feeding tube and kitty not pooping

Hello, my kitty, Bucket just had her feeding tube installed in Friday late afternoon (dx: hepatic lipidosis) and she hasn't pooped yet. The vet advised to feed 30 ml every 3-4 hours, starting with 15 ml on Friday night if she was up for it. I only got 2 ml in her Friday night. Then yesterday she had a total of 182 ml. I have only been able to get 45 ml in her today so far (and I kind of had to push her on the last one because it had all her meds in it, so she needed to have it all). She's getting 20 ml of water with every feeding too. At this point in the day I should be at 90 ml at least. These last few feelings she has really fought me before she would just growl the whole time. She hasn't thrown up or made any burpy noises, but her belly feels full, not really hard but full. And on her right side she has an area that feels like tube (I think it might be the tube that goes from the stomach to the intestine or it could be her pancreas, I was trying to identify it on cat anatomy pictures), if I gently massage that area she acts like she likes it and she usually farts. When I stop she goes back to growling.
I'm just not sure if I should keep backing off on the feedings until she poops or until I can reach the vet. They are closed today and I have no way to reach anyone until tomorrow. But I don't want her to get to little calories because I need her to survive this. She's the love of my life. She is peeing a normal amount for the amount of water she is getting.
Any advice or kind thoughts or prayers are appreciated.

Thanks for the response. I meant part of the intestine not the feeding tube, I guess I should have been more clear. I kind of thought she would go to the litter box if she was constipated and at least try, but she hasn't. Maybe she wouldn't though.

I see Denice has already comments on this, but I want to mention that it looks like that wrapping around her neck is awfully tight!  It looks a lot tighter than the one on Squeaky, don't you think?  Maybe it's just the picture, but can you get at least one finger in between that wrapping and her neck?  

She is actually GROWLING while you are feeding her?  That's a new one on me.  Usually they enjoy the feeling of getting some food in their tummies.  Are you warming up the food?  Sometimes that helps.  Just slightly warm it.  with a small amount, maybe just a few seconds on defrost in your microwave, then be sure to mix it up so there aren't any hot spots/

katkin9 said:

Thanks for the response. I meant part of the intestine not the feeding tube, I guess I should have been more clear. I kind of thought she would go to the litter box if she was constipated and at least try, but she hasn't. Maybe she wouldn't though.

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When was the last time she pooped that you know of, and the last time she really ate?  She got the tube installed on Friday, then yesterday she didn't get much food, really.  Has she had time to form much of a stool?

BTW, I'm going to ask the Moderators to separator your posts (and our replies) out into your own thread.  It's just easier that way.  Each cat should have their own thread

I figured out how to make my own post, so I made one, but I couldn't figure out how to delete this comment. I'm not sure if the other threat I made had gotten any comments yet.

mrsgreenjeens said:

I see Denice has already comments on this, but I want to mention that it looks like that wrapping around her neck is awfully tight!  It looks a lot tighter than the one on Squeaky, don't you think?  Maybe it's just the picture, but can you get at least one finger in between that wrapping and her neck?  

She is actually GROWLING while you are feeding her?  That's a new one on me.  Usually they enjoy the feeling of getting some food in their tummies.  Are you warming up the food?  Sometimes that helps.  Just slightly warm it.  with a small amount, maybe just a few seconds on defrost in your microwave, then be sure to mix it up so there aren't any hot spots/

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Yep, I'm warming the food and yeah... She is actually growling. She has never really been one that wants to be held though unless it's on her terms. So even if I wasn't feeding her and I was just holding her, I am sure after awhile she would start to growl. She may just be tired of being messed with.
I can't get a finger in there, no. The vet put it on and said not to do anything with it. It has bunched up under her chin (they used the same thickness all of the way around) and that's why she can't lower her head without starting to wheeze. I didn't know if it was supposed to be like that.
She seems to do better with feeding when I hold the upper part of her body up, but she is still acting especially uncomfortable with it the past couple times... Claws out and all.
The water doesn't bother her as much as the food. In case that means anything...
I really don't know what else it could be unless maybe it's in to deep? Or she's just tired and grumpy from not sleeping? She doesn't seem like she can relax, I think she's afraid of lowering her head. I tried to get her to lay on her side, but she didn't like it. I almost had her asleep with her head resting on my arm but then she twitched awake for some reason and her eyes were wide open and she wouldn't relax again after that.
I wish I knew how to help her.

mrsgreenjeens said:

When was the last time she pooped that you know of, and the last time she really ate?  She got the tube installed on Friday, then yesterday she didn't get much food, really.  Has she had time to form much of a stool?

BTW, I'm going to ask the Moderators to separator your posts (and our replies) out into your own thread.  It's just easier that way.  Each cat should have their own thread

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She pooped a tiny poop on Tuesday or Wednesday, I think. I just thought with all of the water and more than a can and half of food in her since then, that she should have pooped by now. My mom said maybe it would take a bit for her digestion to start working effceintly again.

Hi there the advisors here are super helpful! Check out


Our little girl is only 8 lbs so we started off super slow with the feelings 15 ml 4x day, 1 ml food a minute. Today day 4 we were gonna shoot to increase to 20ml's. 4x day. With goal being 1 1/3 rd can. But squeaky vomited after we gave her her meds so delay of game today. Squeaky looked really full yesterday after she vomited she defibpnately looked smaller, she didn't poop till 3 days after surgery, anesthesia slows down bowel function. We tried to get her out in main part of house day after surgery , she would walk 2 steps then lay down. She seemed to have increased endrance yesterday. Today not so much though she's walked from bathroom to under the bed.


You should check out http://kittykollar.com/living-with-an-e-tube/tips-for-living-with-an-e-tube/

They have great info and good source for purchasing additional syringes. You are gonna need them!

There is another link on my thread (I'm new to site so still figuring out how to navigate posts, tags etc)
A PDF info sheet for feeding and changing bandages

Good lucky kitty prayers

katkin9 said:

I can't get a finger in there, no. The vet put it on and said not to do anything with it. It has bunched up under her chin (they used the same thickness all of the way around) and that's why she can't lower her head without starting to wheeze.

 She doesn't seem like she can relax, I think she's afraid of lowering her head. I tried to get her to lay on her side, but she didn't like it. I almost had her asleep with her head resting on my arm but then she twitched awake for some reason and her eyes were wide open and she wouldn't relax again after that.
I wish I knew how to help her.

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Honestly, I think the wrapping is too tight.   If she can't put her head down and relax without wheezing, that's not right.  We actually had a cat here on TCS whose wrapping was too tight, and he ended up dying because he couldn't breathe.  Your girl can breathe, so far, but I would definitely let the Vet know that she is wheezing when she tries to lower her head.  That (to me) is why she can't get comfortable

mrsgreenjeens said:

Honestly, I think the wrapping is too tight.   If she can't put her head down and relax without wheezing, that's not right.  We actually had a cat here on TCS whose wrapping was too tight, and he ended up dying because he couldn't breathe.  Your girl can breathe, so far, but I would definitely let the Vet know that she is wheezing when she tries to lower her head.  That (to me) is why she can't get comfortable

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Do you know of any tutorials oh how to rewrap it? I looked at one but they used a teddy bear and so it's hard for me to transfer that info. Do you guys use chlorhexidine? Is there anything else I should know?

Okay, I trimmed the wrap around her neck so it wasn't as wide and it wouldn't bunch up and she seems a lot more comfortable and it also seemed to loosen things up a bit. So I hope she can get some rest now.

katkin9
http://www.mygracevet.com/downloads/Esophageal_Feeding_Tube_Care.pdf

Here u go

Glad you got that tutorial and could make her a little more comfy.   Is that Coban that is wrapped around her neck...it sticks to itself?  Did you see the KittyKollar Squeaky has on?  It's really nifty.   http://kittykollar.com/

mrsgreenjeens said:

Glad you got that tutorial and could make her a little more comfy.   Is that Coban that is wrapped around her neck...it sticks to itself?  Did you see the KittyKollar Squeaky has on?  It's really nifty.   http://kittykollar.com/

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Yeah, it's just vet wrap over some bandaging. I saw the kitty kollar, those are neat... Just not something I can afford right now. I had to borrow the money for Bucket's feeding tube because I had already spent all mine on medicine and food and previous vet visits.

Good news, I backed off on the feeding a little and still pushed some water and gently massaged her belly for a long time and Bucket's belly is now less bloated feeling and the harder lump I felt before has moved down and her tummy is also making digestive noises. I hope she gets to poop soon.

She also got some good sleep in and doesn't seem quite as grumpy. Has anyone used those SAMe or milk thistle supplements to aide in the liver recovery, I was reading about them on a few sites.

I'll still be calling the vet tomorrow, I think Bucket may have a fever, her ears are pretty warm. I also want to check on the bandage and her bowel movements as well as ask about the SAMe or milk thistle stuff... I really want to do everything I can go make sure she recovers.

Yes, I can tell you people HAVE used both the sam-e and milk thistle.  Since she's got a feeding tube, it's perfect for using supplements, especially milk thistle, as it can be bitter.  since you'll be contacting your Vet, ask about them (how much, etc.)  Do they not have Bucket on ANY thing...antibiotics, etc?  If nothing else, she should be on antibiotics.  You're cleaning the feeding tube Incision, right?  I'm guessing so since you asked about chlorhexidine.  Does it look ok?  (thinking about possible fever). 

Still no poop?  How much food and water did you get into her yesterday?  WHAT are you feeding her?  A/D mixed with water?

mrsgreenjeens said:

Yes, I can tell you people HAVE used both the sam-e and milk thistle.  Since she's got a feeding tube, it's perfect for using supplements, especially milk thistle, as it can be bitter.  since you'll be contacting your Vet, ask about them (how much, etc.)  Do they not have Bucket on ANY thing...antibiotics, etc?  If nothing else, she should be on antibiotics.  You're cleaning the feeding tube Incision, right?  I'm guessing so since you asked about chlorhexidine.  Does it look ok?  (thinking about possible fever). 

Still no poop?  How much food and water did you get into her yesterday?  WHAT are you feeding her?  A/D mixed with water?

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I'm not cleaning the site... They told me not the remove the bandage or do anything. I took her in this morning for a recheck and they said the site looks great. I asked again about when to change the bandage and they said it looks good now, and it's no problem that I trimmed it around her throat so she could be more comfortable, but since the site looks good they don't want to mess with it. She has another recheck on Wednesday morning. Still no poop, they said her belly felt fine and there were no signs of constipation and that her body may just be using all of the nutrients from the food (royal canin recovery) and not creating enough waste yet. They said the mass I felt was her kidney and it is a little inflamed, but that could be because of everything going on? Not everything made sense, but my normal doctor isn't there on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Given the okay, I brought Bucket home and fed her and she did just fine... Except my syringe is going and it exploded all over both of us. Then I went to feed her again 3.5 hours later and she fought me the whole time again. Her belly felt full, I didn't do the full amount, the food and water are warm, we going really really slow, and I pet her and rub her belly like she likes the whole time. They tell me I need to feed a can per day (with water mixed in) that's 180 ml or 7.5 ml per hour, but she won't even let me do 10-15 ml every 3-4 hours... I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I give her 10 ml water before and 10-15 after. I've tried doing 5 at first to leave more room for food. She has no problem with the water but she squirms with every ML I try. Could she have a blockage in the tube? Would a blockage do that? Or something else?

She's on quite a few meds. Orbax is the antibiotic (she's allergic to clavamox), predisonone, bud(something) for pain, cyproheptadine, and cerenia.

If the water is going fine then I don't think the tube is clogged.  What I would do on Wednesday is time feedings so you can try feeding her at the vet clinic.  If something isn't right they should be able to tell when you feed her.  It doesn't necessarily have to be the vet, vet techs are also used to feeding tubes.

Denice said:

If the water is going fine then I don't think the tube is clogged.  What I would do on Wednesday is time feedings so you can try feeding her at the vet clinic.  If something isn't right they should be able to tell when you feed her.  It doesn't necessarily have to be the vet, vet techs are also used to feeding tubes.

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I called the vet after my last post and they said to bring her in at her next feeding time and the vet tech with do it with me to make sure I'm doing it right.

@Katkin
Can u call kitty kollar? They were very helpful in figuring out correct syringe we have locking port so syringe screws into port. You can order thru them and they will overnight! We are giving Sqeak 5-6 hrs between feedings, research and doctor confirmed today takes 2- 2 1/2 hours for food to clear the stomach. You may have to space out your feedings more. Pushing REAL slow 1ML takes 12 seconds then we wait 2 minutes till next push. If she starts squirming we stop, low tones let her reposition and resume. For squeak seems like 30 minutes is her max time to feed before she wants to stop.

Hope this helps you! It's very stressful, what I garnered most from other pet parents in this situation is Don't Give up! Keep asking questions, read other feeding tube threads there are great tips out there. And you won't feel so alone as it appears lots of kitties experience feeding tubes, who knew?

Oh yeah I called vet hospital 3 times last night. To what end? I guess just peace of mind and to feel like I was getting answers instead of sitting there watching squeak and freaking out? Lol It's a 24/hr ER hospital and I think I've spoken to almost every vet tech there. She's my baby what else can I do?:heart3:

katkin9 said:

 I called the vet after my last post and they said to bring her in at her next feeding time and the vet tech with do it with me to make sure I'm doing it right.

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Make friends with that Vet Tech and see if you can get her cell number and even call her at home if need be.if you have more problems later.  We actually found a Vet Tech who lives right around the corner from us and she comes over to help us when we have problems (for a fee of course).  But she loves our kitties now, so has reduced her fee for us