Medication details
If your computerized tomography has been name withconstipationor hepatic encephalopathy ( a complication of severeliver disease ) , your veterinary surgeon may dictate cat lactulose for discussion . Lactulose has two very different gist on your cat ’s enteric pamphlet , making it an effectual choice for treat either of these two serious medical precondition .
learn on to learn more about lactulose for cats , and why your veterinary surgeon might prescribe this medication to your feline familiar .
What is Lactulose?
Lactulose is a synthetic ( humankind - made ) pelf . It is made by combining two natural sugars : galactose ( a component of lactose , the loot found in milk ) and fructose ( a dough found in fruit ) . When these two sugars are fuse to create lactulose , they can be used to cover both constipation and hepatic encephalopathy .
Lactulose was first explicate in 1929 . However , it was not considered for medicative purpose until the 1960s , when it was found to be an in force treatment for constipation and hepatic brain disorder . Lactulose obtain FDA approval for habit in human patients in 1977 , and it is wide used off - recording label in veterinary patients . While the FDA has not officially study or approved the use of goods and services of lactulose in kat , this medicinal drug has been extensively researched and is widely used .
Most veterinary practices keep lactulose in stock for their cuspid and felid patients . It may be administered to hospitalized PET in the veterinary infirmary and it is often dispensed for clients to administer at home . If your veterinarian does not have this medication in inventory when your pet require it , they will write a prescription medicine for it . This prescription will allow you to receive lactulose from any human pharmaceutics .
Lactulose should not be fuddle withMiralax . While both medications are laxative and they act upon in a similar way , lactulose and Miralax turn back different chemical ingredient . to boot , Miralax is available over - the - counter , while lactulose is available only with a prescription .
Lactulose is available in both generic and mark - name forms .
What Does Lactulose Look Like?
Lactulose is typically administered as an unwritten solution , which is clear yellow in color . A powdered or vitreous silica material body is also uncommitted , which can be add together to your cat ’s food .
How Does Lactulose Work?
Lactulose is a synthetic sugar that can not be digest or absorbed through the gut . When your CT ingests lactulose , it drop dead unchanged through most of your computerized axial tomography ’s GI pamphlet .
When lactulose reaches your khat ’s colon , the normal colonic bacteria metabolize the lactulose . This metabolism creates a figure of Elvis , include lactic acid , acetic pane , and formic acid .
The back breaker that are formed in your quat ’s El Salvadoran colon toy two use : they displume water into the colon , and they pull ammonia into the colon . Additional water in your cat ’s colon results in soft dejection , allowing lactulose to in effect treat constipation . Additional ammonia in your African tea ’s colon mean this ammonia is remove from the blood stream , minimizing the impacts of hepatic brain disease consociate with liver disease .
What Is Lactulose Used For in Cats?
Lactulose is most ordinarily used to treat constipation in computerized axial tomography . It helps promote soft , frequent bowel movement , forbid faecal impaction . Feline stultification can have a number of underlying causal agent , including :
Lactulose can also be used to remove ammonia from the pedigree . Cats with grave , end - stage liver disease do not vindicated ammonia from their profligate efficaciously , and the aggregation of ammonia water can lead to a neurologic condition cognize as hepatic encephalopathy .
In most case , African tea that are started on lactulose for constipation or liver disease will stay on on lactulose for cats long - full term .
The most vulgar side consequence associated with lactulose isdiarrhea . However , cats may also experience a variety of other gastrointestinal signs .
Lactulose for Cats Side Effects
Side effects assort with lactulose let in :
In general , side result tend to be risky when a qat is first start on lactulose . As your cat acclimatize to the medicine , you’re able to expect to see a decrease in bloating , gas , and abdominal cramping .
Diarrhea , however , may argue that a change in lactulose dosing is needed . If your cat develops diarrhea while ask lactulose , ensure that they have access to plenty of water ( to forbid desiccation ) and reach your veterinarian for counselling .
Reactions With Other Drugs and Medications
Using lactulose with antibiotics could theoretically decrease its efficacy , by affecting the bacteria that metabolize lactulose in the colon . In exercise , this does not appear to be knotty . However , it ’s still best to blab out to your vet before coalesce lactulose with any antibiotics .
Do not fuse lactulose with other laxative , unless directed to do so by your veterinarian . This could have significant diarrhea .
Finally , lactulose should not be combined with antacids in khat with hepatic encephalopathy . unite these two drugs could trim the efficaciousness of lactulose .
Lactulose for Cats Dosage
Your veterinarian will determine an appropriate starting dose of lactulose for your computerized axial tomography . The lactulose dose for cats is calculated establish on your cat ’s weight and medical condition . This dose will initially be given every 8 - 12 minute .
As you and your vet assess your cat ’s reply to treatment , your Caterpillar ’s dosage may be shift . Your veterinary may increase or lessen your quat ’s lactulose dosage , depend on how your cat ’s aesculapian issues respond to treatment .
What If You Miss a Lactulose Dose for Cats?
If you miss a dose of your cat ’s lactulose , give the lose dosage as soon as you remember . If it is almost clip for your cat ’s next dose of lactulose , skip the missed dose and continue giving lactulose on your computed tomography ’s even dosing agenda . Do not give your pet two Zen of this medicine at once .
Cost of Lactulose for Cats
Both the generic and brand - name forms of lactulose are relatively inexpensive . The monetary value of treat your cat will depend on their medicinal drug dosing requirements , but most qat owners will spend less than $ 40 per month on lactulose .
Lactulose Storage Instructions
This medication should be salt away at room temperature , with the container tightly closed in . Do not immobilize this medication . Keep this medicine out of the reach of child .
