maalox alternatives

Re: maalox alternatives

Claire Cameron — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:55:18 GMT

I seem to remember once upon a time reading/hearing that dogs can't have Milk of Magnesia? did I dream this?

Re: maalox alternatives

Fiona Leathers — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:02:35 GMT

I just know from personal experience of my 2 cats, that were both on renal diets, that once I stopped the phos binders, both their phos levels went back up, making them feel rotten, unwell, not eating and on drips for a couple of days. Maybe cats are just a bit more sensitive than dogs!

Re: maalox alternatives

christinam — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:36:51 GMT

My cat is on renal food only as just won't eat ipakitine, renalzin or rubanal! and this is a cat that eats everything usually!

Re: maalox alternatives

Vicky RVN — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:34:34 GMT

We had Renalzin rep in the other day. I seem to remember her saying if phos high and animal on renal then use phos binder. Once ranges get to normal, if they're on renal food then phos binder can be left out, as ST was doing. There doesn't seem much point giving phos binder if giving renal food alone keeps levels in normal range.

Re: maalox alternatives

Doolally — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:42:05 GMT

thanks for the replies. The dog is hardly eating so the renal diet is not an option at the mo...but there's plenty suggestions i can chat to the vet about, thanks

Re: maalox alternatives

Steph Worsley — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:23:36 GMT

renal diet PLUS phosphate binder is kind of like belt and braces, you don't technically need a binder with a proper renal diet BUT it never hurts to add it in esp if the phos is on the slightly higher end of normal.

Re: maalox alternatives

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:49:19 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]Phosphate binders are very important in renal disease and should be fed even with a renal diet - life expectancy can be increased by as much as 2.5 years because of phosphate binders. T[/quote]

I dont agree, if the diet is doing its job, then why include a binder?

My dog got regular phos checks while on the renal diet and they were always within normal limits, so no need to include a binder.

At present the vet has her on a normal diet with a binder as well as Zentonyl, we are trialing it for 1 month and she will have her bloods checked again.

The animals are usually unwell if the phos is elevated, and their inappetance is caused by a lack of vit b which is an appetite stimulant, as animals with renal disease lack this, they should be supplemented. Ruby gets a vit b tab daily and also live yoghurt.

Re: maalox alternatives

Fiona Leathers — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:02:31 GMT

http://www.nutrecare.co.uk/prod6.asp?prod_id=1856&id=141&sub_cat=510&grpid=1856&msg=&offset=

[quote user="S-J"]

i might be wrong but is ipakitine not a phosphate binder

[/quote]

I think you are wrong! Phosphate binders are very important in renal disease and should be fed even with a renal diet - life expectancy can be increased by as much as 2.5 years because of phosphate binders. There are many out on the market - Ipakatine, Renalzin, etc. Maalox is aluminium hydroxide, compared to the othes which are calcium hydroxides (some vets thinks this "mops" up the phosphate better) - it should be used with care in animals with renal disease because of the magnesium and it has a peppermint flavour which a lot of animals don't like! Because it is also an antacid, it is quite good for settling their stomachs and reducing gastritis, which can make many renal patients off colour & inappetant.

Re: maalox alternatives

Steph Worsley — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:54:37 GMT

ipakitine is a phosphate binder and this is what we recommend most to dogs, renalzin in cats.

Steph....not all "antacids" contain aluminium hydroxide, which is the important part of it, so can't be used in the same way.

Obv a renal diet is the best way to go anyway

Re: maalox alternatives

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:16:25 GMT

Maalox is an american branded antacid so I would have thought another antacid would suffice. It's ingredients are aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and simeticone. So Milk of Magnesia, Cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine... Pepcid, Zantac, Kaopectate... dunno those are just some guesses. but I was under the impression animals with renal problems shouldn't be on long courses of magnesium?

Re: maalox alternatives

Vicky RVN — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:59:58 GMT

Renalzin can be used on dogs too.

Re: maalox alternatives

S-J — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:58:03 GMT

i might be wrong but is ipakitine not a phosphate binder

Re: maalox alternatives

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:54:27 GMT

Ipakitine, its a powder you put on their food, which is tolerated well. Also Alucaps, you used to get the aludrox suspension, but as far as I know it is discontinued. Or she could just feed the renal diet, and that way you dont need to bother with the phosphate binders.