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What is Montmorillonite Clay and why is it in dog food?

17K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  Katie Chumlee and Shorty  
#1 ·
I have seen this ingredient in several dog foods and just wondered what the heck it was. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
From the Natures Variety website:

Montmorillonite is a clay that is primarily colloidal silicate, which contains over 50 ultra-trace mineral compounds. Feed studies by the Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory at Texas A&M University have shown that Montmorillonite clays can sequester (bind) aflatoxins contained in grains and oilseeds.



I've also read before that it has healing properties because it is very rich in nutrients.


I question it's absorbtion ability into the body, but i'm sure it's completely safe in the digestive system. In theory, a dog would consume and absorb the nutrients in the clay, and then the remainder of the used clay would be excreted.

Kinda of like sucking an orange slice and then tossing the used up portion in the trash.






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#4 ·
It's also used as a binding agent in diatomaceous earth. While diatomaceous earth deworms, Montmorillonite Clay will detoxify. Toxins such as heavy metals get attached to it, as it passes through the digestive system. If you get food grade, it's safe for animals and people. Farmers use it in there feed. It kills insects in the feed, as well as deworms and detoxifies. Plus it contains minerals. Good stuff :smile:
 
#5 ·
It is in a few foods not many. The health claims are dubious. It is in fact used in livestock feeds but mainly because it soaks up more water than anything else you can ingest. So it binds up manure and stools.

That is the only use of it that has been substantiated, the rest is just internet science.