Does Switching to Low Carb Diet Casue Constipation?

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Cat Ma

Cat Ma

Member Since 2015
Several weeks ago, I put my cat on low carb canned food. Since then, BG #'s have been great.
Stools used to be foul-smelling and runny...lots of diarrhea.

Now, my cat no longer has the diarrhea (yay) but she is barely going at all in the litter box. Her stools are very tiny.

Switching to a low carb diet has gotten my cat otj but could it also be causing her to be constipated?
 
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Diarrhea and other problems are not uncommon with a diet change.
What were you feeding before? Some foods. especially dry have a lot of fiber which results in large feces. Good quality canned can have little fiber and thus smaller feces.
Is you cat straining to defecate or experiencing other problems that may indicate constipation?
 
She had diarrhea issues long before the diabetes issues (now OTJ) and before the switch to a low carb canned diet. Since being on the low carb diet, the diarrhea cleared up.

So if the low carb canned food has less fiber, she could be constipated? I assumed the canned food would be less constipating than dry food. Previously, I was feeding Royal Canin dry and canned food. Since her BG #'s are great, I thought of giving her some dry kibble but worry that would make her more constipated.

She had a piece of stool hanging from her rear end. I also know from looking at her stool output in the litter box that she is constipated. Her stools are tiny.

Her steroid dose was reduced so I wonder if that could be the cause for her constipation.
 
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Cats are naturally going to have smaller stools on a low carb canned diet, because they digest the more of the food (rather than poop out the filler materials). If she isn't pooping regularly (about once a day) you can try mixing a little water and canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin only, not pie filling) and see if it bulks things up a bit. Other people have used miralax with some success as well.

If she is pooping regularly and without strain, then she isn't constipated.

But canned food doesn't generally cause constipation.
 
I kind of agree with you. Since my switch to wet food Dusty and my civie Beni have had more instances of constipation than when they were on dry. I started giving Dusty some Miralax but it slowly caused his BG to climb and he seemed sort of out of it most of the time. I then started giving him pumpkin with some success but it eventually irritated his stomach and he stopped eating so I took it away from him; he returned to normal in a few days. I then starting making his food soupy with water and had some success there too but every couple of weeks he would still get constipated. I'm still feeding him soupy food but am now back to Miralax. Now I just put a light dusting; dip the tip of a spoon in the Miralax and what sticks to it in one of his meals once per day. So far so good, he's acting normal, his BG is good and he's pooping pretty consistently with no issues. You just have see what works for your kitty.
 
Dusty Bones said:
I kind of agree with you. Since my switch to wet food Dusty and my civie Beni have had more instances of constipation than when they were on dry. I started giving Dusty some Miralax but it slowly caused his BG to climb and he seemed sort of out of it most of the time. I then started giving him pumpkin with some success but it eventually irritated his stomach and he stopped eating so I took it away from him; he returned to normal in a few days. I then starting making his food soupy with water and had some success there too but every couple of weeks he would still get constipated. I'm still feeding him soupy food but am now back to Miralax. Now I just put a light dusting; dip the tip of a spoon in the Miralax and what sticks to it in one of his meals once per day. So far so good, he's acting normal, his BG is good and he's pooping pretty consistently with no issues. You just have see what works for your kitty.
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How much Miralax do you give your cat? Thanks
 
Julia & Bandit said:
Cats are naturally going to have smaller stools on a low carb canned diet, because they digest the more of the food (rather than poop out the filler materials). If she isn't pooping regularly (about once a day) you can try mixing a little water and canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin only, not pie filling) and see if it bulks things up a bit. Other people have used miralax with some success as well.

If she is pooping regularly and without strain, then she isn't constipated.

But canned food doesn't generally cause constipation.
Click to expand...

Pumpkin sounds like a good try. Thanks
 
Cat Ma said:
How much Miralax do you give your cat? Thanks
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I just dip the tip of spoon in the Miralax and what sticks to it is mixed in the food with water to make it soupy. I think during my first go with Miralax I was giving him too much; 1/16 tsp. Now like I said I just dust the tip of a spoon and what sticks to it goes in his food.
 
Is there any instances where Miralax would not be recommended for a constipated cat?

My vet says only Lactulose can be used. I worry if my cat becomes a sugar cat again (currently OTJ) the Lactulose wouldn't be a wise choice. Am I correct to assume this?
 
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Not according to what you read on feline Constipation, though. Folks here have used plain pumpkin or squash, plain psyllium powder, Miralax, Lactulose, and so on.
I believe I have read that if the lactulose isn't isn't manufactured properly, it may have some small amounts of carbohdrate in it which could affect the glucose.)
 
BJM said:
Not according to what you read on feline Constipation, though. Folks here have used plain pumpkin or squash, plain psyllium powder, Miralax, Lactulose, and so on.
I believe I have read that if the lactulose isn't isn't manufactured properly, it may have some small amounts of carbohdrate in it which could affect the glucose.)
Click to expand...

Does Miralax affect glucose levels too? Do both Miralax and Lactulose contain sugars that could be harmful to sugar cats?
 
Miralax does not contain any sugar or other stuff that would raise BG. Pure Lactulose would not have any effect on BG since it is an undigestiable sugar. However, the commercial Lactulose contains 10-20% digestible sugar which will raise BG
 
I suspect the vet-prescribed Lactulose must be the commercial form because a half hour after giving it yesterday, my cat's BG # shot up to over 185, from usual 70's-90's #'s. Today, BG is normal. Where could I find pure lactulose?
 
Where would I find such a place? Sounds like Miralax is worth a try.
 
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I'd go with the Miralax. The viscosity (thickness) is a real put off for some.
 
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