A digestive system bezoar in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation can be reduced in size by administering to the animal a food grade agent for emulsifying fat in an amount sufficient to reduce the size of the bezoar so that the bezoar can pass out of the animal's digestive system. In a similar method for preventing bezoar formation in a human or non-human animal susceptible to bezoar formation, a food grade agent for emulsifying fat can be administered to the animal in an amount sufficient to prevent formation of bezoars, or at least to prevent formation of bezoars larger than a size that becomes trapped in the animal's digestive system.