Apple Pectin for Feline Diabetes

Like all fruit pectin, apple pectin is a form of soluble fiber. For this reason, holistic veterinary practitioners regard apple pectin as a beneficial substance to give to cats to treat a variety of disorders, ranging from cancer to gastrointestinal difficulties. It is commonly used to help absorb and eliminate toxins from the intestines. Since dietary fiber also plays a role in glucose metabolism, apple pectin is sometimes recommended to treat feline diabetes.

  1. Description

    • Apple pectin starts out in unripe fruit as an agent called protopectin, which is later converted to pectin as the fruit matures. Oddly, apple pectin occurs in fruits other than apples, most notably peaches, plums and currants. Apples, however, are the richest source of apple pectin. Jonagold apples, a cross between Golden Delicious and Jonathan varieties, have the highest pectin content of all apples.

    Primary Mechanism

    • Although apple pectin is a form of dietary soluble fiber, it is indigestible. In effect, it acts like a broom in the intestinal tract to sweep away debris. This is because pectin becomes gelatinous when introduced to water, which explains why it's used to thicken fruit jams and jellies.

    Glucose Regulation

    • According to Susan Wynn, DVM of the Veterinary Institute of Integrative Medicine, commercial dry cat foods, which are typically high in digestible carbohydrates, may contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes in some cats. However, glucose metabolism may improve with the addition of a source of soluble dietary fiber such as apple pectin.

    Available Forms

    • There are a variety of supplemental forms of apple pectin. In addition to capsules and tablets, it may be purchased as a powder or juice. Apple cider vinegar also contains pectin, although this doesn't represent a suitable form of supplementation for a cat. Some veterinarians recommend the anti-diarrhea formula called Kaolin-Pectin, also known as Kaopectate.

    Administration and Dosage

    • Powdered apple pectin or juice is easily mixed with the cat's regular food. Tablets are sometimes successfully consumed when hidden or crushed in a sample of canned cat food. However, many cat owners find the manual administration of apple pectin capsules too troublesome. Dosage varies according to the cat's age, weight and other factors. Check with your veterinarian for the dosage amount and frequency appropriate for your pet. It's also important to give the same dosage at the same time each day.

    Considerations

    • The use of apple pectin to treat feline diabetes may not be suitable for all cats. For instance, pectin is known to inhibit the absorption of some prescription veterinary medications, including the antibiotic lincomycin and the cardiac medication digoxin. Over-dosing may cause constipation.