Doses - MINERAL OIL, WHITE PETROLATUM

Dogs:

As a laxative:
a) 2 - 60 mls PO (Jenkins 1988), (Kirk 1989)
b) 5 - 30 mls PO (Davis 1985a)
c) 5 - 25 mls PO (Burrows 1986)

Cats:

See specific label directions for "Cat Laxative" Products
As a laxative:
a) 2 - 10 mls PO (Jenkins 1988), (Kirk 1989)
b) 2 - 6 mls PO (Davis 1985a)
c) 5 ml per day with food (Sherding 1989)

Cattle:

Administer via stomach tube
As a laxative:
a) 1 - 4 liters (Howard 1986)
b) Adults: 0.5 - 2 liters ; Calves: 60 - 120 mls (Jenkins 1988)
For adjunctive treatment of metaldehyde poisoning:
a) 8 ml/kg; may be used with a saline cathartic (Smith 1986)
For adjunctive treatment of nitrate poisoning:
a) 1 liter per 400 kg body weight (Ruhr and Osweiler 1986)
Horses: Administer via stomach tube
As a laxative:
a) For large colon impactions: 2 - 4 quarts q12-24 hours, may take up to 5 gallons. Mix 1- 2 quarts of warm water with the oil to ease administration and give more fluid to thehorse. Pumping in at a moderate speed is desirable over gravity flow. (Sellers and Lowe1987)
b) Adults: 2 - 4 liters, may be repeated daily; Foals: 240 mls (Clark and Becht 1987)
c) Adults: 0.5 - 2 liters; Foals: 60 - 120 mls (Jenkins 1988)
Swine: Administer via stomach tube
As a laxative:
a) 50 - 100 mls (Howard 1986)
Sheep & Goats: Administer via stomach tube
As a laxative:
a) 100 - 500 mls (Howard 1986)

Birds:

As a laxative and to aid in the removal of lead from the gizzard.
a) 1 - 3 drops per 30 grams of body weight or 5 ml/kg PO once. Repeat as necessary.
Give via tube or slowly to avoid aspiration. (Clubb 1986)
Monitoring Parameters -

1) Clinical efficacy

2) If possibility of aspiration: auscultate, radiograph if necessary
Client Information - Follow veterinarian's instructions or label directions for "cat laxative"products. Do not increase dosage or prolong treatment beyond veterinarian's recommendations.
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times - These products andpreparations are available without a prescription (OTC).
Veterinary-Approved Products: Mineral oil products have not been formally approved for usein food animals.
Petrolatum Oral Preparations
Products may vary in actual composition; some contain liquid petrolatum in place of whitepetrolatum. Trade names include: Felaxin® (Schering), Kat-A-Lax® (P/M; Mallinckrodt),
Laxatone® (Evsco), Kit-Tonne® (Miles), Lax 'aire® (Beecham)

Human-Approved Products:

Mineral Oil, Heavy in pints, quarts, gallons and drums
Mineral Oil, Extra Heavy in pints, quarts, gallons and drums
Mineral Oil Emulsions
There are several products available that are emulsions of mineral oil and may be more palatablefor oral administration. Because of expense and with no increase in efficacy they are used onlyin small animals. They may be dosed as described above, factoring in the actual percentage ofmineral oil in the preparation used. Trade names include: Agoral® Plain (Parke-Davis),
Kondremul® Plain (Fisons), and Milkinol® (Kremers-Urban).