Kaolin/Pectin

 Risk Factor: C
 Class: GASTROINTESTINAL AGENTS / Antidiarrheals

Contents of this page:

Fetal Risk Summary
Breast Feeding Summary
References
Questions and Answers

Fetal Risk Summary

Kaolin is a hydrated aluminum silicate clay used for its adsorbent properties in diarrhea, and pectin is a polysaccharide obtained from plant tissues that is used as a solidifying agent. Neither agent is absorbed into the systemic circulation.

No reports have related the use of the kaolin/pectin mixture in pregnancy with adverse fetal outcome. There have been reports of iron deficiency anemia and hypokalemia secondary to the eating of clays (i.e., geophagia) containing kaolin (1,2 and 3). The mechanism for this is thought to be either a reduction in the intake of foods containing absorbable iron or an interference with the absorption of iron. In humans, iron deficiency anemia may significantly enhance the chance for a low-birth-weight infant and preterm delivery (4,5).

Female rats fed a diet containing 20% kaolin became anemic and delivered pups with a significant decrease in birth weight (6). When an iron supplement was added to the kaolin-fortified diet, no anemia or reduced birth weight was observed.

Breast Feeding Summary

Other than producing anemia in the mother after prolonged, chronic use, the kaolin/pectin mixture should have no effect on lactation or the nursing infant.

References

1. Mengel CE, Carter WA, Horton ES. Geophagia with iron deficiency and hypokalemia: cachexia africana. Arch Intern Med 1964;114:4704.
2. Talington KM, Gant NF Jr, Scott DE, Pritchard JA. Effect of ingestion of starch and some clays on iron absorption. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1970;108:2627.
3. Roselle HA. Association of laundry starch and clay ingestion with anemia in New York City. Arch Intern Med 1970;125:5761.
4. Scholl TO, Hediger ML, Fischer RL, Shearer JW. Anemia vs iron deficiency: increased risk of preterm delivery in a prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55:9858.
5. Macgregor MW. Maternal anaemia as a factor in prematurity and perinatal mortality. Scott Med J 1963;8:13440.
6. Patterson EC, Staszak DJ. Effects of geophagia (kaolin ingestion) on the maternal blood and embryonic development in the pregnant rat. J Nutr 1977;107:20205.
   
   

Questions and Answers

Are there any side effects of kaolin pectin used on dogs/puppies?, A puppy my family recently purchased will be here at the end of the month. When I asked the breeder about the puppy's food, he responded that he would not be providing the food fed to the puppy in the shipping. If I wanted to feed the puppy another brand of food, that I should use Kaolin-pectin to avoid diarrhea the puppy will probably have from the quick transition of the food. After reading some articles, it seems that it may have a side effect on humans, but not on dogs.

The puppy is currently being fed MAX® LARGE BREED PUPPY (Apparently, even though the puppy will not grow to be a large breed, it has: "a lot of vitamins & antioxidants that help support the immune system.") I'd like to switch the puppy to Innova Puppy Dry.

Is it okay to use kaolin pectin for my 2 month old future puppy? For people who have used it on their dogs, does it have side effects? Should I just purchase the same brand the puppy is eating now and slowly mix it in from there?

Relevant answers please.

I would either purchase a bag of the nutro max, or go to a local pet store and see if they have sample bags available. I would then switch him slowly over a week to the innova. The kaolin-pectin has no side effects except for it can cause constipation if over used. They puppy may still have a little diarrhea from the shipping stress, but it will make it much worse to switch his food on top of that.