Bromelain and other enzymes

Question
Do you know more about specific doses and recommendations with bromelain and other enzymes? I bought 2 different products: pure bromelain from pinapple in 500 mg caps, and something called "Pancreatin Plus" which includes pancreatin,  (110 mg), and a proprietary blend of protease, peptizyme SP, papain from papaya, bromelain from pineapple, amylase, lipase, rutin, and gooseberry (250 mg).
I have 4 rabbits (2 medium lops, a dwarf and a full bodied rex. I would like to give them something during heavy sheds, especially since the dwarf has had an episode of stasis. However, since bromelain is used in meat tenderizer, I worry that it might be too hard on their stomachs and I have quite frankly no idea how much to give them. And the Pancreatin plus has bromelain and papain, but other enzymes that I have no information on.
Do you have any clear dosage recommendations? Thank you for your time and your hard work.

Answer
Dear Mary,

I don't think anyone knows true dosages for any enzyme products meant to help prevent hair impactions in rabbits.  I don't use them myself.  We give our bunnies fresh papaya (on the green side, since that has more active enzymes) and TONS of fresh hay and wet greens.  These things are very helpful in pushing through ingested hair, and I believe that enzyme supplements are not necessary if the bunny is getting enough of the other good stuff.

I would be cautious about using pancreatin or other animal-derived enzymes, as these can be more caustic than plant-derived proteolytic enzymes.  Meat tenderizers contain bromelain because--like papain--the enzyme breaks down protein.  But it's all a matter of degree.  

I wish I could tell you that specific dosages exist, but they don't.  If you'd like to get opinions on how much to use, then I'd suggest you join EtherBun, a free listserve with thousands of bunny lovers who have lots of experience in all kinds of rabbit health care:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/etherbun.html

Since I don't use those supplements, I don't feel I can give you good information on how they should be used.  But I hope someone on EB can give you some shared experience and it will help keep your bunnies healthy and fit.

Take care,

Dana