Yes. Psyllium is used as a fibre source in dry and wet pet food, treats and pet supplements, mainly to support digestion and stool quality. It is also used in some animal feeds.
The grade depends on the product. Bulk pet food and feed often use lower purity husk or khakha powder. Pet supplements sold in small packs often use the same higher grades as human supplements.
Grades used for pets and feed
- Lower purity husk, such as grades around 85%: a common choice for bulk pet food where fibre is one ingredient among many.
- Khakha powder: a lower-cost fraction used mainly in feed. See what khakha powder is and who buys it.
- Higher purity husk or powder, such as 95% to 99%: used in pet supplements, where the product is mostly psyllium and the label may state fibre content.
Pet food is not a safety shortcut
A lower grade means less husk and more other plant material. It does not mean looser safety limits. Pet food and feed are regulated, and contamination can harm animals and, through handling, people.
- Salmonella: a known risk in pet food and treats. Many buyers set a limit of not detected in a stated sample size.
- Aflatoxin and other mycotoxins: feed limits exist in many markets. Check yours.
- Pesticide residues and heavy metals: test against your market's feed or food limits.
- Ethylene oxide: still prohibited for EU use, so require "no ETO treatment".
- Foreign matter: stones, metal and plastic still matter for animals and machinery.
Regulatory checks
Check that psyllium is an accepted feed material or ingredient in your market and how it must be named on the label. In the EU, feed materials are described in the Catalogue of feed materials. In the US, pet food is overseen by FDA, and many states follow AAFCO model rules for ingredient names. Rules differ, so confirm with your own feed authority.
If your label makes a health claim for a pet, such as relieving constipation, the product may be treated as a veterinary medicine. Get advice before printing.
Writing the spec
Set purity, swell volume, moisture, ash and microbiology as typical values agreed for your product and use. A pet supplement spec looks much like a human supplement spec. A bulk pet food spec can be simpler but should still cover safety tests. The general approach is in how to write a good specification for an agri product.
Be clear on the cheaper fractions. Khakha and low grades vary more between lots, so ask for each lot's results, not a standard certificate.
How we help
We source psyllium grades for pet food and pet supplements from audited mills, and write safety tests into the spec even for lower grades. Each lot is tested at an NABL-accredited lab before it ships. Ask for a free sourcing review.