Which is the better remedy between Metamucil and pumpkins?
It is not a competition between the two but it is important to know the benefits and risks of each.
This is because everything has a downside and upside to it.
Metamucil and pumpkins have some things in common; they all contain a high percentage of fiber. They both help the digestive tract of your dog when they diarrhea or even constipation but remember that too much of something is poisonous.
Metamucil and pumpkins have a couple of differences that will be discussed but the most basic one is the fact that pumpkins are natural sources of fiber while Metamucil is a more synthetic source of fiber and works equally as well for your dog.
Below is more on the differences and similarities of the two and the effects on your dog’s digestive systems.
What is Metamucil?
This is a supplement that is used to treat both dogs and people.
It is a supplement that is used for conditions such as constipation and diarrhea.
This is because it contains a lot of fiber that helps the digestive system when it comes to passing fecal matter from the body.
What is the main ingredient of Metamucil?
Metamucil contains a soluble dietary fiber that is not digestible in the digestive tract called Psyllium.
Psyllium in Metamucil, when ingested, forms some sort of mucus-like substance that helps the body absorb the excess water in the dog’s body.
Psyllium also helps to stimulate the dog’s bowel reflexes.
What are the benefits of Metamucil?
Metamucil has several benefits if used properly.
This means; if the dosages are maintained and the dog only takes the supplements according to the prescription.
If the supplements are misused and the prescription ignored, the supplements may cause some side effects in your dog such as bloating.
Below are some of the benefits of the Metamucil:
1. It helps relieve constipation in your dogs
How does the supplement do this?
Metamucil helps relieve constipation in your dog.
It does this by increasing the rate of water or fluid retention in the fecal matter.
This is mainly done by Psyllium.
Once this is done, the water flow is increased to the colon thus increasing the level of fluids in the colon.
This helps increase the stool weight and its water content thus making it easier to pass through the bowels.
The increase in water levels in the colon also helps other fecal matter passing through it to be easier to egest.
All of these seem easy to do but you have to remember to give your dog lots of water.
The reason for the water is because the Metamucil requires a lot of water for it to work.
This is because the Metamucil forms a gel-like substance that then remains in the digestive system waiting for water to do its job.
If your dog fails to take a lot of water, the substance may be stuck in your dog’s digestive track thus making constipation worse.
2. Metamucil also helps treat diarrhea in dogs
The Psyllium in the supplement is responsible for this. It helps in retaining water in your dog’s intestines.
This in turn makes the stool bulkier, heavier and makes it less watery.
All this happens concurrently as the Psyllium encourages bowel movements thus easy egestion of the fecal matter.
However, as your dog takes the Metamucil, it is important not to mix the supplement with other products with Psyllium that contain other types of laxatives.
This can make diarrhea extremely severe causing dehydration in your dog.
What are the downsides to taking the supplements?
All types of medicine have downsides accompanying the benefits of the medicine.
However for Metamucil, so long as you follow the correct prescription for your dog, they will be fine.
However, here are some of the downsides of the medicine:
1. In some rare cases, your dog may get diarrhea
There is not a common side effect of the medicine but it can happen.
The supplement is meant to absorb and retain water making stool bulkier and heavier.
This may however be affected if the Metamucil product is flavored or sweetened and thus may cause your dog to experience diarrhea.
To avoid the above, always make sure to get the bland version that does not contain any additives.
2. It may cause gas and bloat in some cases
This is normal and is not as extreme as it sounds. It goes away after a few days.
They are produced as a by-product of the digestion of fiber. If it does not go away, make sure to see the vet.
What about pumpkins?
They are vegetables that can be eaten by your dog but only in moderation.
They can be supplemented into your dog’s diet to add some nutritional value together with the rest of the food.
Pumpkins are a natural source of fiber and can be used to help with diarrhea and constipation in your dog.
How do pumpkins help with diarrhea and constipation?
Diarrhea
The pumpkins are a great source of soluble fiber which is said to be an effective remedy for bowel problems such as diarrhea in your dog.
The soluble fiber is meant to slow down the absorption and digestion of the food your dog has ingested while in the small intestines.
This is because diarrhea in dogs can be traced to food passing through the digestive tract really fast.
The soluble fibers reduce the rate at which food passes through the tract thus reducing diarrhea.
This however is not a guarantee for all dogs with diarrhea.
This is because many other reasons could be causing diarrhea that the pumpkins fibers cannot help with.
Constipation
The view on pumpkins being used for constipation is quite different from diarrhea.
It is said to be better than laxatives that may be used for the same thing.
This is because dietary fiber, in this case from the pumpkin, is deemed more effective and well-tolerated by your dog.
It is said that approximately one to four tablespoons would provide enough relief for your dog’s constipation.
However, this still has a downside.
If this is normal constipation caused by issues such as diet and lack of water, pumpkins work but in case of something more serious, you may require a prescription for your dog’s constipation.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, both are effective ways of dealing with constipation and diarrhea.
However, when it comes to the use of Metamucil on dogs, it is only advisable if the vet has given your dog a prescription or when your dog is completely healthy with little to no underlying conditions.