Propylene Glycol

RE: Propylene Glycol

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 16:34:36 GMT

[quote user="ell"]By the way has anyone ever tasted propylene glycol, just DON'T!!![/quote]

Drenched a lot of cows over the years with it and never noticed it tasting so bad.

Lamb milk doesn't taste as good as it smells........

RE: Propylene Glycol

Niall Taylor — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 07:11:47 GMT

[quote user="ell"]By the way has anyone ever tasted propylene glycol, just DON'T!!![/quote]

Oh, I thought it was supposed to taste sweet. Maybe that's ethylene glycol, previously used by German winemakers to lethal effect when sweetening their wines!

Niall

RE: Propylene Glycol

ell — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 20:57:21 GMT

Thanks for all the comments.

Yes it was definitely Propylene glycol. To be honest on checking I never noticed that Macrogol in Movicol contained POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL rather than Propylene Glycol and that was why I included the question re Movicol in my post.

We would never have used Propylene Glycol orally and when one of our vets spotted it we sorted it out and the cat is fine after an enema :) and proper laxative. Had to have a bit of a word with the vet in question!

By the way has anyone ever tasted propylene glycol, just DON'T!!!

RE: Propylene Glycol

Niall Taylor — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 21:57:39 GMT

[quote user="ell"]

Hi, I know there are a few posts relating to constipation in cats and some of you use Movicol.

Would anyone ever give neat propylene glycol orally to a cat?

And also as it is no longer used in cat food, where would you stand using movicol even if off licence consent was signed?

I am asking as one of our vets gave some out for a cat and the rest of us thought it unusual.[/quote]

Just so I can get the nomenclature right in my head:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/digestive-health/a7164/movicol-macrogol/
Movicol (macrogol) sachets contain macrogol (polyethylene glycol '3350'), which is a laxative medicine used for chronic constipation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol
PEG is the basis of a number of laxatives. Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and added electrolytes is used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol
Propylene glycol - Not to be confused with ethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol.

Was it definitely propylene glycol that was given, not polyethylene glycol?

Niall

RE: Propylene Glycol

Joyce Whitehead — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:15:02 GMT

No licensed (or unlicensed for that matter) drug is, to my mind anything like as good and easy to use as movicol for those cats with intractable constipation. I've had old cats on it for years, and not seen any issues (I know, anecdote). But surely if 5-10% was causing issues in some animals, we are not giving anything like that amount, most are in a pinch or two twice daily long term.

RE: Propylene Glycol

Rob Loxley — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:36:29 GMT

[quote user="ell"]where would you stand using movicol even if off licence consent was signed?[/quote]

What licensed drug would you use in preference? I'd go for lactulose or movicol; not keen on liquid paraffin either.

RE: Propylene Glycol

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:37:20 GMT

Well....

'Cats are particularly sensitive to Propylene Glycol and its use is not allowed in cat foods. Historically, some semi-moist cat foods contained up to 5-10% PG and cats were harmed by this (Heinz body formation).'

You're using it neat as well, which is a bit different to a cat taking it diluted from a garden pond in the case of Ethylene Glycol. (which will harm them)

You'd need to be a pretty brave vet in my opinion when other products are available

Neil

RE: Propylene Glycol

Niall Taylor — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:22:28 GMT

[quote user="Beats"]

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Antifreeze?[/quote] I think you're thinking of ethylene glycol[/quote]

You ARE thinking of ethylene glycol! Propylene glycol is given orally to ruminants to treat ketosis but I've never heard of it being used in cats.

Niall

RE: Propylene Glycol

Beats — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:00:48 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Antifreeze?[/quote] I think you're thinking of ethylene glycol

RE: Propylene Glycol

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 11:56:11 GMT

Antifreeze?

Are you sure?

Neil