Ok to give Lactulose to dehydrated cat?

This question is related to this - http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=216790 thread, but I wanted to start a new thread for this specific problem to avoid confusion (mostly mine).

My cat (Nani) was diagnosed with possible liver cancer or liver disease. She also has anemia. The vet prescribed an antibiotic which I assumed was for the open sores that weren't healing from a fight. Lactulose was also prescribed to soften the feces because she has cat litter in her intestines (I really don't understand the logic behind using Lactulose to treat that).

My problem is that I read that Lactulose should not be given to dehyrdated cats and my cat is dehyrdrated. She will not tolerate fluid therapy at home. She will not sit still for me and has always been like that. The vet's office is closed until late Tuesday afternoon. I'm not sure if I should give the Lactulose to my cat or wait until I can speak with someone at the vet's office which would probably be on Wednesday. Nani is drinking a lot of water and is now receiving 98% canned food only. I didn't discover this problem until after I picked up the Lactulose at the pharmacy which was after they were closed for the weekend.

The other thing is that I'm wondering if the Lactulose and antibiotic were really prescribed for liver disease. I also found out that Lactulose and antibiotics are sometimes used in combination to treat liver problems. If this is what the Lactulose is being prescribed for, then I would think it's imperative that she take it right away. I don't know what to do. The only place that's open is the 24/7 emergency animal hospital. But I doubt they'd be able to answer my question without actually seeing her. I can't afford to spend $500+ just to get this question answered when I could spend it on something more important like an ultrasound or biopsy.

Any suggestions?

When was Nani's last bowel movement?

Lactulose is a laxative, so what the vet most likely meant is that it will help Nani pass the stool that is bound up with cat litter.

I do not like lactulose use in cats, but I cannot advise to whether to use it for Nani or not. I agree with mews2much on calling the ER vet with your question :"will lactulose cause a problem in a dehydrated cat?". If the vet won't offer an answer, nothing is lost.

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat liver infections, or suspected liver infections, but why isn't your vet telling you what these medicines are for? What is the antibiotic? Are the sores abscessed?

My Tolly has a damaged liver (from taking phenobarbital), and when he recently went off his feed, my vet wondered about a possible bacterial infection, so put him on Baytril for two weeks. The improvement in Tolly was dramatic.

You may find it helpful in the future to write down as many questions as you can think of ahead of time, so you can get more information when you talk to or see the vet. It's very hard to concentrate in the vet's office, I know, when you are worried about your beloved cat.

Making a list of questions can help one think better, ask better questions, and focus on the answers more. In fact, I write answers down too, my vet doesn't mind waiting for me to do it.

Please keep us posted.

If your cat is eating normally, I would think adding canned food and about a teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin (NOT the pumpkin pie filling) would help as much as the lactulose and it's better for your cat's system in general. You could also add a teaspoon of water or plain pedialyte to the wet food to give some extra liquid to your cat. If your cat is dehydrated, I would also be hesitant to use it. Did you call the vet or the ER vet?

Here's an update:

I wasn't able to speak to the vet who prescribed the Lactulose, but the other vet said to use the Lactulose twice a day. He said to get as much fluids into Nani as possible. I don't how to do that. She's drinking a lot, but I can't do sub-q fluids on her, I don't think. I don't think she will cooperate. She's eating mostly canned food now. She eats a little dry food in the morning.

I no longer like to give water or liquid medicine to cats with a syringe. I'm afraid I'll give it to them wrong and get it into their lungs. Besides, if my choices are sub-q fluids or using a syringe, I think the sub-q fluids would be easier. I don't know what to do. My frickin' anxiety disorder is getting in the way of making the right decisions for Nani.

You can try adding a little water to all canned food you serve. Feed smaller servings more often, so that you can add more water. Eliminate all dry, except use the kibble as treats only, and feed a full canned diet.

Have you been trained in administering sub q?

So, did you use the lactulose?

Can you go to a different vet? If you don't trust the advice you are getting from this practice, you really need to find a better place. One who will answer your questions and explain things to you, not cause your anxiety level to escalate.

Originally Posted by otto

Have you been trained in administering sub q?

Click to expand...

I was shown one time how to give sub q fluids. I had to give fluids to my other cat several months ago and it was horrible. He fought and squirmed around. I got really stressed out giving him the fluids and I know he could tell.

So, did you use the lactulose?

Click to expand...

I gave her the Lactulose one time earlier today. I'm going to confront the vet next time I speak to him. I strongly suspect they want me to use the Lactulose to treat or prevent Hepatic Encephalopathy and just aren't telling me. My cat does have many of the symptoms of that. If that's what they're using the Lactulose for, then I can see why they would want me to use it even if my cat is dehydrated. So for now I will use it and strongly consider trying sub q fluids.

Can you go to a different vet? If you don't trust the advice you are getting from this practice, you really need to find a better place. One who will answer your questions and explain things to you, not cause your anxiety level to escalate.

Click to expand...

Honestly, I haven't yet found a vet who is both honest and knows what they're doing. It's usually one or the other, but never both. I've seen around five vets for serious problems and wasn't happy with any of them. I will try to get a second opinion from a specialist.

It isn't really the vets that are making my anxiety worse, it's me. I can't stand death. Euthanasia doesn't really bother me because it's peaceful and there's no pain. What bothers me is when a very ill and/or dying cat has an emergency where you know it's time to let them go. I can't stand the waiting and not knowing how or when it will happen. I can't stand emergencies where the cat has to be rushed to the vet or it will suffer a horrible death. I remember the time one of my most beloved cats had to be rushed to the vet because he was having trouble breathing. On the way there his lips, tongue and gums started turning blue. He was on my lap struggling to breathe and there was nothing I could do but watch him die. I hate being in that kind of situation. I fear it.

I think the only way I wouldn't be so stressed out is if I were a veterinarian. I have the need to know every little thing that's going on with my cat so I can be better prepared for emergencies. When I'm prepared, I'm less stressed. But it would take forever for a vet to explain to me everything I need to know in Nani's situation. I can only research so much because so much of what I need to know isn't available on the internet or in a book.