My cat got a feeding tube installed yesterday and he tried to eat some treats and it looked like he was practically choking to swallow the treat down. I was told the cat should be able to eat with the feeding tube. Has anyone had similar experience or advice? Also, I was never given instructions on cleaning the wound area of the tube, I was just told to do a return visit in a week. Is this common?
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Feeding Tube Questions
- Thread starter mewcatmew
- Start Date
Normally a kitty can eat with a feeding tube in place. Do you know if the vet checked the placement? Usually it is checked with either an x-ray or ultrasound while the kitty is still asleep.
As far as cleaning the area vets are different. My vet did what yours is doing. I didn't clean the area or mess with the bandage at all. The vet took care of all of that on the return visits and he went home with a nice new bandage. Other vets do have the client clean the area and do bandage changes.
I would call and ask about the difficulty with swallowing.
As far as cleaning the area vets are different. My vet did what yours is doing. I didn't clean the area or mess with the bandage at all. The vet took care of all of that on the return visits and he went home with a nice new bandage. Other vets do have the client clean the area and do bandage changes.
I would call and ask about the difficulty with swallowing.
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I just read your other thread...It's so hard when they can't figure out what's going on.
Did they do a blood smear? My girl (Crimmie) was seen for anorexia, jaundice and lethargy. The first vet said it was fatty liver and sent us home with an appetite stimulant and some hills a/d to syringe feed her. That didn't work, so I called them and asked if they could put a feeding tube in. They said they don't perform that. I went to a second vet. He did a blood smear and found that she had mycoplasma haemofelis. It's a blood parasite. The first vet never did a smear. Looooong story short, she was put on antibiotics and had an e-tube put in. She is well and eating again.
My vet said no food by mouth at all, as the e-tube is taking up a considerable amount of space in her esophagus and food could get stuck. I kept wet food out for her all the time...Everything I had read on this site and others said to leave food out and encourage her to eat. She never had any problems.
I wouldn't give treats or dry food...maybe just wet food or baby food meats.
My vet had me come in after 3 days for a dressing change and to check the site. Others here were told to clean the site daily...It wouldn't hurt to call your vet and ask if you should be changing the dressing, and let them know about the treat incident.
How are the feedings going for you? Are you able to get a good amount of food in him?
Did they do a blood smear? My girl (Crimmie) was seen for anorexia, jaundice and lethargy. The first vet said it was fatty liver and sent us home with an appetite stimulant and some hills a/d to syringe feed her. That didn't work, so I called them and asked if they could put a feeding tube in. They said they don't perform that. I went to a second vet. He did a blood smear and found that she had mycoplasma haemofelis. It's a blood parasite. The first vet never did a smear. Looooong story short, she was put on antibiotics and had an e-tube put in. She is well and eating again.
My vet said no food by mouth at all, as the e-tube is taking up a considerable amount of space in her esophagus and food could get stuck. I kept wet food out for her all the time...Everything I had read on this site and others said to leave food out and encourage her to eat. She never had any problems.
I wouldn't give treats or dry food...maybe just wet food or baby food meats.
My vet had me come in after 3 days for a dressing change and to check the site. Others here were told to clean the site daily...It wouldn't hurt to call your vet and ask if you should be changing the dressing, and let them know about the treat incident.
How are the feedings going for you? Are you able to get a good amount of food in him?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Thank you for replying. The feedings are going fine, no issues whatsoever. Aside from the food and the 10 ml/cc water flush after use, did your vet inform you of any extra water needed? I have a 19 lb kitty and want to make sure he is hydrated. I will ask the vet about the difficulty swallowing at his appointment soon. Thank you!
My kitty didn't have any issues with dehydration so it wasn't a concern. Is your kitty large enough to have an ideal weight that high? I know overweight kitties are at higher risk of fatty liver. My kitty was actually a little underweight due to undiagnosed IBD but he still developed fatty liver. Overweight cats can develop it much more quickly though.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
His liver numbers were increasing while not eating, but I acted FAST, so he never went full fledged into major liver issues...no jaundice, just a slightly elevated ALT, birilium was still in normal range. I saw the ALT rising from a prior blood test a couple days before and knew we were headed down the wrong road. He is a large cat, but definitely overweight. He is currently 19, ideally he should be closer to 15. He doesn't have much "scruff" on the back of his neck, so it is a little hard to tell.
