Gastrostomy Tube Feeding
A gastrostomy tube is a rubber tube that enters the skin over the stomach. It goes directly into the stomach so that food can be delivered to the stomach.
The Food to Use and the Feeding Procedure
A special food mixture (listed below) is syringed through the tube three to five times per day. This food is formulated to meet the cat's nutritional needs; it should not cause vomiting or diarrhea. To feed your cat, follow these steps:
- Place 1 can of Feline p/d* + 10 oz (300 cc) of water + 2 oz. of Wesson Oil + 8 Tumil-K tablets in a blender and run it at the liquefy (fastest) speed until the food is uniformly mixed. After mixing, pour the food through a kitchen strainer.
- Remove the cap from the feeding tube.
- Using the syringes provided, inject the food into your cat's feeding tube using the following schedule: ______ ml ____ times per day for ____ days (FOR A TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS) ______ ml ____ times per day for ____ days (FOR A TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS) ______ ml ____ times per day for ____ days (FOR A TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS) ______ ml ____ times per day (FOR A TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS)
- When the food has been injected, inject 10 cc of tap water through the tube so food does not remain in it; replace the cap in the tube.
- Any remaining food should be stored in the refrigerator. Before the next feeding, it should be warmed to body temperature under hot tap water or in a microwave oven. If you heat it in a microwave oven, be sure to thoroughly mix the contents prior to feeding because of uneven heating. Also, always check the temperature prior to feeding to be sure that it is not too hot.
Tube Removal
This decision is based on the condition being treated. You will be instructed when to return, but removal of the tube is simple and does not require anesthesia. However, you should not attempt to remove it yourself.
Note: Some measuring devices are measured in milliliters (ml) and others in cubic centimeters (cc). For our purposes, 1 ml equals 1 cc.
