Digestive enzyme (product) recommendation?

[Jenk]

I've given Bromelain powder (mixed with Critical Care or just water) to two of my rabbits during their shedding period; it's worked well at keeping them from having stasis-related issues due to the ingestion of fur.

My third bun has megacolon and, thus, has a very sensitive digestive tract. It seems that her may get irritated from the Bromelain (a 1/8 tsp. dose). Is there another digestive-enzyme product that contains other enzymes--or at least less Bromelain than the pure product itself?


Thank you,

Jenk

 

[plasticbunny]

I've heard that diluted papaya or pineapple juice works well.

 

[Jenk]

plasticbunny wrote:

I've heard that diluted papaya or pineapple juice works well.

Hi, plasticbunny.

Bromelain powder is made from the enzyme in pineapple, and it seems to be too strong for my girl.

I know that some enzyme products contain Protease, Lipase, Cellulase, and/or Hemicellulase. I used to get Plant Enzymes & Probiotics from Animal Essentials; they've since added calcium to the product, and I don't want to overload a bun with calcium.

 

[plasticbunny]

Bummer

What about the papaya?

 

[Jenk]

plasticbunny wrote:

Bummer

What about the papaya?

I have my suspicion that it wouldn't be that much different from the Bromelain, since both come from fruit. (Megacolon buns tend to not handle fruit well, much less many/most greens.)

I don't know if I can get just papain in a powder form, but I don't dare feed her fresh or dried papaya.

 

[naturestee]

My megacolon girls responded well to canned pumpkin, which I regularly feed to my buns when they are shedding or have a tummy problem. I have never used bromelain or papaya tabs because I doubt their usefulness. To each their own. Fresh or dried papaya or pineapple would have less bromelain than the tabs you've been using, although I don't know how your buns would respond to eating fruit.

 

[Jenk]

naturestee wrote:

My megacolon girls responded well to canned pumpkin, which I regularly feed to my buns when they are shedding or have a tummy problem. I have never used bromelain or papaya tabs because I doubt their usefulness. To each their own. Fresh or dried papaya or pineapple would have less bromelain than the tabs you've been using, although I don't know how your buns would respond to eating fruit.

I'm not using tablets. I'm using Bromelain powder, which contains a trace amount of Maltodextrin (the only two ingredients). I mix 1/8 tsp. with water and syringe it. Sometimes, I add it to Critical Care-flavored water to offer a different taste.

Bromelain got my male bun through his summer shed. Before using it, he always wound up at the vet's twice yearly due to his heavier seasonal sheds.

My other girl, who doesn't have megacolon, has stasis issues whenever she sheds. But so far since using Bromelain, her fecal size returns to normal after just one or two doses. It's been a god-send for these two buns--and for me. :biggrin:

It's just my megacolon girl who has the major sensitivity to everything, including Critical Care. She basically tolerates hay fine; everything else is problematic. Ugh.