If you suspect an overdose, immediately contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center. Flatulence and cramping are also possible. Call your vet or pharmacist if you have additional questions or concerns about the use of lactuloseĭiarrhea and dehydration are the most common signs of an overdose.Severe side effects are seen (see above) or if you see or suspect an overdose.Types of testing performed will depend on your pet's individual needs, any other medications they may be on, and/or the issue that initially caused your pet to be placed on this medication. No specific monitoring is required for this medication, but your veterinarian may recommend routine testing, especially the monitoring of electrolytes. If you accidentally ingest this medication, call your physician or local poison control center. While this medication is used in humans, it may be given differently and have different side effects. Side effects are generally confined to the digestive system and include: However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal dosing schedule. If you forget to give a dose of lactulose, give it when you remember. Check instructions on the label and from your veterinarian. However, frequency varies and can be adjusted based on your pet’s response to this medication. Lactulose is often given up to 3 or 4 times a day. Excess ammonia is then trapped in the stool and defecated out. The aforementioned acids create an acidic environment that makes naturally available ammonia from the blood stream shift into the colon. When the liver is diseased, it cannot do this properly and causes a buildup of ammonia in the blood stream.Įxcessive ammonia in the blood can travel to the brain and may lead to seizures or other neurological symptoms. Lactulose is also beneficial for pets with liver disease, as one of the liver’s key functions is to remove ammonia from the blood system for excretion. The presence of this acid allows water to be pulled into the colon via osmosis, which causes softening of the stool, making Lactulose beneficial for pets with constipation. When digesting the lactulose, the bacteria break it down into primarily lactic acid (but also acetic and formic acid). Since it is not digested, it passes unchanged all the way to the colon where normal colonic bacteria eat the lactulose. Lactulose is a small sugar molecule that mammals and birds can’t digest. This is called extra-label or off-label use because this use isn’t described on the drug label. However, it is readily utilized in the veterinary field, and veterinarians can legally prescribe certain human drugs in animals in certain circumstances. Lactulose is currently not FDA approved as a veterinary medication. Lactulose is FDA-approved for human use under the brand names Constulose ®, Enulose ®, Generlac ®, and Kristalose ®. It can also prevent and treat hepatic encephalopathy by lowering ammonia levels in small animals. Lactulose is used as a laxative for the treatment of constipation in cats and dogs. This content shouldn’t take the place of advice by your vet. PetMD’s medications content was written and reviewed by veterinary professionals to answer your most common questions about how medications function, their side effects, and what species they are prescribed for.
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