The feeding tube is a temporary solution which could be required anywhere from two to six weeks or until she starts to eat regular food again.
Cat feeding tube problems.
The real beauty of having a feeding tube in place is that you can also administer medications through the tube rather than having to struggle to get your cat to take them.
Tube feeding potential problems complications problem symptoms immediate action possible causes prevention aspiration heartburn or vomiting coughing choking difficulty breathing and or shortness of breath with or without chest pain loud wet breath sounds rapid heart rate.
This tube goes directly into their esophagus to facilitate feeding and giving medications until your cat feels well enough to start eating on their own.
In some cases a cat is unwilling or unable to eat on its own.
To check if it is in the right place insert an empty syringe and pull the plunger out.
However feeding tubes should not necessarily be viewed as a doom and gloom overly heroic measure.
It s important a cat continues to take in nutrition in order to speed healing and to prevent complications due to organ shutdown.
Why is tube feeding necessary.
Causes of lack of appetite internal organ diseases like hepatic lipidosis infections felv and fevers along with anatomical problems like a broken jaw can all prevent a cat from taking in adequate nutrition.
A feeding tube is used as a means of getting nutrition into a cat that needs to eat but has either lost their appetite such as after major surgery or has physical difficulty eating such as a fractured jaw.
In addition to cats we use feeding tubes in our practice for turtles and tortoises that are not eating.
Unfortunately when most people hear the term feeding tube they tend to panic feeling like this is the end of the road for their cat.
Inspect the tube before you feed the cat.
Your cat has just had a feeding tube placed in the side of their neck.
It is stitched in at her neck incision and held in place with tape as well.
Make sure that the tube hasn t moved or come out of the stomach.
Feeding tube dismissal.
Feeding tubes save lives and are not used as often as they should be for anorexic patients.
If any food or water comes up the tube has slipped.
