Hi, Hoping someone has a suggestion for a sugarless source of fiber for my Murphy. He's been a little constipated and his Vet recommended canned pumpkin but it has "natural sugar" in it. His Vet then recommended Squash baby food, but that has "natural sugar" in it also. I' ve been adding some water to his food (he eats only canned food - the varieties of Fancy Feast that are recommended for Kitties with Diabetes). Other than that I am really stumped - any suggestions??? Thanks so much!
Can't find sugarless fiber source for Murphy.
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Michele&Rusty
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I have been giving my Rusty catnip (fresh, from a plant outside) to help with getting his blood test. I assume that it is sugar free, but since you said that about natural sugar, I wonder if it has it also?
squeem3
Very Active Member
You can use original Benefiber: http://www.benefiber.com/products/benef ... inal.shtml It's sugar-free. However, it is made witih wheat dextrin. A 2 teaspoon serving size contains 4g of carbs. You probably won't need to use that much and probably not even daily so intake for your cat will probably be pretty low and won't affect bgs much, if at all.
All plants contain natural sugars which are a by-product of photosynthesis. Catnip and cat grass are fine for diabetic cats to have :smile:
Michele&Rusty said:
All plants contain natural sugars which are a by-product of photosynthesis. Catnip and cat grass are fine for diabetic cats to have :smile:
Karen & Smokey(GA)
Very Active Member
Miralax. Or any chain-store generic version of Polyethylene Glycol, such as WalMart's ClearLax.
1/8-1/4 tsp mixed into canned food 2x/day. Add some water to the food. Miralax softens the stool
by drawing additional water into the bowel. Important that kitty have plenty of water.
No sugar. Easy to use. Tasteless, odorless, white powder.
1/8-1/4 tsp mixed into canned food 2x/day. Add some water to the food. Miralax softens the stool
by drawing additional water into the bowel. Important that kitty have plenty of water.
No sugar. Easy to use. Tasteless, odorless, white powder.
)
Lisa dvm
Active Member
MurphsMom said:
Good.
Fiber is not what I would be Rxing for constipation for most living creatures...including my 87 year old father...whose doctor would not stop Rxing fiber for my dad...which was making the problem worse.
Miralax makes much more sense since it does not add bulk to the stool.
BJM
Very Active Member
the rational for fiber is that it holds water in the stool, making it easier to pass. It does require the consumption of water for it to soak up.
Miralax is, I believe, an osmotic which draws water into the intestines from the body, which logically should make the stool softer and easier to move.
Miralax is, I believe, an osmotic which draws water into the intestines from the body, which logically should make the stool softer and easier to move.
Lisa dvm
Active Member
Not necessarily since fiber SWELLS as it soaks up the water...adding BULK to the stool which often makes it MORE difficult to pass.
This bulk signals the bowel to evacuate which can be a good thing in SOME instances but not in all cases.
Miralax does not add bulk to the stool....it just increase stool water content.
BJM
Very Active Member
It probably depends on the factors involved in the constipation.
If the muscles to propel the stool aren't working well, then more bulk definitely won't help.
If the feces are very dry and hard, then more fluid - consumption of, or by osmotic medication - is supposed to soften them. Softer stool may move more easily.
What I've read is that fiber is supposed to hold fluid in the stool, rather than allowing the intestines to absorb as much, thus preventing the dry, hard feces which are difficult to move.
If the muscles to propel the stool aren't working well, then more bulk definitely won't help.
If the feces are very dry and hard, then more fluid - consumption of, or by osmotic medication - is supposed to soften them. Softer stool may move more easily.
What I've read is that fiber is supposed to hold fluid in the stool, rather than allowing the intestines to absorb as much, thus preventing the dry, hard feces which are difficult to move.
Lisa dvm
Active Member
BJM said:
Agreed but since we often don't know exactly how good the GI motility is in the feline patient....and the fact that cats are not designed to eat a high fiber diet...makes me strongly lean toward miralax versus a fiber/bulk-forming laxative.
It is possible that fiber may help the odd cat but it is certainly not what I, or other feline specialists, currently recommend.
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