing out any pet supplements. Most dogs will be okay with having these introduced into their diets, but it doesn’t hurt to get a professional opinion first!
How do I add psyllium to my dog’s food?
Believe it or not, adding psyllium to your dog’s dish is easy! Just open your container of Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics, choose your desired dosage, and mix it with equal parts warm water. From there, you can add it to your dog’s food so they can enjoy it instantly.
Always make sure to talk to your holistic veterinarian before giving your dog any sort of supplement. Although you do not need a veterinarian’s prescription to get psyllium husk, it is still important to ensure it is okay to add to your dog’s food.
Don’t forget the water!
When it’s that time of day to give your dog psyllium, it is also very important to provide them with an optimal amount of water to go with their meal.
Ready for a quick science lesson? When psyllium and water connect, the psyllium swells up and begins to move waste and toxins through the intestines. Through this process, your dog needs to keep their h20 levels up, so it’s important for you as a pet owner to make sure they drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.
If your dog has free access to water it’s still possible for them to experience loose stool, even if psyllium has been introduced to their diet. If they don’t have enough access to water, it can begin causing side effects like constipation.
The raw connection between diet and hydration.
Did you know that dogs who are on a dry kibble diet often don’t drink water with their meals and in addition, are lacking a strong thirst drive? Since dogs that take psyllium need to keep their water levels up, this is where it could be worthwhile switching to a raw diet.
Our Bold by Nature raw recipes all contain high moisture content which promotes a higher water intake in every bite. This means you’ll have one happy, healthy, and hydrated pup on your hands.
Are there any precautions I should take before giving psyllium?
Yes, there are some precautions to take. As we’ve previously stated, it’s important to first speak with your holistic veterinarian before including psyllium into your dog’s regular meals. Psyllium has the potential to interact with a number of drugs and may be inadvisable for pets with certain health problems like kidney disease.
Please note that our slippery elm supplements should not be given to dogs while other medications are being administered. This can result in the supplements potentially negating the effects and absorption of medications like digoxin, salicylates, and nitrofurantoin. Petcoach advises waiting at least 3 hours after taking these medications before giving psyllium.
Where do I get Bold by Nature+ supplements?
You’ve got a couple of options! You can purchase Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics and other supplements at one of your local pet retailers or right online.
Not sure which shops have them? No problem. You can use our location finder to explore retailers near you that carry Bold by Nature products for purchase.
How do I store psyllium supplements?
Storing psyllium fiber supplements is easy! Like a lot of supplements, just ensure you keep psyllium at room temperature and away from moisture.
Does psyllium have any side effects in dogs?
Fortunately, it’s very uncommon for dogs to experience any side effects of psyllium. Since it’s a natural supplement emanating from the seeds of the Plantago family of plants, it is generally quite safe for you, dogs, and other animals to take each and every day.
Gas production.
That said, mixing this into your dog’s diet can result in increased gas production and flatulence. But hey, look on the bright side: now you can finally blame that random smell on the dog!
Don’t cut off the water.
It’s also very important to monitor your dog’s water intake. If their access to water is limited, your dog may also experience esophageal or intestinal obstruction. This is easily avoidable by always making sure they have free access to water and consistently keeping that bowl topped up!
How can fiber help my dog’s anal glands?
Fiber helps to promote normal stool size, formation, and regularity. This will also help to create good stool formation and in turn, is key to anal gland expression. Lastly, fiber also enables regular bowel movements which will promote daily anal gland expression.
What causes a dog’s glands to fill?
There are a few factors that can lead to a dog’s anal glands filling. The most common reason for anal glands to fill is when there hasn’t been enough pressure to naturally empty the glands when your dog relieves itself, especially after a few days of diarrhea. Essentially, the pressure from the stool combined with the contracting of the muscles forcefully causes the anal glands to empty. Normally this leaves a small amount of scent marking fluid that other dogs can identify one another by.
With that in mind, if they haven’t emptied properly, there’s a chance that their anal glands can become blocked, swollen, or impacted. Another cause of anal glands filling could be an improper diet. This can also lead to poor stool formation.
What can I give my dog to firm up their stools?
The increased consumption of raw meaty bones like chicken or turkey necks can help to firm up your dog’s waste. This is due to the increased bone content they will be getting in their diet.
How can adjusting a diet help dogs with diarrhea?
In most cases, the cause of diarrhea in dogs is directly related to their diet and what they’ve been eating. This could mean that maybe their food isn’t agreeing with them or they’ve been indulging in too many treats.
You can also add or remove certain food items to reduce the severity of your dog’s digestion issues.
For starters, you can consider transitioning your pet to a Bold by Nature raw recipe. Our Select Dog and Mega Dog lines boast a world of benefits for your pup when it comes to issues with their digestive system. Each raw recipe includes a variety of ingredients that keep your pets thriving and healthy, including ground bone. The ground bone helps your dog’s digestive system to ensure healthier stools.
To learn more about switching your dog to a raw diet, please check out from bland to bold: transitioning your pet to raw.
Another great addition you can make to your dog’s diet is pumpkin! You may not think of it, but pumpkin is jam-packed with vitamins, nutrients and health benefits for your pet. We carry Bold by Nature+ Pumpkin with Inulin Prebiotic, a powder supplement that you can add to your dog’s meals. The soluble fiber content in pumpkin powder adds bulk to your dog’s stool by absorbing water. To learn more about the many benefits of pumpkin and how it can help your dog, please take a look at is pumpkin powder good for dogs?
For dogs with certain sensitivities or allergies, a diet can be tailored to add or remove certain ingredients that may be causing a reaction.
What are the best fiber supplements for dogs?
When selecting a fiber supplement for your dogs, always make sure to read the label. The best fiber supplements you can provide your dog with are those with high quality ingredients and that are free of fillers and artificial flavours, colours, and preservatives. All natural is the way to go, so think of it as the fewer ingredients the better when it comes to supplements.
We recommend that dog owners get their furry friends Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics or Pumpkin with Inulin Prebiotic. Both are easy to use and make a great addition to your pet’s food.
On top of supplements, you can also introduce broccoli and steamed leafy greens into your dog’s diet. These are both excellent sources of dietary fiber that will promote better digestion in your dogs.
Can I also give psyllium husk to my cats?
Yes! All in all, the effects psyllium husk has on dogs will be the same for your cats and other pets like horses. With that said, psyllium serves as a great option for cats experiencing irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, or other digestion issues.
Remember, it is still important to get the go-ahead from your holistic veterinarian before giving your cat Bold by Nature+ Slippery Elm with Prebiotics though.
