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Cats/medicating with laxatone

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Expert: - 2/19/2010


Question

diva
I have a 5 year old DMH. She just went to the vet and received tuna flavored laxatone. regrettably, she will only lick my finger once then wont touch it again. I have tried putting it on food, treats, etc. Do you know of any tricks to get her to ingest her medication?

Answer
Candice,

One easy way to get Laxatone or any other laxative/furball remedy into Diva is to squeeze the dose out of the tube and rub it onto her front legs. Cats are very clean animals for the most part and while Diva will very likely be offended by having Laxatone rubbed onto her front legs she's also quite likely to lick it all off. Don't be afraid to smear the Laxatone onto Diva's legs well because otherwise she may decide to shake off the offending laxative/furball remedy and you'll end up with globs of tuna flavored Laxatone all over walls, furniture and carpets. Since it can sometimes take a few times to get the hang of medicating a kitty who won't voluntarily lick a dose of laxative from your fingers I'd recommend shutting bedroom doors and trying to medicate Diva in an area of the house where she's not as likely to damage any bedding, furniture, carpeting, etc in the event that she does fling the Laxatone off of her legs.

I'm sure that your vet didn't tell you that Laxatone is essentially flavored vaseline, that having been said you could simply opt to give Diva the same dose of unscented original vaseline to see if she's willing to lick that off of your fingers voluntarily. If you'd prefer more natural alternatives giving your kitty a small amount of cow's milk (which often causes diarrea in a cat that isn't constipated) or a tablespoon of pure canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling because it contains sugar and spices that most cats don't like and the fact is cats simply don't need these extras) twice daily - many cats will eat pure canned pumpkin voluntarily but I've found that it usually comes in large cans so you may want to freeze daily doses in freezer bags when you open the can. For a safe and gentle way to balance Diva's digestive system you can also give her unsweetened plain yogurt (I prefer organic, but whatever you prefer will work nicely) - while cow's milk and other dairy products can irritate most cats' digestive tracts the reality is that yogurt generally is okay for most cats because the lactose that other dairy products contain has been broken down by the beneficial bacteria in the yogurt. If you have any further cat related questions please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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