Feeding tube troubles

bkydrose

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Hi,  I've been feeding my cat Sydney since May 21.  I have no problems using Hill's AD.  I mix the whole can with 1/4 cup of water in a plastic container which I store in the fridge.  When I need to feed Syd, I put the required amount in a pyrex measuring cup and warm it a bit in the microwave.  This makes the AD more fluid.  And I stir that up again with a spoon before I fill the syringes.   Is it possible that the kind of feeding tube that was installed in your cat is extra small? If it is then the vet should be able to recommend a suitable food.  Sydney's feeding tube comes out of the side of his stomach.  I don't have experience with any other kind.

I was feeding Syd 3 times a day, but now I'm at 2 times a day because he has finally started to eat his regular food again.  I started at 15 ml 3 times a day and worked up to 60 ml 3 times a day over about 3 weeks.  In the beginning I was also giving him Reglan (through the feeding tube) to control nausea.  I feed him at a rate of 1 ml every 20 -30 seconds.  At the end I flush the tube with 10 ml of warm water and put the end cap back on.  I clean the end cap between feedings, so I have two that I alternate. 

The first thing that I do is take a 3 ml syringe, take the end cap off his feeding tube and draw back whatever I can out of his feeding tube.  This tells me if he has digested the food I gave him at the last feeding and I guess it also lets me know that the feeding tube isn't clogged.

I find that the syringes don't last very long.  Once they get to be too hard to fill I replace them. 

Hope this helps.

Denise
 

denice

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I thought I might have been in for a really long haul like you have been with your cat.  I know I was very fortunate that Patches came around as quickly as he did, his was only in for 3 weeks.  I am so glad that your kitty has finally started eating again.
 
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brillobee

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Still tube feeding. She seems to be ok getting 25ml ( 1ml every 10secs), 4 times a day this controls the gas/gagging. I tried giving more in a day, but she vomited it up. This ends up being almost a 1 can of a/d a day. She is getting better. The yellow in almost gone. She is hiding less. No eating on her own yet. But that will come. Vet wants to redo blood work next week.
 

white shadow

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So glad to hear that she's turned the corner!

HL is one of the most difficult conditions to deal with for the caregiver, but tubes really do make all the difference....even despite the occasional hiccup!

Keep us posted!
 

denice

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I think it sometimes takes a little time to get the feedings right.  I know when I started with Patches I would have to cut feedings short because he would start gagging.  It wouldn't have done any good if he vomited and as you found out the feeding tube can be dislodged by vomiting.  As he started to come out of it there were fewer and fewer of those shortened feedings.  Sounds like now you've found the right feedings for your kitty and it's just a matter of giving him time to heal.
 
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brillobee

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Check up today. Doing great! She's gained a little weight. Liver enzymes are almost normal! She is still just taking a few bites of food. Will start cyproheptadine tomorrow to increase her appetite.
 

denice

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That is great that her liver enzymes have come down this quickly.  I don't think it will take long for her to start eating normally.  Sometimes I think they kind of get out of the habit of eating.  With cats you can't let them get really hungry so it's come up with another way to get them back into the habit of eating on their own.
 

bkydrose

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Glad to hear that Bella has gained weight and is getting better! 

Just wanted to say that cyproheptadine seems to really work well to increase a cat's appetite.  I started Sydney on cyproheptadine (1/4 pill once a day) last night.  The change in his appetite was immediate. He has always eaten his Hill's TD and Friskies treats, but now he is munching away on his regular food as well.   
 
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brillobee

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Last night after her bedtime feeding Bella vomited up her feeding tube. Ugh. So I had to remove it. I think she'll be ok though the past days she has been eating kibbles and wet food on her own. I hope it's enough. My vets are closed for the long weekend. She has a check up on Wednesday. So we'll see if she'll need a new tube installed. Not sure why she vomited. Fed her the same way as I have been. Only idea is that she has eaten quite a bit of wet food 3 hours before. If she takes a turn or stops munching I'll have to run her to another clinic in another town.
 

denice

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Hopefully it was just too much food between what she ate on her own and the tube feedings.   Her liver enzymes being down is a very good sign that her liver has done a lot of healing.  Hoping that she continues to eat well on her own and she just instigated a little early removal of her feeding tube.  I know feeding tubes can be a nuisance but I also believe that they are life savers.
 
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brillobee

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I agree. Without the tube she would have been a lot worse off. To put it mildly. She has gotten better since her last check up. Feels fatter and doesn't hide anymore. She continues to munch kibbles, eat wet food, and nap. ;)
 
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