Sometimes our ill or injured dogs are unable or unwilling to eat on their own. In these cases, the doctors at the Animal Clinic at Thorndale work closely with area veterinary specialists to determine what is the safest and most efficient way to get your dog the nutrition it needs for recovery. 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 prescription food mixtur is syringed through the tube three to five times per day. This food is formulated to meet the dog’s nutritional needs; it should not cause vomiting or diarrhea. To feed your dog, follow these steps:
- Place 1 can of prescription food+ 10 oz (300 cc) of water 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 dog’s feeding tube . A feeding schedule and amounts to be fed will be provided by your veterinarian
- After the food has been injected for the specified feeding, 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 c