Post by the Scribe on Dec 12, 2023 5:53:43 GMT
Psyllium Fiber for Cats: A Natural Remedy for Constipation (and the runs)
www.petguide.com/blog/cat/psyllium-fiber-for-cats-a-natural-remedy-for-constipation/
Metamucil (Psyllium) For Cats
Author
Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder
cat-world.com/metamucil-for-cats/
Dosage
The recommended dosage for cats is 1 – 4 teaspoons of unflavoured psyllium once or twice per day added to canned food. It is extremely important to ensure the cat is well hydrated while taking Metamucil as it draws fluid from the GI tract.
Do not give Metamucil (or any other over the counter medication) to your cat without first consulting a veterinarian. There are several causes of constipation that may require medical intervention.
Metamucil for Cats: What You Need To Know
cats.com/metamucil-for-cats
Avatar photo
by
JENNIFER SHEPHERD, DVM
Metamucil Dosage for Cats
The starting dose for cats is ¼ teaspoon once daily for cats under 8 pounds and ¼ teaspoon twice daily for cats eight pounds and over.
If you don’t notice an improvement, you can increase the dose by 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon.
You should see an improvement in the stools within a few days if it is going to be effective. Metamucil is very safe in cats. If too much is given, cats may experience abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
CAT HEALTH > CAT MEDICATION
Metamucil for Cats: What You Need To Know
Avatar photo
by
JENNIFER SHEPHERD, DVM
comments-icon
7 Commentson Metamucil for Cats: What You Need To Know
calendar-iconLast updated Mar 8, 2023
comments-iconFact checked by
MALLORY CRUSTA
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Metamucil for cats feature
You are cleaning out the litterbox and notice that your cat’s stool is small, dry, and hard. Your cat is probably constipated. The first treatment most people think of is Metamucil. It works for humans, so does it work for cats, too?
The short answer is that yes, Metamucil can work for cats. Keep reading for the details on safety, dosing, and more.
But before we talk about Metamucil, let’s learn a little more about constipation in cats.
Symptoms and Signs of Constipation in Cats
Constipation is defined as infrequent bowel movements or difficulty in passing feces. You may see your cat straining in the litterbox with an arched back and a painful meow. The poop in the box may appear hard and dry, sometimes there is blood on the stool. With some cats, your cat may have diarrhea. This can happen when there is a fecal impaction and watery diarrhea passes around the fecal ball.
Many cats are private about their bowel movements and run away whenever anyone approaches the litterbox. This can make it hard for cat owners to realize their cat is suffering from constipation.
Make it a habit to clean the litter box every one to two days. If you notice a decrease in the amount of poop in the box or if the stool is very dry and small, your cat may be constipated.
When cats have a hard time pooping, they may associate the pain and difficulty with the litter box. It is not uncommon for cats suffering from constipation to defecate outside the litter box. It may be next to the box, in their bed, or in a corner of your house.
Causes of Constipation in Cats
Constipated cats are often dehydrated. One of the colon’s jobs is to absorb water from waste material. If your kitty is dehydrated, the colon pulls more water out of the waste, creating hard, dry fecal material.
Dehydration is often caused by another underlying medical condition such as kidney disease or diabetes mellitus.
Cats that spend a lot of time grooming, especially long haired cats, may develop hairballs. The hairballs may be vomited or pass through the intestines into the colon where they mix with stool and lead to problems with defecation.
Cat constipation can also be due to a mechanical obstruction in the lower GI tract. Fractures in the pelvis can compress the colon making passage of fecal material difficult. Polyps or masses in the colon can also lead to a partial or full obstruction in the colon.
Complications of Chronic Constipation
Chronic constipation can be a very serious medical condition. When a cat is not able to pass stool at all, the term obstipation is used.
Obstipation can lead to absorption of bacterial toxins from the stool into the blood stream, causing endotoxemia. Endotoxemia causes lethargy, anorexia, and in severe cases, organ damage which can be life threatening.
Chronic constipation and obstipation can also cause irreversible damage to the muscles and nerves in the colon. Over time, megacolon may develop.
Megacolon is a serious problem in which the colon is dilated and unable to contract to expel fecal material. In severe cases, the colon may need to be removed.
What Is Metamucil?
Metamucil is the brand name of a fiber supplement that contains psyllium husk. Psyllium is passed through the digestive system and absorbs water.
It increases fecal mass, softens the stools, and stimulates contractions in the colon to help push stool out. Metamucil is safe to use in cats and it is readily available over the counter at drug stores, grocery stores, and superstores such as Walmart and Target.
There is an unflavored version that can be mixed with food.
Metamucil Dosage for Cats
Cat in green litter box
Many cats experience recurring episodes of feline idiopathic cystitis. Long-term management can help to prevent these repeated episodes.
The starting dose for cats is ¼ teaspoon once daily for cats under 8 pounds and ¼ teaspoon twice daily for cats eight pounds and over.
If you don’t notice an improvement, you can increase the dose by 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon.
You should see an improvement in the stools within a few days if it is going to be effective. Metamucil is very safe in cats. If too much is given, cats may experience abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
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If you see these signs developing, reduce the dose or discontinue completely. Psyllium is also available in a capsule form.
The capsules may contain 500mg or 1000mg, so make sure you read the bottle carefully. The average cat over 8 pounds should receive 500mg per day. You can either give the capsule whole or open the capsule and mix it with food.
Alternatively, you may use a syringe to gather a small amount of watered-down food mixed with an appropriate dose of Metamucil and carefully syringe it into your cat’s cheek pocket.
Cats under 8 pounds should receive 250mg psyllium per day. Since it is not available in this strength, you can open the capsule and mix approximately ½ of the powder in the capsule with food.
www.petguide.com/blog/cat/psyllium-fiber-for-cats-a-natural-remedy-for-constipation/
Metamucil (Psyllium) For Cats
Author
Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder
cat-world.com/metamucil-for-cats/
Dosage
The recommended dosage for cats is 1 – 4 teaspoons of unflavoured psyllium once or twice per day added to canned food. It is extremely important to ensure the cat is well hydrated while taking Metamucil as it draws fluid from the GI tract.
Do not give Metamucil (or any other over the counter medication) to your cat without first consulting a veterinarian. There are several causes of constipation that may require medical intervention.
Metamucil for Cats: What You Need To Know
cats.com/metamucil-for-cats
Avatar photo
by
JENNIFER SHEPHERD, DVM
Metamucil Dosage for Cats
The starting dose for cats is ¼ teaspoon once daily for cats under 8 pounds and ¼ teaspoon twice daily for cats eight pounds and over.
If you don’t notice an improvement, you can increase the dose by 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon.
You should see an improvement in the stools within a few days if it is going to be effective. Metamucil is very safe in cats. If too much is given, cats may experience abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
CAT HEALTH > CAT MEDICATION
Metamucil for Cats: What You Need To Know
Avatar photo
by
JENNIFER SHEPHERD, DVM
comments-icon
7 Commentson Metamucil for Cats: What You Need To Know
calendar-iconLast updated Mar 8, 2023
comments-iconFact checked by
MALLORY CRUSTA
Share
Email Pinterest Linkedin Twitter Facebook
Metamucil for cats feature
You are cleaning out the litterbox and notice that your cat’s stool is small, dry, and hard. Your cat is probably constipated. The first treatment most people think of is Metamucil. It works for humans, so does it work for cats, too?
The short answer is that yes, Metamucil can work for cats. Keep reading for the details on safety, dosing, and more.
But before we talk about Metamucil, let’s learn a little more about constipation in cats.
Symptoms and Signs of Constipation in Cats
Constipation is defined as infrequent bowel movements or difficulty in passing feces. You may see your cat straining in the litterbox with an arched back and a painful meow. The poop in the box may appear hard and dry, sometimes there is blood on the stool. With some cats, your cat may have diarrhea. This can happen when there is a fecal impaction and watery diarrhea passes around the fecal ball.
Many cats are private about their bowel movements and run away whenever anyone approaches the litterbox. This can make it hard for cat owners to realize their cat is suffering from constipation.
Make it a habit to clean the litter box every one to two days. If you notice a decrease in the amount of poop in the box or if the stool is very dry and small, your cat may be constipated.
When cats have a hard time pooping, they may associate the pain and difficulty with the litter box. It is not uncommon for cats suffering from constipation to defecate outside the litter box. It may be next to the box, in their bed, or in a corner of your house.
Causes of Constipation in Cats
Constipated cats are often dehydrated. One of the colon’s jobs is to absorb water from waste material. If your kitty is dehydrated, the colon pulls more water out of the waste, creating hard, dry fecal material.
Dehydration is often caused by another underlying medical condition such as kidney disease or diabetes mellitus.
Cats that spend a lot of time grooming, especially long haired cats, may develop hairballs. The hairballs may be vomited or pass through the intestines into the colon where they mix with stool and lead to problems with defecation.
Cat constipation can also be due to a mechanical obstruction in the lower GI tract. Fractures in the pelvis can compress the colon making passage of fecal material difficult. Polyps or masses in the colon can also lead to a partial or full obstruction in the colon.
Complications of Chronic Constipation
Chronic constipation can be a very serious medical condition. When a cat is not able to pass stool at all, the term obstipation is used.
Obstipation can lead to absorption of bacterial toxins from the stool into the blood stream, causing endotoxemia. Endotoxemia causes lethargy, anorexia, and in severe cases, organ damage which can be life threatening.
Chronic constipation and obstipation can also cause irreversible damage to the muscles and nerves in the colon. Over time, megacolon may develop.
Megacolon is a serious problem in which the colon is dilated and unable to contract to expel fecal material. In severe cases, the colon may need to be removed.
What Is Metamucil?
Metamucil is the brand name of a fiber supplement that contains psyllium husk. Psyllium is passed through the digestive system and absorbs water.
It increases fecal mass, softens the stools, and stimulates contractions in the colon to help push stool out. Metamucil is safe to use in cats and it is readily available over the counter at drug stores, grocery stores, and superstores such as Walmart and Target.
There is an unflavored version that can be mixed with food.
Metamucil Dosage for Cats
Cat in green litter box
Many cats experience recurring episodes of feline idiopathic cystitis. Long-term management can help to prevent these repeated episodes.
The starting dose for cats is ¼ teaspoon once daily for cats under 8 pounds and ¼ teaspoon twice daily for cats eight pounds and over.
If you don’t notice an improvement, you can increase the dose by 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon.
You should see an improvement in the stools within a few days if it is going to be effective. Metamucil is very safe in cats. If too much is given, cats may experience abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
VIEW ON WALMART
If you see these signs developing, reduce the dose or discontinue completely. Psyllium is also available in a capsule form.
The capsules may contain 500mg or 1000mg, so make sure you read the bottle carefully. The average cat over 8 pounds should receive 500mg per day. You can either give the capsule whole or open the capsule and mix it with food.
Alternatively, you may use a syringe to gather a small amount of watered-down food mixed with an appropriate dose of Metamucil and carefully syringe it into your cat’s cheek pocket.
Cats under 8 pounds should receive 250mg psyllium per day. Since it is not available in this strength, you can open the capsule and mix approximately ½ of the powder in the capsule with food.