9/26 Jetta PMPS 283 +1.75 253

[Jacspets]

Yesterday Jetta 9/25

Happy Monday LL,

Jetta seems to be feeling better today. No sign of constipation-yet. She's not thrilled with food, but she is eating. Went green again last night :mrgreen: so that's good!!!

I called the vet this morning about her constipation from yesterday and the technician suggested Laxatone, so I reminded her that had Corn syrup in it! It's becoming a pattern of them trying to give my cat things with sugar in it!!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: So, I suggested a friend of mine recommended Miralax. The Dr will call me later...

It's rainy and dreary here today so I really wish I could go btb, but it's not to be. Maybe in my next life I can come back as a cat. They've all gone btb :lol:

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

Re: 9/26 Jetta AMPS 318 +2.5 225

Laxatone has sugar and requires a prescription. It is more likely to cause diarrhea also. Mirilax is something you can use every day, its tasteless and gentle. But it won't work on what is in the colon right now. This is why you may want an xray to see what is in the colon right now. Keep an eye on her and watch for repeated trips to the litterbox, watery diarrhea (backed up stool passing through a blockage), crying at the box, etc.

From felineconstipation.org:

Both Lactulose and Miralax are dose-to-effect drugs with a normal stool as the goal. The intent is not to flush out the cat. If the cat has impacted stool, osmotic laxatives are not suitable until that situation is relieved. We do not want to create pressure behind a dam! In any event, osmotic laxatives do not 'catch up with' the stool already formed to act as stool softeners. They are better used to prevent trouble than to deal with a serious bout of constipation and are not suitable for impacted stool.

Miralax – Miralax is polyethylene glycol, PEG 3350. The number 3350 describes its average molecular weight and distinguishes Miralax from polyethylene 300 or polyethylene 400, for instance. Polyethylene glycol is not propylene glycol, more familiarly called antifreeze. Polyethylene glycol is also not ethylene glycol. It is polyethylene glycol. The differences in chemical formulas matter. We would be pleased to drink a cool glass of H2O (water) but should not be pleased to drink H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) even though there is only a single atom of oxygen difference per molecule. Miralax retains water in the bowel and/or the stool. Miralax is a powder which readily dissolves in water or wet food. A typical starting dose for a cat is 1/8 teaspoon total daily, divided into several smaller portions over the course of the day, but your vet should advise for your cat. There is a warning on the Miralax bottle for kidney patients which unnerves many with cats with kidney disease. That warning is present not because Miralax is harmful for kidney patients, it is not harmful. Now that Miralax is an OTC product, no longer requiring a prescription, it is a caution for humans with a tendency to self-diagnose and self-treat for months without consulting with a doctor, humans who think if a little is good, a lot is better. Provoking the Kittenequivalent of diarrhea by use of any laxative causes water and electrolyte loss which can lead to dehydration which is more risky for those with kidney disease than for healthy individuals. Proper and appropriate use of Miralax is safe for cats with kidney disease, with emphasis on proper and appropriate, with a normal stool as the goal.

Concerns are often expressed about cats with chronic constipation, such as cats with kidney disease, that use of an osmotic laxative will dehydrate the cat because these products draw water to the bowel or hold it in the stool. If producing a normal stool puts a cat at risk of dehydration, more is wrong than constipation and sometimes what is wrong is the human reasoning. Dehydration is not a recommended treatment for constipation! The amount of water needed to normalize the stool in response to an osmotic laxative is the same amount of water by any other method including diet and dietary fiber. This does not mean that these osmotic laxatives should not be treated with respect, of course they should be used conservatively and appropriately. But producing a normal stool by use of an osmotic laxative should not dehydrate a cat.

Again, all changes for the cat should be made gradually, to allow the cat to adjust and to permit the digestive tract to adapt. The digestive tract is remarkably adaptable, within certain parameters, but it takes time to adapt.

Remember, increasing Miralax or Lactulose increases the amount of water in the bowel/stool. If the stool is too soft, reduce the amount of laxative. Osmotic laxatives are dose-to-effect drugs and, unlike most medications, we can monitor the effects in the litter box.

This site is really amazing. You should take some time to navigate it and read about constipation.

 

[Jacspets]

Re: 9/26 Jetta AMPS 318 +2.5 225

Thanks Karrie, I do plan to spend time on their site today over my lunch hour.

I think the vet's office was referring to the OTC Laxatone, the "hairball gel" type stuff. I think maybe you mean Lactulose as the RX product? They also mentioned Lactulose (I used that extensively for a cat I recen; lost to due cancer) but I know neither are safe for a sugarcat.

I just talked to the vet and he maintains that the EnerCal, Laxatone, and Lactulose are all safe for use in a diabetic cat since she's getting insulin. He said it's no different than her eating since food has sugar in it/the body converts it to sugar. Anyway, I asked about the Miralax and he said that was fine too if I preferred to try it.

If she seems to start to struggle any today I'll zip in her for an xray.

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

Re: 9/26 Jetta AMPS 318 +2.5 225

Sorry I had lactulose on the brain. ohmygod_smile ohmygod_smile ohmygod_smile Glad you knew the difference.

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

Re: 9/26 Jetta AMPS 318 +2.5 225

Nice greens for Jetta last night. I have no experience with any other those, but wanted to tell you hello and have a great day!

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

Re: 9/26 Jetta AMPS 318 +2.5 225

Hi guys ... nice drop to low yellows this morning jetta! Glad to hear jetta seems to be feeling better and no constipation yet .. hope it continues to get better .. have a great day guys!

 

[Anne & Zener GA]

Re: 9/26 Jetta AMPS 318 +2.5 225

Poor Jetta! She had a rough day yesterday and no fun for you to come home to either. I hope she's feeling better today. She is lucky to have such a great bean.
Liz