Gastrostomy Tube Feeding ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

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Any health care links located here are NOT to replace a veterinarian visit; please take your cat to a vet immediately at any sign of odd behavior or any symptoms of illness or injury. Call your vet and describe your cat's symptoms with any of your concerns about the cat's well-being. Your veterinarian may discover changes in your cat's health that you have overlooked. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Gastrostomy Tube Feeding

A gastrostomy tube is a small rubber tube that enters the stomach through the skin in the cat's side. It permits you to deliver food directly into the stomach.

The gastrostomy tube is used in cats with diseases that cause long-term anorexia or when jaw fractures or other mouth injuries are present that prevent eating.

How do I feed my cat through the tube?

A special food prescribed by your vet is syringed through the tube two to four times per day. This food is formulated to meet the cat's nutritional needs; it should not cause vomiting or diarrhea. To feed your cat, follow these steps:

From your vet, you will probably feed CNM-CV or Feline p/d.

____ Place 3 cans of CNM-CV + 8 oz of water + 2 oz of Wesson Oil + 8 Tumil-K tablets in a blender and run at the liquefy (fastest) speed until the food is uniformly mixed. After mixing, pour the food through a kitchen strainer.

____ Place 1 can of Feline p/d + 10 oz of water + 2 oz of Wesson Oil + 8 Tumil-K tablets in a blender and run it at the liquefy (fastest) speed until the food is uniformly mixed. After mixing, pour the food through a kitchen strainer.
Remove the cap from the feeding tube.
Using the syringe provided, inject ________ cc of the food into your cat's feeding tube ________ times per day FOR A TOTAL OF ________ cc PER 24 HOURS. It is helpful to inject the food slowly, about 1 cc per second, to prevent vomiting.
When the food has been injected, inject 10 cc of tap water through the tube so food does not remain in it;replace the cap in the tube.
Any remaining food should be stored in the refrigerator. Before the next feeding, it should be warmed to body temperature under hot tap water or in a microwave oven. If you heat it in a microwave oven, be sure to thoroughly mix the contents prior to feeding because of uneven heating. Also, always check the temperature prior to feeding to be sure that it is not too hot.

When and how is the tube removed?

Patience and persistence are essential. Some cats require several weeks of tube feeding before their appetite will return or healing occurs. At least twice weekly, offer your cat a small amount of a favorite food so that you will know when its appetite is improving. The esophagostomy tube will not hinder chewing or swallowing. After your cat has been eating well for 3-4 days, it should be returned to the hospital for tube removal. Removal of the tube is simple and does not require anesthesia; however, you should not attempt to remove the tube on your own.

Page URL: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/gastrostomy.html

Resource References:
Much, much appreciation to Dr. Raymond Van Lienden, DVM of Clifton, VA USA for his extensive research in locating the material found on this page. Thank you, dear Doctor!