Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Miriam Lodewyks — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 23:28:52 GMT

Well, the latest update regarding these two GSD pups is that they STILL have intermittent diarrhoea! I have now definitively ruled out every infectious agent I can think of, or test for (by float and PCR). Have US scanned both - nothing interesting. Biochem, Lipase and TLI all normal. We have had some short-lived success by changing diet, but only seems to last a couple weeks, then they both gradually start to go softer and softer again. As for the original post: Loperamide works rather well, and is probably the only thing keeping my clients on-board, and sane.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Kate Richardson — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 08:30:03 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

Great - also, make sure you're not stinting on the dose. Weigh the dogs and round up the sachets - if they put on weight you don't want to underdose. Extended course for me is at least 7-10 days but rabbits can be on fenbendazole up to 28 days for e cuniculi, for example. (Yes, dogs are not rabbits, but this is a serious case, so I would submit that if you're on day 10 and it's 80% better, go ahead and give it a few more days.)

Also perhaps consider adding in a hydrolyzed diet to give the dog something that's easier to digest, in addition to the medication. After months of D+ the gut will need some time to pull itself together, so to speak.

[/quote]

I agree Mark, I always give them a 10-14 day course from day 1 if I diagnose Giardia and have occasionally given a 21 day course. Second an easily digestible diet as well. And restest the faeces at the end of treatment.

Re Loperamide, yes I have used it at formulary doses to reduce the symptoms as it helps to keep the owner on board as they can easily get frustrated if things don't appear to be improving and then compliance drops but you must empasise that it isn't the cure and finding the cause and treating it are imperative.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:34:25 GMT

[quote user="GrooveJet"]

@ the 2 Marks: both dogs tested positive to the Giardia PCR, along with Cryptosporidiom, Clostridium and Neospora, and have received extended courses of drugs to that effect. Symptoms improved initially, but then reverted.

Started them both on a 2nd course of Fenbendazole, whilst awaiting repeat faecal tests, but owner frantic about the hygiene implications and just wants the diarrhoea to stop!!!

[/quote]

Keep the faith! I love a good GI case :)

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Andrew Kent — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:49:32 GMT

[quote user="GrooveJet"]

Started them both on a 2nd course of Fenbendazole, whilst awaiting repeat faecal tests, but owner frantic about the hygiene implications and just wants the diarrhoea to stop!!!

[/quote] It's pretty easy for dogs to reinfect themselves with Giardia so it will be interesting to see if this comes up positive again. Was the owner washing around the back end during treatment?

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Miriam Lodewyks — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:39:38 GMT

Started them both on a 2nd course of Fenbendazole, whilst awaiting repeat faecal tests, but owner frantic about the hygiene implications and just wants the diarrhoea to stop!!!

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

emma_j — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 10:20:46 GMT

Is anyone using sulfasalazine routinely? It seems to have fallen out of fashion, not seeing it on many pharmacy shelves

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Dagmar Steele — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 08:22:13 GMT

+1 for giardia, as they tend to escape in the test if the feces haven't been sampled over three days. I give fenbendazole for 10 days, less is often not enough.

Re Loperamid: I have used it in dogs and unless they have the MDR1 genetic defect there are no side effects. With the defect they may get really wobbly and depressed.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Mark Holmes — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:54:52 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

[quote user="GrooveJet"]Am dealing with 2 GSD pups (4m) who have tested positive for numerous parasites and subsequently been on various drugs, but diarrhoea keeps on pouring. Kaolin and Protexin don't seem to be helping either. Owner at end of tether as she's supposed to running a child day-care centre from her home (I know.... let's not go there). Pups seem quite happy and growing normally.

[/quote]

Bet you a coffee at congress it's Giardia. Get them on fenbendazole for a week to ten days. (the 3 day course isn't enough for anything serious.)

(ok, if not that, a lovely food allergy.)

[/quote] Or coccidiosis - have bumped into that once or twice

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 23:37:00 GMT

[/quote]

Bet you a coffee at congress it's Giardia. Get them on fenbendazole for a week to ten days. (the 3 day course isn't enough for anything serious.)

(ok, if not that, a lovely food allergy.)

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:23:25 GMT

I start low and dose to effect. Too much can give you constipation. Never seen any other side effects, but only used it a handful of times.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Miriam Lodewyks — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:20:51 GMT

Thanks MW, I actually had that very same idea just this afternoon! Syrup is easier to dose correctly than Loperamide capsules. But have never tried codeine either: any side effects I should be prepared for? Will get "off-license" consent-form ready, just in case.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:09:25 GMT

Groovejet - have they had any steroids? Sometimes can settle residual inflammation after bugs cleared.

If you want to reduce motility I'd use codeine over loperamide.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Miriam Lodewyks — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:59:42 GMT

Am dealing with 2 GSD pups (4m) who have tested positive for numerous parasites and subsequently been on various drugs, but diarrhoea keeps on pouring. Kaolin and Protexin don't seem to be helping either. Owner at end of tether as she's supposed to running a child day-care centre from her home (I know.... let's not go there). Pups seem quite happy and growing normally.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

mariette asselbergs — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:47:52 GMT

I have a patient who lost caecum and a large part of the intestinal tract, so has only a short GI tract and constant diarrhoea as a consequence. He is on immodium, which doesn't help much. Have just added kaolin to see if this will result in more manageable faeces and less raw scaldy backside....

Mariette

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 23:59:53 GMT

I know a vet who regularly recommends it in dogs - and we almost always see the dog again!

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Stephen Courtney — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 18:16:50 GMT

There is an article in the August 5th Vet times by Catherine Bovens on canine diarrhoea, advising against the use of lomotil and immodium in dogs.

I've never felt the need, always thought better out than in - and if a client couldn't cope with the flow, offer hospitalisation.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:28:50 GMT

I do from time to time especially if other things are not working but I get the generic loperamide its cheaper. There is a dose in BSAVA formulary for it, 0.04-0.2mg/kg dogs and cats, so you should be safe. Wasn''t aware of the collie issue, I will bear that in mind from now on.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:20:17 GMT

I have, same dose as humans. Works well. Not advisable in collie type dogs. I don't use it on a regular basis though. It's OTC here and I would rather not have dog owners medicate their dogs with diarrhea themselves. Why? If it gets widely used we will see severely ill dogs much later plus sooner or later there'll be affected collies. Hence I don't recommend it to owners.

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

Mark Holmes — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:47:09 GMT

I have treated loperamide toxicity in a rough collie. Similar to ivermectin

Re: Anyone ever used Loperamide (Imodium) in dogs/cats?

John Flynn — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:20:03 GMT

I have used it.

Not often.

Perhaps should offer it more routinely - I suspect it works on the same opioid receptors doing the same job in dogs, unless someone knows otherwise?

More usually I recommend kaolin or equivalent - helps them to pick up the faeces also - most owners appreciate that.