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Lactulose for pets

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Comments

  • SnowyOwl_2
    SnowyOwl_2 Posts: 5,257 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    madkitty wrote: »
    I thought the sugar didnt get absorbed anywhere?

    Oh how I wish sugar didn't get absorbed!!! Imagine all the chocolate we could eat and not get fat...and how much Whiskas and Felix and everything else our cats could eat without their waistlines being affected!

    Unfortunately sugar does get absorbed. Sugar is not a natural part of a cat's diet, and putting regular amounts of it into a cat really doesn't sound like it would be compatible with a cat's system. I'm no vet but in my opinion giving anything sugary to a cat defies common sense.
  • snowman2_2
    snowman2_2 Posts: 753 Forumite
    SnowyOwl wrote: »
    Oh how I wish sugar didn't get absorbed!!! Imagine all the chocolate we could eat and not get fat...and how much Whiskas and Felix and everything else our cats could eat without their waistlines being affected!

    Unfortunately sugar does get absorbed. Sugar is not a natural part of a cat's diet, and putting regular amounts of it into a cat really doesn't sound like it would be compatible with a cat's system. I'm no vet but in my opinion giving anything sugary to a cat defies common sense.

    Sorry, but in regard to lactulose you are plain wrong. Lactulose is a type of sugar and whilst glucose is absorbed, lactulose isn't. The whole point is that it stays in the gut, draws water into the gut, softening stools. The only way it can cause kidney disease is if you don't drink whilst using it, then you can get dehydrated and upset your kidneys that way but most cats, dogs & humans can use it safely.
  • snowman2_2
    snowman2_2 Posts: 753 Forumite
    SnowyOwl wrote: »
    Unfortunately for the very reason it is good for constipation, it can be hard on a cats' kidneys. It is also loaded with sugar which has implications for diabetes over a prolonged period. Sorry to pee on the lactulose parade!

    Sorry to double post but I forgot to quote both posts.

    Lactulose DOES NOT cause diabetes and is not hard on kidneys.
  • Flyboy152
    Flyboy152 Posts: 17,118 Forumite
    SnowyOwl wrote: »
    Unfortunately for the very reason it is good for constipation, it can be hard on a cats' kidneys. It is also loaded with sugar which has implications for diabetes over a prolonged period. Sorry to pee on the lactulose parade!

    Such as what?
    The greater danger, for most of us, lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark
  • SnowyOwl_2
    SnowyOwl_2 Posts: 5,257 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    snowman2 wrote: »
    Sorry, but in regard to lactulose you are plain wrong. Lactulose is a type of sugar and whilst glucose is absorbed, lactulose isn't. The whole point is that it stays in the gut, draws water into the gut, softening stools. The only way it can cause kidney disease is if you don't drink whilst using it, then you can get dehydrated and upset your kidneys that way but most cats, dogs & humans can use it safely.

    If you know of a way to make a cat drink more water than it already does then please share. Are you willing to state that all cats drink enough water?
  • SnowyOwl_2
    SnowyOwl_2 Posts: 5,257 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Flyboy152 wrote: »
    Such as what?

    Causing it.
  • Flyboy152
    Flyboy152 Posts: 17,118 Forumite
    SnowyOwl wrote: »
    Causing it.

    Consuming too much sugar does not cause diabetes.
    The greater danger, for most of us, lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark
  • Flyboy152
    Flyboy152 Posts: 17,118 Forumite
    SnowyOwl wrote: »
    If you know of a way to make a cat drink more water than it already does then please share. Are you willing to state that all cats drink enough water?

    If any animal is dehydrated, it will drink fluids, if it is available.
    The greater danger, for most of us, lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark
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