Any Ideas On How To Hide The Taste Of Lactulose For A Cat With Megacolon?

Hi guys! I have a kitty with a number of issues She had a perineal hernia fixed a few months ago, and her bowels aren't looking great - they are too wide and it's very hard for her to pass stool, so we're probably looking at megacolon. Anyways, she's been getting lactulose for quite a while now and she now refuses to eat food that has lactulose in it. No matter how little I put in, or how smelly the food is, she can still detect it. I had to resort to giving her the daily dose with a syringe, which also means that I have to cause diarrhea in order for the hard content to be pushed out. While I managed to hide it in her food, lactulose caused the stool to be soft and things were going well, but now, she can only do the business if part of the stool is basically liquid, as I can't manage to give lactulose with every meal.
Btw, I have tried Miralax instead of lactulose, but as I'm outside of the U.S., I can find it in drugstores, it takes forever to get here when I order from e bay, and I actually didn't have much luck with it. Same goes for pumpkin, psyllium and other things usually used in these situations. She has a ridiculous sense of taste and smell, apparently, and refuses any food that has anything non-edible in it.
So, I was wondering if anyone has any idea of how to hide the taste of lactulose - is there anything that would neutralize the sweet taste?
I'm getting sorta desperate and I'd truly like to avoid torturing her for the rest of her days by using a syringe to deliver the lactulose.
Thank you!

Hi. I have heard that the powder form of lactulose does not have the strong taste as does the liquid. Can you get it in the powder form to try? I know one brand name is Kristalose, but there are probably others.

I suppose you've already tried to mask the taste with tuna water from a can of tuna? Or, maybe baby food meats (no onion, garlic, etc.)?

The other thing is if the Miralax doesn't seem to work as well, you might ask the vet if the dosage should be different (compared to the lactulose)?

Miralax is the brand name. There are many others, even store generic. The ingredient is just Polyethylene glycol 3350. It's also commonly called PEG in some countries. Ask the pharmacist for help in finding this.

I wonder if artiemom can offer some advice. She used to give her megacolon / very complicated yet special cat lactulose on occasion.

Wedgewood Pharmacy lists a lactulose chew treat and a powder that can be sprinkled over food. See if local compounding pharmacies in your country can also do this or some other easier to give form.

Hi!
Sorry you and your baby are going through this. It is an ordeal/nightmare.

I had to give lactulose through syringe. My guy was just as fussy, with an unbelievable sense of smell~~ just like your kitty.

I did not have any other choice, but to give it by syringe.
Artie would refuse anything added to his food, or tuna, or anything else. It was maddening.

Sorry, I do not have any tricks at all.

I did put him in the corner of my chair, blocking his way out. Put a towel under and around his neck, like a bib.. and just dosed him with it. I also gave him a bit of water as a chaser..

I got the lactulose all over him. It was torture. Once the lactulose gets on fur, it is impossible to get out...

As FeebysOwner suggested, crystalized lactulose is available. I looked it up. It is expensive, for the doses we needed; and some say it is not as effective.

As LTS3 mentioned, Miralax is also known as PEG; I know many people in the UK use it, so it is not uncommon.

There is also Cispride, which is a pill, for Megacolon. I got it in a compounded liquid for Artie. It was easier at that point to give him the liquid.

Lactulose, Miralax and Cisapride all work a bit directly.. but all are prescribed for Megacolon.

I ended up using alll for Artie. It was rough.

Megacolon is so frustrating... so maddening.. so overwhelming.

I wish you luck with your baby..

((Hugs))

Something you might have better access to is slippery elm bark, an herb. Here is a very lengthy thread on its use.

Slippery Elm Bark, Wet food, Managing Constipation

I been feeding my cat royal canin gastrointestinal food, reading the reviews plenty cats with megacolon uses this food and praises it..

My cat been pooping just fine on it but only been on this food for almost a week...

I've never heard of Miralax "not working well." It's usually a

adrianne259 said:

Hi guys! I have a kitty with a number of issues She had a perineal hernia fixed a few months ago, and her bowels aren't looking great - they are too wide and it's very hard for her to pass stool, so we're probably looking at megacolon. Anyways, she's been getting lactulose for quite a while now and she now refuses to eat food that has lactulose in it. No matter how little I put in, or how smelly the food is, she can still detect it. I had to resort to giving her the daily dose with a syringe, which also means that I have to cause diarrhea in order for the hard content to be pushed out. While I managed to hide it in her food, lactulose caused the stool to be soft and things were going well, but now, she can only do the business if part of the stool is basically liquid, as I can't manage to give lactulose with every meal.
Btw, I have tried Miralax instead of lactulose, but as I'm outside of the U.S., I can find it in drugstores, it takes forever to get here when I order from e bay, and I actually didn't have much luck with it. Same goes for pumpkin, psyllium and other things usually used in these situations. She has a ridiculous sense of taste and smell, apparently, and refuses any food that has anything non-edible in it.
So, I was wondering if anyone has any idea of how to hide the taste of lactulose - is there anything that would neutralize the sweet taste?
I'm getting sorta desperate and I'd truly like to avoid torturing her for the rest of her days by using a syringe to deliver the lactulose.
Thank you!

Click to expand...

mat

I've never heard of Miralax (I use the generic equivalent for my boy with chronic feline megacolon) "not working well." It's just a matter of finding the right dosage.