Question about feeding tubes

I know Lynxx can't have anything tonight, and he will also be given water through his feeding tube. But is he allowed to still drink water on his own? He always drank water, it was food he was refusing. We just thought of this, and the vet is now closed.

I know some people who've replied to me before, had feeding tubes in their cats, does anyone know if it's ok to still let Lynxx drink water from his bowl?

Is is feeding tube installed in his neck area or his stomach? Bashful's was inserted directly into his stomach, so IF he wanted to eat or drink on his own, he could. I don't know anything about the other type of feeding tube, but I would say that the idea is to get them to eat on their own, so I would certainly think it would be ok. Could you try call an E-Vet just to ask the question? But again, since the idea is to get them to eat again on their own, I would think you would want to have at least a little food and water out in case your furbaby wants it. Don't you have more cats anyway. You've got food and water out for them, don't you? Are you keepingn Lynxx separated or something?

Have you tried calling the vet even though they're closed? Most have a service that contacts one of the vets in an emergency. Otherwise, I'd go through the yellow pages to look for an emergency vet and just call them and ask.

Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

Is is feeding tube installed in his neck area or his stomach? Bashful's was inserted directly into his stomach, so IF he wanted to eat or drink on his own, he could. I don't know anything about the other type of feeding tube, but I would say that the idea is to get them to eat on their own, so I would certainly think it would be ok. Could you try call an E-Vet just to ask the question? But again, since the idea is to get them to eat again on their own, I would think you would want to have at least a little food and water out in case your furbaby wants it. Don't you have more cats anyway. You've got food and water out for them, don't you? Are you keepingn Lynxx separated or something?

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The feeding tube is in Lynxx's neck.

The vet Lynxx saw today told us that Lynxx can't take anything by mouth right now. He's getting water by the feeding tube. I'm worried about how dry his mouth is.

I have 2 kittens: Luna and Midnight along with Lynxx. Midnight and Luna's food during they day stay out here in the dining room. When it comes to actual feeding times like breakfast and supper, I keep Midnight in my room to eat, and Luna eats out here. That way there's no fighting over the food, and I know both have eaten enough. Yes they do fight over food.

Lynxx isn't kept in a seperate room. In fact he's just staying on his favorite chair which is next to us at the table. He doesn't have the strength yet to get up and get to their food or water. He's getting stronger, but still only a few steps and he falls down. If he begins getting off his chair we get him to the litter box right away. He doesn't even have the strength yet to steady himself in the litter box. He'll go a little bit then fall over. So at this moment him getting at the other food and water dishes isn't a concern.

I just wanted to know if he could have water, because his mouth is so dry!

did the vet say why, and when is he going to be able to have some? the whole point of the feeding tube is to give supporting nutrition, but for him to be able to also eat on his own... He can't lose that capacity, otherwise you will have a very hard time...
I always saw people feeding regular food first, when the kitty was hungry, and only after that, feeding more via feeding tube. You want the kitty to eat more orally and less via tube, until he eats completely via mouth.

Originally Posted by Carolina

did the vet say why, and when is he going to be able to have some? the whole point of the feeding tube is to give supporting nutrition, but for him to be able to also eat on his own... He can't lose that capacity, otherwise you will have a very hard time...
I always saw people feeding regular food first, when the kitty was hungry, and only after that, feeding more via feeding tube. You want the kitty to eat more orally and less via tube, until he eats completely via mouth.

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Lynxx's vet gave us instructions on how much food and water to put in the feeding tube every day. She didn't say a thing about him drinking water by mouth or not. All that was on the sheet was the how to instructions. The vet tech only went over what was on the sheet. At the time we didn't even think about the water question because water was being given to him in the feeding tube.

Now today we took him back up to the animal hospital to have his bandage redone, but he was seen by a different vet, who I did ask about the water, and she's the 1 who said not to give him anything by mouth.

Lynxx's vet is on vacation until Dec. 5, after Dec. 5 she is going to have him come in and then she can try to help us get him off the feeding tube. Also do some tests to find out what caused him to go into this condition in the first place. The feeding tube is being used to reverse liver failure.

But I'm watching Lynxx right now, his mouth is hanging open, he's breathing from his mouth. His mouth is really dry, you can tell by looking at him. My parents dropped water into his mouth from a dropper we have, to wet his mouth, because we can't let this go on. It doesn't sound right, even to you guys on here not being able to drink water doesn't sound right.

Tomorrow my father is going to call and ask for a different vet and speak to them about Lynxx at least being able to drink water because we can't leave his mouth the way it is. In the mean time through out tonight we're going to keep dropping water into his mouth, incase there is a serious reason that vet said not to let him take anything by mouth. We don't want to hurt him. We want to help him. And we've never done this before. My parents have seen feeding tubes in people before but not in animals. This is the first feeding tube I ever saw.

The reason he went on the feeding tube in the first place is because he stopped eating completely. We were forcing food down his throat with a dropper, and that wasn't nearly enough food to keep him alive.

Yes, I understand the feeding tube was put in there to reverse liver damage, and because he stopped eating.... Which is exactly why you don't want him to stop eating completely and eating ONLY by the feeding tube, you see? Because when you take it off, he needs to be able to get proper nutrition orally, otherwise he won't get better. You will only take the feeding tube off when he is eating well on his own, and gaining weight.
But, neither here nor there, the people who I followed with feeding tubes did not have to restrict feeding or drinking water (because of the reasons above) - and their feeding tubes were on the neck.

Also, try getting the outside of his mouth moistened with a wet cotton ball... at least it will help him feel better

Here is some good information about the type of tube I think your kitty has:
As you can see, it says the kitty does continue to eat and drink on its own:

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/esophagostomy.html

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=feedingtubes

Also:

Advantages
Esophagostomy tubes are easy to place. Additionally,
the tubes are well tolerated by the patient, largebore
feeding tubes allow use of blenderized diets,
tube care and feeding are easily performed by the
client, patients can eat and drink around the tube, and
tube removal can be performed anytime after placement.
Esophageal tube placement eliminates coughing,
laryngospasm, or aspiration occasionally associated
with pharyngostomy tubes. http://www.walthamusa.com/articles/Seim99.pdf

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Thank you guys for all your good wishes for Lynxx. Carolina thank you for the websites. but I have very bad news to tell everyone. Lynxx died this morning right after midnight.

We got up to feed Lynxx but when my father put him on his chair, he just fell over. He was still alive, but he was breathing to fast. He was breathing out of his mouth. I held him. My father took took him from me, put him in his carrier to keep him calm. He was going to try to call for help, but right after Lynxx went into the carrier he died.

I wish that Lynxx had stayed in my arms because then he would have been right there with me and my father, instead of in his carrier, with me in the hallway screaming and crying.

I am so sorry, sweetie.

Lynxx is now painfree, and eating everything he loves over the bridge.

We just got back from leaving him off at the vet. We donated Lynxx's carrier to them so they could give it to someone who can't afford one. We also gave back all the food for the tube feeding so they could give the rest to another cat who needs it. We only used 1 can.

There is a pet memorial place that we're going to have Lynxx cremated with. They give us his ashes in a plaque, we can have his picture on it, and whatever words we want engraved on it. They do have a pet cemetery but it's in a town we've never heard of. We don't want to bury him there. We want Lynxx here in the only home he knows with us. And if we move, he will still be able to come with us.