Re: psyllium

[Susan Evans Garlinghouse <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

This is what is currently being taught at Cal Poly in the equine
management and nutrition classes about psyllium:

1)  Normal fiber from hay removes more sand than psyllium in anything
less than therapeutic doses.

2)  Bran doesn't do a thing.

3)  A "therapeutic dose" of psyllium is a really large amount, like a
pound or so once a day for several days.  A cup or so won't do a thing,
not surprising considering the capacity of the equine colon.

4)  Good management practices to avoid excessive sand ingestion in the
first place will do more to fix sand problems than will all the other
things combined.

Hope this helps some.

Susan G



David Freed wrote:
> 
> Hello folks.  A discussion came up at our barn yesterday about psyllium.
> I know it was popular a coule of years back to follow a protocal of
> giving pysllium for seven days straight out of every month.  Then,
> somehow I became aware (was it from ridecamp?) that pysllium really
> wasn' t observed to move the sand anyway.    Yesterday, a couple of
> ladies said their vets (different) both recommend psyllium to avoid sand
> collic.  (We live in an area with sandy soil.)  The protocal for one was
> now different:   give psyllium every weekend on both days.  I had heard
> that others think only sedentary horses tend to retain sand,  anyway,
> and t hat psyllium won't move any more sand than bran or hay fiber......
> If you have any experience with psyllium,  or knowledge of WHAT the
> protocal is now,  (am I playing with fire by not feeding it?)   please
> let me know.  Private posts would be great if others aren't interested.
> Thanks,  jan freed