Can I Give My Cat Dulcolax?

Can I give my cat Dulcolax?

Can I give my cat Dulcolax?It can be hard to watch your cat have constipation, and you might be considering giving them something like Dulcolax in order to stop the straining. It may sound like a good idea, but it is not recommended as this is a pretty strong medication devised for humans.

Even though they say it’s been around for over 50 years, you should not think this makes it safe to give to cats. Just because it’s effective for us does not translate to the feline species. In most instances a bout of constipation will not last very long in your cat, and you’ll see marked improvement the next day. It’s only when you see repeated days of struggle and strain that you should think about intervening.

It could be that you recently changed their cat food, or perhaps they made it outside and ate some lizard or bird they caught. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat this could be a regular occurrence. There are several other reasons for constipation, including stress, as well as simply aging.

Can I Give My Cat Dulcolax? Answer: No.

Dulcolax is not the sort of medicine you want to be giving to your cat. It’s designed to produce regular and effective results for humans, and therefore will have a strong effect on your cat, even in small doses. If your vet has suggested it, it’s because they have a better idea about your specific cat and they will also be able to recommend the right dosage based on their size and breed.

Cats and Constipation
Cats can get constipated for any number of reasons, but it’s usually because they ate something they shouldn’t, or they ate something they’re not used to. They can also get backed up if they swallow enough hair and don’t manage to yack up the hairball. It’s usually not something to be concerned about – on its own – which is why you should check for other problems your cat might be having, including diarrhea, vomiting, and other behavioral oddities.

Cats and Medication
There are specially formulated cat meds, and that’s really the only thing you should be giving your cat, per your vet’s recommendations. By playing doctor and administering drugs to your cat on your own, you are risking their well-being and could make a small problem bigger. A constipation remedy made for humans is not designed to be ingested in cats, as their digestion system is different than ours. Also, the manufacturer did not consider the use in cats when they made it, so there is no way to know what kind of side effects, or what long term intestinal damage you’re creating, even if there is not immediate sign of a problem.

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Observing Your Cat
Cats are great because they mostly run on autopilot, with only an occasional need of special attention. It seems that they almost take pride in this fact, since they lick themselves clean, and are sophisticated enough to use a litter box. That’s why it can be hard to notice any change in your cat, if you’ve grown unaccustomed to just petting them occasionally and keeping them fed and watered. It’s pretty easy to spot when your cat is constipated, but you also need to observe their other behavior so you can see if there are any other symptoms that might be a sign of something more serious.

Playing detective with your cat can be the best way to help them. By keeping a journal of their activity you’ll be able to paint a clearer day-by-day picture of what is normal, and thereby be able to point out the abnormal to your vet if needed. Just giving them something like Dulcolax or any other laxative at the first sign of constipation is not a good strategy.

When to See a Vet
After carefully observing your cat, if you’ve noticed that they are not their normal self in addition to being constipated, you might want to bring them into the vet to see what’s going on. Many times an objective opinion is what’s needed in order to figure out just what the problem is. You might think everything has been running normally in your house, but after a few questions from the vet they might uncover a change that’s taken place that is disrupting your cat’s behavior.

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21 thoughts on “Can I Give My Cat Dulcolax?”

  1. My cat is seriously ill from constipation. We have seen the vet for over a month. $1,900.00 later the cat still has this medical issue. I think your wrong at this point – the cat will eventually die. I’m going to give her Dulcolax. The cat has obviously no other options.

    1. My cat was prescribed Bisacodyl tablets 5 mg (Dulcolax) once a day. I give it to him about every other day. It has helped him immensely.

      1. The vet prescribed Miralax powder, but my “smarty-kitty” detects it right away and is still very constipated! I am relieved to read of your success and am going to insert a Ducolax tab into a Greenie pill which she loves. Wish me luck!

        Just an aside: I live on a fixed income and the clinics around here want “your firstborn”, so to speak! One clinic gave her an enema which didn’t work, sent her home with instructions for Miralax, ($159.00 bill), and won’t see her again until the total bill is paid!

        I have always donated to animal causes since my teens(now 68) and up until recently to PETA and ASPCA. Because of poor health, I had to
        leave my job and stop donating. Just venting!

    2. My vet said it was OK to give my 13 year old cat Dulcolax for chronic constipation. I gave Jake one dose at 2pm. It is now 7pm and he has not gone BM.

  2. My cat had a huge bowel movement after a second dose of Dulcolax (24 hours after the first one). So happy!

  3. Constipation is very serious in a cat. I have a 10 year old special needs kitty and have spent tons of money on diagnosis of underlying problems. When Miralax fails, Dulcolax is next.

  4. I have an 11 year old cat. She hasn’t gone to the toilet for 2 days and a vet is charging me £30 before even looking at her. I’m worried about giving her Dulcolax. Is this really safe to give her and do I crush the tablets or give a whole tablet?

    1. Yes. I use pliers to crush a generic Dulcolax in a folded piece of wax paper. It slides fairly easily into a tiny plastic cup or food container where I add the pate and only pate. I mix it and serve him. If there’s any medicine left, grind it again or just add it and hiding it, if necessary.

      I don’t want him dependent though. There’s a liquid where I would only use a few drops not a human dose. There’s also a paste for cats and powders for humans. I might sprinkle that but I’m not sure.

  5. I have an 18 year old kitty with a 6 month old tail pull injury who has trouble defecating on his own. I give a daily 5mg Dulcolax enema and saw results usually within 10-15 minutes.

    Some days he tells me he doesn’t need it, and runs to the litter box when he sees me coming with the syringe! But I never let him go without “going” for more than 2 days. I don’t want megacolon to develop.

  6. My 7 year old female kitty is very constipated and is suffering. After a $194.00 vet bill for two enemas with no results and an antibiotic that she throws up almost immediately, I am literally broke and desperate. I am going to have to try Dulcolax.

  7. Tengo un gato de 17 años y el gato sigue igual y el veterinario puro cobrar y no sirve para nada . U el gato sufre de estreñido ya por tiempo ya no se q hacer . es mejor probar Dulcolax a q se me muera .oraciones por mi gato anciano les pido.

  8. I give my cat 1/4 pill of Dulcolax per my vet’s direction because she had megacolon which we had to take care of with enemas. It’s been half a year and she’s doing great, goes most days!

    1. It’s just fine to give them Ducolax. Stay away from vets, they are in it for the money. They won’t talk to you on the phone, they know the problem, but don’t care for you or a cat!

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