1349. CPE: Cat talk by Dr Susan Little - Mar 30, 2013. Nasogastric tube

1. Anorexia in feline patients
2. The constipated cat
3. Feline feeding management

I enquired whether it is easy to put in a nasogastric tube and how it stays there. She said it is very easy as her cat patients don't object to it. The tube is glued onto the nose. E-collar is worn to prevent dislodgement. I have my doubts that it is so easy for Singapore cats. One image showed the tube stitched to nasal skin.
The tube is meant for feeding 3-5 days. For long term, use esophagostomy tube.


Procedure: Use 3-5F feeding tubes, insert medio-ventrally in the nasal meatus. I had done many nasogastric tube in the racehorse and so I know what she meant.
"How to tell if the tube goes into the lung?" I asked Dr Susan Little.
"Not usually. You can pump 1 ml of water. It will not adversely affect the cat if it goes to the lungs."

In the horse, I listen to lung sounds (air breathing). Stomach sounds are more musical.  Pumping liquid paraffin via the nasogastric tube into the horse's lungs will kill the horse. So, always listen to the sounds, In the cat, I wonder whether this applies? Will the cat scratch the vet's face when he does it?

Much can be learnt attending talks by other vets sharing their experience.

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 CONSTIPATION DRUGS
Cisapride hard to get nowadays
Lactulose
Polyethylene glycol works very well in cats (syrup)
Psyllium (vetagyl) capsule very effective (mix with canned food, no flavour)
High fibre diet. Feline i/d, w/d

Pain elief
rehydrate
K+ correct
B12

Can will then eat