16 yr. old cat lost all functions... limp like a rag doll

Question
On Feb. 9th, I had given my cat Baby a dose of Lactulose which is a stool softener (at that time my friend had held Baby) but Baby threw it up.  About 30 minutes later, I got another dose of Lactulose and when Baby was on the floor I just opened his mouth and put the dose down him.  I did hear him cough once.  5 min. later I saw him lying on the floor in the same spot, just like a rag doll, I picked him up and he would fall down limp like a rag doll.  He lost all coordination of balance.  I was really terrified, going crazy, didn't know what to do.  

I phoned some vets & all they could say was bring him in.  After about a half hour to 1 hr. we managed to get him walking with some help holding him up, and he would walk towards a treat but his left leg still wouldn't work.   Another thing I don't understand is that Baby wasn't worried about the state he was in & did not yell or moan (maybe he could not do that either) but he did have purpose to try to walk towards his treat.  I had an appt. with a vet & took a taxi, and Baby was fighting in the taxi & when we got to the vets (maybe 2 hrs. later), Baby was jumping off the examining table & walking all over, trying to get out the door when Vet went out.  

The vet could not give me any answer to why this happened, she was quite young, so maybe not very experienced.  The only thing I could think is that Baby was surprised & some of the Lactulose or the fumes went into his airway passage, I just don't have an explanation myself.

I have been dosing Baby off and on with Lactulose for almost 2 months & most times my friend held Baby but a few times I got on the floor and held Baby with my legs and gave him a dose.

Baby is 16 1/2 yrs. old, long haired cat and he has been having trouble with constipation lately.  The Vet told me I could dose him every day, but now I am so SCARED to give him a dose.  

The Vet marked his temperature at 38.6 Centigrade and said nothing about trying to bring his temperature down. She also said he was mildly constipated and was dehydrated but there was no use in giving him fluids as it would only do good for a day or two.  About 8 years ago I think Baby was poisoned, when he stopped eating after 3 days I took him to a Vet, they said his temp was 40 C and they had to give him a pill to bring his temp. down and that he was dehydrated and had to give him fluids.  I wonder if this last Vet just did that to make more money.  Now I am also worried about Baby's temperature and his dehydration.  

Can you think of an explanation of what happened to him & why within a half hour he was recovering.  Also would like your opinon on his temperature, if that is high and about dehydration.

Answer
Jenny,

Remember, I am not a vet!!!!!  Cats, like people, can have all kind of strange reactions to various drugs.  Also, at 16 1/2, Baby is geriatric and, like people, geriatric cats develop medical issues along with aging.

Normal average body temperature for a domestic cat rangers from 38 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius, so 40 degrees is a mild fever.  I would be more worried about the dehydration.  Is Baby drinking much water?  Is he peeing quite a bit?  If so, he may be in kidney failure, which is fairly common to geriatric cats. I am not a vet, so I could not tell you about adverse reactions to Lactulose beyond those listed in the insert, which does not include dehydration or fever.  I would wonder if Baby has developed an allergic reaction to Lactulose?????

If you do not have faith in your current vet, get a second opinion!  I would watch his water intake and pee output.  You can always have the vet check that Baby is concentrating his urine.  If not, that usually means kidney involvement.  Blood work will not show kidney problems until the kidneys are about 70% gone!!!!!

Please let me know what develops.

Best regards... Norm.