I hope my nightmare isn't beginning all over again, but Peanut shot out diarrhoea just now, after his evening meal. By the way, I think I may have got Peanut's gender wrong, he is probably male.
I have since given him pumpkin and probiotics with his AD. I hope, being bigger and stronger, it would be easier for him to recover. And I hope he won't go through the stage of losing weight.
Looks like the bug won't spare a single kitten.
Peanut is still active and playing.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Please keep yours crossed for Peanut, too.
7 comments:
If Peanut doesn't get better on pumpkin and probiotics, you can look into using Kaopectate for him. I don't know what brands are sold in Malaysia (you can try asking your vet), but in USA and Canada, it's marketed as Pepto-Bismol (which contains Bismuth salicylate) and is safe to use in dogs. Cats require a very low dose, but certified vets can help you with dosage. It has worked very, very well for me in the past. Here is a link for info on it: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=0+1459&aid=1431
Some other side effects include black coloured stool, but that is normal.
Good luck with Peanut!! I hope he/she gets better soon. I know how worrying it is to have a small animal who is having constant diarrhea. :(
Be careful with Kaopectate because the kittens are on medication. The substance will interfere with the absorption of the medication dispensed by the vet to treat his sickness.
Kaopectate helps with diarrhoea, but needed to be taken several hours before and after medication to minimise Kaopectate absorbing the medication itself together with other toxins in the digestive system and as a result the medication is not absorbed into the body to do the healing work.
VERY URGENT!: I found this posted in 2005 concerning Kaopectate for Cats:
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Kaopectate NO longer safe to give to cats with diarrhea January 19, 2005 3:52 PM
It has been years since I had a cat with a case of diarrhea. It was always recommended by all the vets whose services I used, to administor a dose of Kaopectate.
This product was always considered safe for cats....well...NO MORE.
Recently, when I noticed one of the ferals had diarrhea, I was about to go out and buy a bottle of Kaopectate.
Luckily, I contacted my vet first and discussed the situation with him.
During the conversation, I had asked how much Kaopectate I should give the cat (since it had been years, I could not remember the dosage).
This is when he told me the formula had CHANGED and he advised me NOT use Kaopectate again.
I did not know (like I said, it has literally been years) that the Kaopectate formula has been changed and now contains SALICYLATES (an ASPIRIN-derivative) and could result in TOXICOSIS.
According to the AVMA,
"Kaopectate, the over-the-counter diarrhea treatment for humans, recently has been REFORMULATED to contain an ASPIRIN derivative that is TOXIC TO CATS.
Kaopectate's new formula contains BISMUTH SUBSALICYLATE (the same stuff in Pepto Bismol BTW), which may cause SALICYLATE TOXICOSIS in cats if they are overdosed.
Previously, the product contained ATTAPULGITE, an inert clay aluminum.
The original kaolin pectin formula of Kaopectate was replaced by the attapulgite formula in caplets in 1984, and liquid attapulgite formulations were first introduced in 1989.
According to a Pfizer Animal Health spokesman, the new formulation of all liquid forms of Kaopectate began shipping in December 2002.
Reformulated caplets begin shipping no later than April 2004.
A tablespoon of reformulated children's or regular-strength Kaopectate contains 130 mg aspirin equivalent, and extra-strength Kaopectate contains 230 mg aspirin equivalent.
A tablespoon of extra-strength Kaopectate given to a 5-pound cat would yield 120 mg/kg aspirin equivalent and would likely result in toxicosis.
Cats typically don't metabolize and excrete many compounds, including aspirin, efficiently, which means we're much more likely to have effects"
Whew! Good thing I called the vet first!
I remember the old formula Kaopectate worked wonders, usually correcting the diarrhea within 24 hours.
So, I went and searched for products which contain the ingredients of the old formula.
I found two products which are relatively inexpensive. Below are the links. One product contains kaolin and pectin, both have been used safely for the treatment of noninfectious diarrhea in animals, including cats.
The other product contains activated attapulgite clay, a specially treated mineral clay that adsorbs toxins and toxic materials present in the gut of animals with symptoms of diarrhea.
Attapulgite clay was the main ingredient of the old formula Kaopectate. Neither of these products contains bismuth or salicylates.
AMPLE WARNINGS AGAINST USE OF KAOPECTATE ON CATS:
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Kaopectate reformulation could be dangerous to cats.
Kaopectate, the over-the-counter diarrhea treatment for humans, recently has been reformulated to contain an aspirin derivative that is toxic to cats in high doses.
Kaopectate's new formula contains bismuth subsalicylate, which may cause salicylate toxicosis in cats if they are overdosed.
Previously, the product contained attapulgite, an inert clay aluminum.
The original kaolin pectin formula of Kaopectate was replaced by the attapulgite formula in caplets in 1984, and liquid attapulgite formulations were first introduced in 1989.
The attapulgite formulation of Kaopectate caplets may still be available. According to a Pfizer Animal Health spokesman, the new formulation of all liquid forms of Kaopectate began shipping in December 2002.
Reformulated caplets are scheduled to begin shipping no later than April 2004.
Though it is an extralabel use, for decades, veterinarians have recommended Kaopectate to treat diarrhea in cats and dogs, particularly for clients who call after hours or are unwilling or unable to get immediate veterinary care, said Dr. Cory Langston, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and a member of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents.
Dr. Amy Neal at U.S. Pharmacopeia, an organization that provides drug information and runs a medication errors reporting system, alerted Dr. Langston about the formulation change.
"This (product) was prescribed, perhaps in part, because it could do no harm, since none of the ingredients were absorbed orally. Because of this safety factor, large and frequent doses were commonly used." Dr. Langston said.
"Unlike the old Kaopectate, this new formulation could result in toxicosis if you don't account for the salicylate content of the product."
Dr. Steve Hansen, a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center, said the range of recommended aspirin-derivative dosages that have been published for cats is 10 mg/kg every other day to 25 mg/kg every day.
A tablespoon of reformulated children's or regular-strength Kaopectate contains 130 mg aspirin equivalent, and extra-strength Kaopectate contains 230 mg aspirin equivalent.
A tablespoon of extra-strength Kaopectate given to a 5-pound cat would yield 120 mg/kg aspirin equivalent and would likely result in toxicosis, according to Dr. Hansen.
"Cats typically don't metabolize and excrete many compounds, including aspirin, efficiently, which means we're much more likely to have effects," Dr. Hansen said.
For more information on managing poisons and poison prevention, visit the ASPCA's Poison Control Center Web site, www.apcc.aspca.org.
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Kaopectate and Cats 3/12/04
A common medication used in the treatment of diarrhea in people is Kaopectate. Kaopectate has also commonly been used in animals for the treatment of diarrhea, although it does not have FDA approval for use in animals.
The old form of Kaopectate contained only kaolin and pectin while later forms contained attapulgite, all of which were very safe in animals due to the lack of systemic absorption.
However, Kaopectate has recently developed a new formula that contains the drug bismuth subsalicylate, a drug that can be toxic to cats.
According to Pfizer Animal Health, this new form began shipping in December of 2002. This new drug added to Kaopectate is related to aspirin and a tablespoon of this new regular strength Kaopectate liquid contains the equivalent of 130 mg of aspirin and the extra strength contains the equivalent of 230mg of aspirin.
Only a tablespoon of the extra strength Kaopectate would probably cause toxicosis in a 5 lb cat.
Cats are very sensitive to the effects of these salicylate formulations as they are unable to metabolize and excrete them efficiently.
As many veterinarians over the years have recommended the use of Kaopectate for diarrhea in cats, many cat owners may not be aware of this change in formulation and may continue to give Kaopectate without consulting their veterinarian.
This is an example of why it is so important to always consult your veterinarian before giving any medication, especially a human medication, as many medications work differently in animals than people.
Another common example of this is acetaminophen, or Tylenol. This drug is highly toxic to cats and should not be used at any dosage in this species.
Again, always consult you vet before administering any medication to an animal.
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Kaopectate® WARNING FOR CAT OWNERS
Use only if your formulation does NOT contain salicylates. Pepto-Bismol® should not be used in cats since it contains salicylates, the active ingredient in aspirin. Cats are very sensitive to aspirin so it should be avoided.
WARNING - PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NEW FORMULATIONS OF KAOPECTATE MAY ALSO HAVE SALICYLATES. Do not use if your formulations lists salicylates as an active ingredient. Any vomiting or diarrhea that persists for more than 24 hours needs your veterinarian's attention.
Overview
Bismuth subsalicylate, better known as Pepto-Bismol, is used to treat diarrhea and minor stomach problems, such as stomach inflammation.
Kaopectate for kittens? No, no, no ..... not all stuff offered on the internet are valid and up-to-date, especially the kaopectate advice for kittens and cats. It is outdated and no longer safe to do so, whatever the dilution.
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Up-to-date info on CatChannel:
Can I Give My Kitten Pepto-Bismol?
CatChannel veterinary expert Arnold Plotnick, DVM, discusses why formulations for humans are not suitable for cats.
By Arnold Plotnick, DVM
Posted: July 31, 2009, 3 a.m. EDT
Q: Can I give my 6-month-old kitten Pepto-Bismol for throwing up and diarrhea? Is it a safe product for cats?
A: Bismuth subsalicylate (the chief ingredient in Pepto-Bismol) is related to aspirin. Cats are very sensitive to salicylate formulations. They cannot metabolize and excrete them efficiently. I do not recommend Pepto-Bismol for gastrointestinal problems.
I’d steer clear of Kaopectate, too. Kaolin-pectin combinations have been used for decades to treat diarrhea in humans and small animals. The old formulation contained only kaolin and pectin. Later formulations contained an additional ingredient, attapulgite. All three of these substances were very safe in animals because they were not absorbed into the bloodstream after administration; they exerted their effects locally, in the intestine.
In December 2002, however, Kaopectate was reformulated to contain the drug bismuth subsalicylate, the chief ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. A tablespoon of regular- strength Kaopectate contains the equivalent of 130 milligrams of aspirin; the extra-strength formulation has the equivalent of 230 milligrams. One tablespoon of the extra-strength formula would probably cause toxicosis in a 5-pound cat.
For this reason, Kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol are not recommended for feline gastrointestinal problems. Take your kitten to a good veterinarian who will figure out the cause of the vomiting and diarrhea. The focus is on treating the cause, so the problem goes away, rather than just controlling the symptoms.
Thanks, everyone. I'm only giving him pumpkin and probiotics. No drugs so far. Natural is still best. I don't give drugs without a vet's diagnosis and prescription.
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