-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Using kaopeptate for cats with diarrhea?
- Thread starter frawri
- Start Date
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2001
- Messages
- 34,872
- Purraise
- 77
PLEASE DON'T USE IT- They changed their formula this year and added ingredients that can harm and even kill your cat.
It's a shame too, because it USED TO BE USED far and wide for diarrhea in cats and kittens. Your vet may have some of the safe stuff on hand-
what hissy said. DONT USE IT!!!!!!!!! I just treated a kitty that was rushed to an EQUINE ER last night..it was the only thing open..and the little one..did not make it.
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2005
- Messages
- 27,231
- Purraise
- 38
DITTO the ABsoulutly not... and dont use petpo either
- Joined
- May 27, 2005
- Messages
- 88
- Purraise
- 1
Here's some info about Kaopectate off the AVMA website:
Kaopectate reformulation could be dangerous to cats
Kaopectate, the over-the-counter diarrhea treatment for humans, recently has been reformulated to contain an aspirin derivative that is toxic to cats in high doses.
Kaopectate's new formula contains bismuth subsalicylate, which may cause salicylate toxicosis in cats if they are overdosed. Previously, the product contained attapulgite, an inert clay aluminum. The original kaolin pectin formula of Kaopectate was replaced by the attapulgite formula in caplets in 1984, and liquid attapulgite formulations were first introduced in 1989.
The attapulgite formulation of Kaopectate caplets may still be available. According to a Pfizer Animal Health spokesman, the new formulation of all liquid forms of Kaopectate began shipping in December 2002. Reformulated caplets are scheduled to begin shipping no later than April 2004.
Though it is an extralabel use, for decades, veterinarians have recommended Kaopectate to treat diarrhea in cats and dogs, particularly for clients who call after hours or are unwilling or unable to get immediate veterinary care, said Dr. Cory Langston, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and a member of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents. Dr. Amy Neal at U.S. Pharmacopeia, an organization that provides drug information and runs a medication errors reporting system, alerted Dr. Langston about the formulation change.
"This (product) was prescribed, perhaps in part, because it could do no harm, since none of the ingredients were absorbed orally. Because of this safety factor, large and frequent doses were commonly used." Dr. Langston said. "Unlike the old Kaopectate, this new formulation could result in toxicosis if you don't account for the salicylate content of the product."
Dr. Steve Hansen, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center, said the range of recommended aspirin-derivative dosages that have been published for cats is 10 mg/kg every other day to 25 mg/kg every day.
A tablespoon of reformulated children's or regular-strength Kaopectate contains 130 mg aspirin equivalent, and extra-strength Kaopectate contains 230 mg aspirin equivalent. A tablespoon of extra-strength Kaopectate given to a 5-pound cat would yield 120 mg/kg aspirin equivalent and would likely result in toxicosis, according to Dr. Hansen.
"Cats typically don't metabolize and excrete many compounds, including aspirin, efficiently, which means we're much more likely to have effects," Dr. Hansen said.
For more information on managing poisons and poison prevention, visit the ASPCA's Poison Control Center Web site, www.apcc.aspca.org.
Return to top
AVMA Journals | JAVMA News | Discussion Groups | Veterinary Career Center
Professional Resources | Member Center | Care for Animals | AVMA Home
American Veterinary Medical Association
Copyright Â[emoji]169[/emoji] 2005
Kaopectate reformulation could be dangerous to cats
Kaopectate, the over-the-counter diarrhea treatment for humans, recently has been reformulated to contain an aspirin derivative that is toxic to cats in high doses.
Kaopectate's new formula contains bismuth subsalicylate, which may cause salicylate toxicosis in cats if they are overdosed. Previously, the product contained attapulgite, an inert clay aluminum. The original kaolin pectin formula of Kaopectate was replaced by the attapulgite formula in caplets in 1984, and liquid attapulgite formulations were first introduced in 1989.
The attapulgite formulation of Kaopectate caplets may still be available. According to a Pfizer Animal Health spokesman, the new formulation of all liquid forms of Kaopectate began shipping in December 2002. Reformulated caplets are scheduled to begin shipping no later than April 2004.
Though it is an extralabel use, for decades, veterinarians have recommended Kaopectate to treat diarrhea in cats and dogs, particularly for clients who call after hours or are unwilling or unable to get immediate veterinary care, said Dr. Cory Langston, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and a member of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents. Dr. Amy Neal at U.S. Pharmacopeia, an organization that provides drug information and runs a medication errors reporting system, alerted Dr. Langston about the formulation change.
"This (product) was prescribed, perhaps in part, because it could do no harm, since none of the ingredients were absorbed orally. Because of this safety factor, large and frequent doses were commonly used." Dr. Langston said. "Unlike the old Kaopectate, this new formulation could result in toxicosis if you don't account for the salicylate content of the product."
Dr. Steve Hansen, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center, said the range of recommended aspirin-derivative dosages that have been published for cats is 10 mg/kg every other day to 25 mg/kg every day.
A tablespoon of reformulated children's or regular-strength Kaopectate contains 130 mg aspirin equivalent, and extra-strength Kaopectate contains 230 mg aspirin equivalent. A tablespoon of extra-strength Kaopectate given to a 5-pound cat would yield 120 mg/kg aspirin equivalent and would likely result in toxicosis, according to Dr. Hansen.
"Cats typically don't metabolize and excrete many compounds, including aspirin, efficiently, which means we're much more likely to have effects," Dr. Hansen said.
For more information on managing poisons and poison prevention, visit the ASPCA's Poison Control Center Web site, www.apcc.aspca.org.
Return to top
AVMA Journals | JAVMA News | Discussion Groups | Veterinary Career Center
Professional Resources | Member Center | Care for Animals | AVMA Home
American Veterinary Medical Association
Copyright Â[emoji]169[/emoji] 2005
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 453
- Purraise
- 1
Oh wow, I didn't know that! Is there a site where you can look this stuff up? I found out I couldn't give Immodium to my big dogs because it's bad for collies (mine are part rough collie), so I'd thought about getting some Pepto for the first aid kit, thinking that was something they could all use. So now Pepto, Immodium, and Kaeopectate are all out of the question? Is immodium ok for kitties? Pepto and Kaeo. ok for dogs? I know dogs don't have a problem with aspirin like cats do. I like to keep something like that around for those cases when someone gets sick and it's the weekend or after hours.
Amber
Amber
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2005
- Messages
- 27,231
- Purraise
- 38
Amber
Dont count the spelling ... dont use anything with sycilylate in the ingrediants ... I am unsure what immoduim is
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #8
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2001
- Messages
- 34,872
- Purraise
- 77
Talk to your vet and get the safe stuff from the vet. Run a fecal in, find out why the runs are occurring and then let the vet prescribe. OVER THE COUNTER products SHOULD NOT EVER be used on animals unless a vet gives the okay-
