What is tube feeding?
Tube feeding is an alternative way of providing nutrition to a cat that is suffering from anorexia (lack or loss of appetite) or has some anatomical or surgical condition that prevents it from eating normally.
Why is tube feeding necessary?
In some cases, a cat may be unwilling or unable to eat on its own. However, proper nutrition is a critical factor in successfully recovering from any disease. Malnutrition impairs the body’s ability to fight infections or to heal properly after an illness or surgery.
To complicate matters further in cats, their physiology is very different from dogs or people, and the consequences of not eating are much more significant. Cats that do not eat for even 48 hours can develop a potentially life-threatening form of liver malfunction known as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver). Together, these factors make it paramount for cats to maintain adequate nutrition if they are ill or undergoing surgery.
What happens if I am unable to get my cat to eat?
After three days of anorexia, the cat’s body begins to enter a dangerous period. If nutrition is not quickly provided, the body will start mobilizing and metabolizing stored energy from the liver and other vital tissues. In this situation, serious and potentially irreversible damage may occur.
If the cat fails to respond to conservative medical treatment, or if blood testing indicates liver compromise or other metabolic abnormalities, your veterinarian may recommend placing a feeding tube. The most common types of feeding tubes used are the nasogastric tube (sometimes interchangeably referred to as a nasoesophageal tube), the esophagostomy tube, and the gastrostomy tube. The type of feeding tube used in your cat will be determined by the specific circumstances.
What is a nasogastric or nasoesophageal tube?
A nasogastric tube is a narrow, flexible tube that is passed through the nasal cavity, into the back of the throat, and down into the esophagus (the muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach) until it reaches about the level of the ninth rib. A naso-esophageal tube only passes from the nose into the esophagus.
Nasogastric tubes are the most common form of tube feeding in cats as they are the simplest to insert and can usually be placed with minimal sedation. A local anesthetic will be applied to the sensitive lining of the nostrils and then the tube is inserted into the nostril. Once in place, the tube is attached to your cat's head by stitches or surgical glue.
It is generally necessary to fit a protective collar to prevent the cat from interfering with the tube. Because of the small diameter of the feeding tube, only liquefied food, water, and some medications can be given through it, and the tube is prone to becoming clogged. Nasogastric tubes are only used for short-term feeding, if the cat is vomiting, if there is severe facial trauma, if the esophagus is not functioning normally, or if the cat is unconscious. These tubes can generally be left in place for five days.
What is an esophagostomy tube?
Esophagostomy tubes are slightly larger than nasogastric tubes and enter the esophagus through a small incision in the neck. The cat must be sedated or anesthetized to place this type of feeding tube. There are several benefits of an esophagostomy tube compared to a nasogastric tube. The larger diameter of this feeding tube allows thicker food to be fed and there are fewer clogs or other potential complications. Feeding by esophagostomy tube takes considerably less time than nasoesophageal tube feeding.
Esophagostomy tubes can generally be kept in place for several weeks to months. Most cats have a padded bandage or other wrap placed around their neck where the tube is inserted, and the tube will be capped when not in use.
What is a gastrostomy tube?
A gastrostomy tube is a large-diameter tube that is surgically placed directly into the stomach, through the skin and body wall. The end of the tube exits the skin just above the stomach on the side or flank of the cat. The cat must be given a short-term general anesthetic so that the gastrostomy tube can be inserted. A gastrostomy tube is used when long-term assisted feeding is required.
Gastrostomy tubes may be left in place for several weeks to months. The cat will need to wear an abdominal wrap or protective stockinette, onesie, or T-shirt while the tube remains in place. It takes less time to feed a cat through a gastrostomy tube.
Is it hard to feed a cat through a feeding tube?
Feeding a cat through a feeding tube is easier and less complicated than you might think. Most people quickly get the hang of preparing food and connecting the syringe to the feeding tube. Caring for the tube placement site is also simple. Before each feeding, it is important to confirm that the last meal has moved out of the stomach. You do this by attaching an empty syringe and gently drawing back the plunger (aspirating). If there is food left, you will see evidence in the syringe. Your veterinarian will advise you about what to do in this situation based on your cat’s specific condition and needs.
What type of food do you feed through a feeding tube?
Your veterinarian will prescribe a personalized feeding plan for your cat. Most commonly, you will use commercially available canned or powdered food, or a canned cat food that has been liquefied in a blender. The amount that needs to be fed and the number of meals will vary, depending on the size of your cat, the food’s calorie content, whether the cat needs to gain (or lose) weight, and the disease or problems being treated.
What are the complications of tube feeding?
There are few complications with tube feeding once the cat is stable. The most common complications include infection at the site of tube insertion into the skin, inadvertent removal of the tube by the cat or owner, and clogging of the tube. The risk of food leaking out of or around a gastrostomy tube into the abdomen is rare once the stomach seals to the body wall around the tube. This seal usually forms within one to two weeks of tube placement. Your veterinarian will instruct you on how to resolve any complications or problems that arise.
Are there situations in which tube feeding is not possible?
In rare circumstances, such as cats with uncontrollable vomiting or cats that are unconscious, tube feeding is not possible. In these cases, it may be necessary to consider intravenous feeding. Intravenous feeding of cats is complicated, difficult, and costly, so it is only recommended when no other feeding methods are available.
