Needs Advice About Misc. Issues Inc. Litter, Meds, Etc

dianajune

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My rescue kitty, who I posted about a long time ago, is doing much better bowel-wise. He's started to eat canned food, which I knew all along would help with his constipation issues.

Pumpkin takes laxatone for hairballs, lactulose for constipation and Pepcid for acid issues.

Pumpkin hates his lactulose. I have to put it on his paws (along with the other two meds) because he just won't tolerate my giving this to him in a syringe. He takes his time washing it off and oftentimes, it will get all over his bedding, window sill, etc.

Pumpkin poops an average of once a day, pees 2-3 times a day. His appetite is very good.

I found the best way to give his meds is to mix it all together and rub it on his paws. But, it seems no matter how careful I am to mix it well, it still splatters.

It gets on his chest too and I'm wondering if this is one reason he over-grooms himself. I try to wash it off him but it's very hard. That stuff sticks alot.

This leads to his next issue - hairballs. He doesn't get them very often, but for the past month or so he's been getting them more frequently. Maybe he's over-grooming himself because his medicine splatters? I don't know.

He doesn't usually make a horrid-sounding meow before puking, but for the past month or so he does. Except today he threw up a large hairball but didn't make one peep. Go figure.

I've been trying to decide if I should ask his vet to let me decrease or eliminate the lactulose since he hates it very much anyway and it splatters all over, plus he's eating canned food now, which I know helps his tummy.

The other issue I need help with is litter. Pumpkin's been using non-clumping litter since I got him because periodically he will munch on it. He's been using Tidy Cat non-clumping (red bag) since I got him several years ago.

Lately it seems like litter is very expensive online. I'm in a wheelchair and have no car, so picking it up at our local Walmart is too difficult.

I've been ordering his litter from Chewy until their prices skyrocketed.

Same thing with Walmart dotcom.

I've been getting his litter from Target but have had many issues with their shipping. Oftentimes their boxes arrive in rotten shape, which is very difficult for me to handle due to my physical limitations.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can get for Pumpkin, litter-wise? Is there an online retailer that doesn't charge an arm and a leg AND has free shipping?

Petco, PetSmart and Chewy are all out.....and I've researched many others.

Sorry this is soooo long....to summarize:

Why are his hairballs becoming more frequent? Could it be due to his liquid medicine that splatters so?

Can I cut back or eliminate his lactulose? Maybe just give it him on an as-needed basis? He'd be so much happier.

Where can I get non-clumping litter at a reasonable price online w/free shipping?

Thank you!
 

Furballsmom

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I've been trying to decide if I should ask his vet to let me decrease or eliminate the lactulose since he hates it very much anyway and it splatters all over, plus he's eating canned food now, which I know helps his tummy.
I think this is a good idea. Also, ask if they'd be ok if you add some plain pumpkin to his diet - the fiber can be helpful for hairballs.

Can you use a freeze dried treat, like a freeze dried minnow, to put the medication on? I'm sort of thinking out loud here, but something like that rather than on his fur?

Tractor Supply (online) has litter which inexpensive but I find it incredibly dusty.

Are you able to take advantage of Walmart's local delivery, or a grocery store's delivery?

Have you looked at Only Natural Pet? or petstuff.com or The Big Bad Woof
 

mrsgreenjeens

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AS far as hairballs, since he is now eating wet food, egg yolks are great for hairballs. If you simply add an egg yolk to his food a couple times a week, that cana really help. Or you can use egg yolk lecithin. I give my boys 1/2 capsule each every day and I haven't seen a hairball since I started doing that. You can also order powdered egg yolk, which does the same thing, here: EZ Egg Yolk
 
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dianajune

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I think this is a good idea. Also, ask if they'd be ok if you add some plain pumpkin to his diet - the fiber can be helpful for hairballs.

Can you use a freeze dried treat, like a freeze dried minnow, to put the medication on? I'm sort of thinking out loud here, but something like that rather than on his fur?

Tractor Supply (online) has litter which inexpensive but I find it incredibly dusty.

Are you able to take advantage of Walmart's local delivery, or a grocery store's delivery?

Have you looked at Only Natural Pet? or petstuff.com or The Big Bad Woof
I don't think he would eat minnow, and there no place around here where I could get it.

Someone suggested those "greenies" pill pockets but those wouldn't work as lactulose is a liquid medication. If it came in pill form, giving it to Pumpkin would be much easier.

I tried Tractor Supply but they didn't have anything I could afford, nor was shipping available. I'll have to keep bugging Target to stop shipping his litter in boxes that keep falling apart.

I'll check petstuff.com. I never heard of it.

Thank you! :)
 
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dianajune

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AS far as hairballs, since he is now eating wet food, egg yolks are great for hairballs. If you simply add an egg yolk to his food a couple times a week, that cana really help. Or you can use egg yolk lecithin. I give my boys 1/2 capsule each every day and I haven't seen a hairball since I started doing that. You can also order powdered egg yolk, which does the same thing, here: EZ Egg Yolk
I'll have to try that. I didn't know that cats could eat eggs. Thank you! :)
 
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dianajune

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Instead of lactulose we give our boy 1/8 tsp of miralax twice a day in his canned food. I would increase the dosage if he needed it. Its nice because it has no taste.
I'll check with his vet on that too. They told me a long time ago that if need be, I could give Pumpkin some Miralax. Wouldn't that give him tummy cramps?

I could mix it with the laxatone.
 
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dianajune

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I was about to recommend Miralax, but kittyluv387 kittyluv387 beat me to it. And was able to give you dosage information, which I didn't have. :)

If you have a Kroger store near you (https://www.kroger.com/stores/search), you can order things from them, online, and then go to the store and someone will bring your purchase out to your car.

Margret
I wish we had a Kroger. All we have in Central Square is a Walmart Super Center. It ran the IGA out of business when they set up shop about 10 years or so back.

I heard that some Walmarts offer delivery svcs (at least for groceries) but this one doesn't offer it.

The cheaper litter at Walmart ("Special kitty") is not shipped by them. They offer pickup only for some reason. Probably because it's cheaper.
 
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dianajune

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If the vet insists on lactulose instead of Miralax, ask if you can get it compounded into a chew treat. Wedgewood Pharmacy has it: Lactulose Chew Treat, Wedgewood Pet Rx A local compounding pharmacy may also be able to do a chew treat.

Is the Pepcid (famotidine) a pill or liquid? Wedgewood Pharmacy also has that as a chew treat.
I didn't know it could be compounded. We have a compounding pharmacy in town. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see if they can do this.

Pepcid is in pill form. I crush it and mix it with the other meds. He doesn't seem to notice.

Thanks!

:)
 

Furballsmom

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I didn't know that cats could eat eggs.
Hi! just to clarify, although your situation is dealing with raw egg yolk which is fine, but egg white for cats always must be cooked :).

Would you be able to find someone, a ride/delivery/home services type of thing that you could get to pick up the litter for you?
 

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Miralax has to be dissolved in water first. A spoonful or two of water is plenty. Then just add it to canned food and mix in. Ask your vet for a recommended dose.

Many TCS members order pet food and litter from Chewy.com
 

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I second the suggestion of Miralax (1/8 tsp 2x day or whatever your vet suggests). My Megacolon boy was on Lactulouse which was awful to administer sticky mess. And it's expensive. You can get a tanker of brand-x Miralax and just sprinkle a measured amount on top of his wet food.
 
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dianajune

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Hi! just to clarify, although your situation is dealing with raw egg yolk which is fine, but egg white for cats always must be cooked :).

Would you be able to find someone, a ride/delivery/home services type of thing that you could get to pick up the litter for you?
I can order online and have it delivered, it's just that a number of websites inc. Walmart, Chewy etc have increased their litter prices alot. And the problem with Walmart too is they have less expensive brands of litter but the cheaper stuff is never eligible for shipping. Figures.

I'll keep looking!
 
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dianajune

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I second the suggestion of Miralax (1/8 tsp 2x day or whatever your vet suggests). My Megacolon boy was on Lactulouse which was awful to administer sticky mess. And it's expensive. You can get a tanker of brand-x Miralax and just sprinkle a measured amount on top of his wet food.
When I adopted my little Pumpkin nearly 6 years ago, he started having bowel issues. Probably because he's an indoor kitty. I don't let him outside at all.

The transition is probably what led to his tummy issues. At first he'd poop two or three times a day, but then he would skip one or two days (sometimes more) in between bowel movements. I thought he was getting megacolon but fortunately the constipation seems to have stopped.

You're right about lactulose...it's very messy and gets all over the place. He ends up not licking most of it off his paws. It will get on his bedding, the window sill, etc. I tried using a syringe but he went ballistic. Probably thought he was getting a shot.

But ever since Pumpkin started to eat canned food his tummy is so much better.
 
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dianajune

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Just called Wedgewood Pharmacy.....and the jerk refused to give out their prices. She said a prescription would have to be faxed first.

I need to know beforehand. So it's back to square one.

It's been about a day since Pumpkin's last bowel movement. I'm probably going to have to give him some Miralax.

The local pharmacy can add flavoring to their liquid medicine, so I'm giving them a call this morning.

I just can't understand why they don't list prices......she said it's company policy. Must be very expensive.

This is sooooo frustrating. He's refusing his meds again. I can't handle this.
 

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Compounding medication can be pricey. I had chew treats done by Wedgewood Pharmacy before. I think it was around $60 for a 30 day supply of omeprazole. Other medicines may cost more or less for chew treats. Strength of the medicine may have some factor in pricing.

Why don't you have your vet call the prescription in and inquire about the price for you? You don't have to fill the prescription of it's too expensive.
 
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