Are there any special tricks or tips for using constipation remedies?
I know that slippery elm bark syrup can interfere with the absorption of medications, and to space them out a couple of hours apart. I also know that you have to dissolve Miralax in water before adding it to your cat's food (to which we always include an extra 2-3 tablespoons of water since Buddy has a history of urinary tract problems).
But beyond that, I'm a little fuzzy, and wonder if maybe Buddy isn't getting the maximum benefit from some common remedies because we don't know how to best use them, e.g., the timing, with or without meals, which ones can be used together, if any possibly counteract each other, etc.
Buddy's problem is mostly one of inactivity. He's FIV+ and is almost always sick, and when he doesn't feel well, he doesn't feel like getting much exercise. He also ingests quite a bit of fur on those days when we have to clean his feet with Curaseb. We've tried giving Buddy a little dab of coconut oil, in the hope that it would help to soften his poop, as well as cut down on hairballs. It does help to soften his stool, when it gets that far downstream. Unfortunately, most of the time it gets hacked up in the form of hairballs.
We haven't noticed any difference in Buddy's poop when using Proviable-DC or RenewLife Ultimate Flora ExtraCare, although the latter has been much more effective for alleviating his antibiotic-induced diarrhea. We've also tried Dr. Goodpet Feline Digestive Enzymes to help Buddy better utilize the nutrients in his food. We had hoped that it might also help to soften his stool a bit as an added bonus, as is seems to do for some cats, but alas, that hasn't been the case for Buddy.
For what it's worth, Buddy's canned food usually contains anywhere from 0.5 to 1% fiber per the guaranteed analysis. We've tried giving him canned pumpkin mixed in with his food, and via a syringe, which didn't help at all. Neither did the sweet potato or squash baby foods. The funny thing is that when he was eating KOHA LID foods, which contain pumpkin, Buddy was a little pooping machine! So of course, he's lost all interest in that, and now refuses to eat it.
If you've had any success with constipation remedies for your cat, was there some mystical and magical trick you stumbled onto that made all the difference in the world? Halp!
I know that slippery elm bark syrup can interfere with the absorption of medications, and to space them out a couple of hours apart. I also know that you have to dissolve Miralax in water before adding it to your cat's food (to which we always include an extra 2-3 tablespoons of water since Buddy has a history of urinary tract problems).
But beyond that, I'm a little fuzzy, and wonder if maybe Buddy isn't getting the maximum benefit from some common remedies because we don't know how to best use them, e.g., the timing, with or without meals, which ones can be used together, if any possibly counteract each other, etc.
Buddy's problem is mostly one of inactivity. He's FIV+ and is almost always sick, and when he doesn't feel well, he doesn't feel like getting much exercise. He also ingests quite a bit of fur on those days when we have to clean his feet with Curaseb. We've tried giving Buddy a little dab of coconut oil, in the hope that it would help to soften his poop, as well as cut down on hairballs. It does help to soften his stool, when it gets that far downstream. Unfortunately, most of the time it gets hacked up in the form of hairballs.
We haven't noticed any difference in Buddy's poop when using Proviable-DC or RenewLife Ultimate Flora ExtraCare, although the latter has been much more effective for alleviating his antibiotic-induced diarrhea. We've also tried Dr. Goodpet Feline Digestive Enzymes to help Buddy better utilize the nutrients in his food. We had hoped that it might also help to soften his stool a bit as an added bonus, as is seems to do for some cats, but alas, that hasn't been the case for Buddy.
For what it's worth, Buddy's canned food usually contains anywhere from 0.5 to 1% fiber per the guaranteed analysis. We've tried giving him canned pumpkin mixed in with his food, and via a syringe, which didn't help at all. Neither did the sweet potato or squash baby foods. The funny thing is that when he was eating KOHA LID foods, which contain pumpkin, Buddy was a little pooping machine! So of course, he's lost all interest in that, and now refuses to eat it.
If you've had any success with constipation remedies for your cat, was there some mystical and magical trick you stumbled onto that made all the difference in the world? Halp!