After all ya gotta eat goes the argument.
Syringe feeding cat with cancer.
They come in various sizes but the best size for cat feeding is 6 cc 5 cc is a teaspoon.
Is a feeding tube a reasonable choice.
When i suspect that long term nutritional support will be necessary i recommend a more permanent feeding tube placed into the cat s pharynx esophagus stomach or small intestine.
I believe our nauseated and ill cats and dogs must feel the same way when their well intentioned but ill informed human companions decide that it s time for force feeding.
Put in 55 force feedings with this thing one full syringe 3 times a day and brought our cat back from the brink of death due to hepatic lipidosis.
If she concurs this is the best course of action take a bit of canned cat food from a 3 ounce can and shape it into a ball the size of a small marble.
An oral feeding syringe is much like any other syringe except instead of a tiny opening where a needle attaches there s a gentle cone shaped tip with an enlarged opening for thicker than water food to pass through.
Pina s people came into the orleans vet hospital one day searching for some answers for their cat.
She refused to eat and syringe feeding or appetite stimulants we.
To syringe feed a cat successfully a set of steps need to be followed.
Steps involved in syringe feeding a cat.
She was 16 going on 17.
Grasp the cat s head from behind with your thumb and forefinger resting on the cheekbones and gently lift the cat s head.
Her pancreas and liver became inflamed and she became jaundiced a yellow tinge to the skin eyes and gums.
Insert the syringe tip into the cat s mouth from the side and gently nudge it between the cat s jaws.
A very good option for the sad task of cat force feeding might have to squeeze the tip back into a circle now and then if your cat is a jaw clamper and squishes it into an oval over many feeds.
Syringe feeding is not only unpleasant it also can cause aversion to food so that the patient is reluctant to eat.
This takes energy away from the cat and gives it to the cancer.
Hold her mouth closed to give her time to swallow.
Gather your supplies 6cc oral feeding syringe from the veterinarian.
Wrap the cat gently but firmly in a towel to keep them from scratching or struggling during the feeding.
While force feeding cats via syringe is often not a good idea assisted feeding via the other options described here is very often a life saver.
Before you force feed your cat seek your veterinarian s counsel.
They metabolize glucose and make lactate that the body then tries to convert back into glucose.
