ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/lactulose
US brand names:Kristalose, Cephulac
Lactulose is dosed at 0.5 ml/kg PO q24h in bearded dragons, per 442. Stahl SJ. Medical management of bearded dragons. Proc North Am Vet Conf; 1999:789-792. / 222. Jepson L. Turtles and tortoises. In: Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2009:358-411. / 243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.274 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.11 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Reptiles). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Synthetic disaccharide broken down by colonic bacteria to lactic, acetic, and formic acids. Osmotic effect draws water into colon. Acidifies colonic contents, converting ammonia to non-absorbable ammonium.
Dose to effect (soft stool). Excessive doses cause diarrhea, flatulence, cramping. Monitor electrolytes with chronic use. Essential in hepatic encephalopathy management.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 21 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–1 ml/kg | q8-12h | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.735, Lactulose monograph; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–1 ml/kg | q8-12h | Weak | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A — Canine and Feline: Lactulose, printed p.222 (corpus PDF p.238) — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705 |
Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.
View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Blue-and-Gold Macaw drugsAll Blue-tongue Skink drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Chinchilla drugsAll Crested Gecko drugsAll Degu drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Dwarf Hamster drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Guinea Pig drugsAll Leopard Gecko drugsAll Lovebird drugsAll Pet Rat drugsAll Red-eared Slider drugsAll Russian Tortoise drugsAll Sulcata Tortoise drugs