A gastrostomy tube is an excellent route to feed the anorexic patient.

Always keep fresh food and water available for you cat, if you have a multi-cat household measure the amount of food being kept out.  This will help you to monitor when your gastrostomy tube cat begins to eat (more food will be missing from the dish). 

What is a Gastrostomy Tube?

• It is a tube that has been placed through the body wall and into the stomach in order to allow feeding of a patient when anorexia or other condition precludes normal route of ingestion.

Instructions for Feeding

• If opening a new can of food, warming is not necessary.  If using food that has been in the refrigerator, warm it in the microwave to a lukewarm temperature.  If the food is fed too cool it may cause vomiting, if it is too hot it can cause serious burns to the stomach.  A small amount of water may be added to the food to facilitate passage of the diet through the feeding tube.
• When the food is warmed, check the residual food left in the stomach from the previous meal.  This should be done prior to giving any food through the feeding tube, if the residual is greater than 15 ml, do not feed and call your doctor at MVS for further instruction.
• If the residual is less than 15 ml (it may be as low as zero), continue with the feeding.  Remove the cap from the end of the feeding tube and attach the filled syringe to the tube.  Give the food slowly (over 5-10 minutes).  If the food is given too quickly, it may cause vomiting.  If signs of vomiting are seen any time during the feeding, discontinue the feeding and flush the line with 10 ml water.
• The food will need to be followed with 10 ml water; this will clear the food from the feeding tube helping to prevent tube obstruction.
• Replace the cap at the end of the tube; store any unused food in the refrigerator.
• Syringes should be washed out with water, and may be stored with the food in the refrigerator.

Gastrostomy Tube Blockage

• Blockage of the tube should not occur if the tube is flushed with water after each feeding.
• If the tube does become obstructed:
  • Try aspirating (pulling back) on the syringe barrel.
  • Try flushing the tube with warm water or warm Coca-Cola
  • Call Michigan Veterinary Specialists for assistance at (248) 354-6660

Gastrostomy Site Care

• Please check the skin around the gastrostomy tube daily for discharge, swelling, redness or pain.  A small amount of brown discharge is normal; this can be removed with mild soap and water as necessary.

Weaning off PEG Tube Feedings

• Always keep fresh food and water available for you cat, if you have a multi-cat household measure the amount of food being kept out.  This will help you to monitor when your gastrostomy tube cat begins to eat (more food will be missing from the dish). 
• When your cat begins to eat solid foods we can advise you on how to decrease the amount of food being fed via the tube.  When you cat is eating enough to maintain body weight, without the need for supplemental tube feedings, we will remove the tube. 
• Be patient – try tempting your cat with tasty morsels and don’t become discouraged; cats recovering from hepatic lipidosis may not eat for several weeks or months.
• Please feel free to call if you have any questions or concerns.  We would appreciate phone updates on your cat’s progress every few days.