Psyllium Seed Powder for Cats
Cats are carnivores. Therefore, overall a cat does not require dietary plant fiber to maintain a healthy diet. However, there are instances in which plant fiber, including that found in psyllium seed powder for cats, does serve a limited although beneficial purpose. This particularly is the case when a feline is restricted to living inside or when a cat is provided a homemade diet.
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Feline Diet
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In their natural setting, felines of all types typically do not ingest dietary plant fiber. However, from time to time a feral cat or other type of undomesticated feline will consume small amounts of grass and other similar types of vegetation. Research as summarized in a variety of texts suggest this in response to digestion-related issues in a specific animal. There is evidence to suggest that psyllium seed powder is an effective substitution for grasses and similar vegetation that a feline consumes in a natural setting.
Proper Use of Psyllium Seed Powder
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When a cat is in prime health, there is no need to introduce plant fiber into that animal's diet. Domestic cats (as opposed to feral felines) do not necessarily enjoy an optimal opportunity for prime health, however. Stress, improperly balanced diets and environmental factors can throw off a feline's digestive processes. In such instances, small amounts of psyllium seed powder added to moist food can assist in restoring proper functioning to a cat's digestive system.
Psyllium seed powder cannot be fed to a cat dry. The proper way to utilize psyllium seed powder in a cat's diet is to blend a small amount (1/8 teaspoonful) into a fist-size portion of moist feline food. Feeding dry psyllium seed powder to a cat can cause the pet to choke and result in blockage in the feline's digestive system.
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Feline Digestion
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When a cat is in prime health, there is no need to introduce plant fiber into that animal's diet. Domestic cats (as opposed to feral felines) do not necessarily enjoy an optimal opportunity for prime health, however. Stress, improperly balanced diets and environmental factors can throw of a feline's digestive processes. In such instances, small amounts of psyllium seed powder added to moist food can assist in restoring proper functioning to a cat's digestive system.
Feline Diabetes
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A common medical condition afflicting cats is feline diabetes. Psyllium seed powder can be helpful in the treatment of feline diabetes. The same dosage of 1/8 teaspoonful of the powder in a fist-size portion of moist food is the proper amount to utilize. If you find that you have problems adjusting your cat's insulin requirements, you may have to eliminate psyllium seed powder from the cat's diet at least on a temporary basis. In the long term, the proper use of this powder can eliminate the need for additional insulin.
Homemade Cat Diet
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If you elect to prepare a homemade feline diet for your cat, using psyllium seed powder can be a helpful addition to that dietary course. Psyllium allows the introduction of fiber into a cat's diet. Although not naturally necessary, this type of fiber can be helpful when a cat is fed a homemade diet because such regimens can cause some initial disruption in the feline's normal digestion.
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- Photo Credit Mike Broemmel/Broemmel Media
