So yesterday BF & I went to pick Jack up at the hospital. He was much more energetic than the day before, and very happy to see us. The tech showed us how to feed him - 30ml of Iams Max Calorie Vet Formula mixed with water, 4x per day. Clavamox 2x per day. They also showed us how to clean the tube and check the incision. We left feeling fairly confident, and loaded down with bags of food, bandage supplies, and a 17lb cat. We managed to leave the vet just at NYC rush hour (ugh) and I was thankful that we were able to make it home with minimal incident.
At home Jack emerged from the carrier without the end piece to his feeding tube. We found it in the carrier, cleaned it off, and called the hospital to confirm that we should just put it back in. Got confirmation, stuck tube back in, left Jack to reacquaint himself with the apartment. Within minutes we discovered that he had rubbed up against a bookcase, and knocked the tip out again. Wash, rinse, repeat. The *third* time he knocked it out it rolled under the tv stand and it took us a bit of time to find it. At this point I was a bit of a wreck because I was afraid that the open line to his stomach was going to get infected if it went on too long. So this time we wrapped the end piece really well so that it didn't stick out so much. Crisis averted. Whew!
The first feeding was ok. I fed him a bit too fast and he started drooling like crazy, so we stopped for a half hour or so. After that I got out the timer on my phone so I could have a better gauge of how fast I was going. I got it all into him uneventfully - he even fell asleep half way through. The midnight and 6am feedings were similar, although I'm *not* a morning person, so 6am was painful. The noon feeding today was a little more challenging as Jack is feeling a bit more energetic and it showed. He's a bit of a mush for scritches though, so some well-timed scratching helped. :smile:
I managed to get one bg reading last night of 92 (2 hours after 1st feeding) and one tonight of 152 (again, about 2 hours after feeding). I'm not even considering insulin tonight. The vet is going to curve him tomorrow and do some basic bloodwork. I also need to get Pepcid and some anti-nausea meds. It's obvious that he wants to eat - he comes when I open the treat bag, comes when I give Boo food, etc., but he just sniffs and then looks at me like "that's it?". I've tried feeding him by hand, and putting a bit of meat juice on his lip as well. He licks it, but it doesn't seem to prime anything.
Right now he's sleeping next to me on the couch, and I'm fighting off the urge to rub his shaved belly. Sick or not, I think I'd lose my hand. :smile: So, right now things are ok. Tomorrow I get a bit of free time while he's at the vet - laundry and food shopping, whee! - and then we'll see about the next steps.
At home Jack emerged from the carrier without the end piece to his feeding tube. We found it in the carrier, cleaned it off, and called the hospital to confirm that we should just put it back in. Got confirmation, stuck tube back in, left Jack to reacquaint himself with the apartment. Within minutes we discovered that he had rubbed up against a bookcase, and knocked the tip out again. Wash, rinse, repeat. The *third* time he knocked it out it rolled under the tv stand and it took us a bit of time to find it. At this point I was a bit of a wreck because I was afraid that the open line to his stomach was going to get infected if it went on too long. So this time we wrapped the end piece really well so that it didn't stick out so much. Crisis averted. Whew!
The first feeding was ok. I fed him a bit too fast and he started drooling like crazy, so we stopped for a half hour or so. After that I got out the timer on my phone so I could have a better gauge of how fast I was going. I got it all into him uneventfully - he even fell asleep half way through. The midnight and 6am feedings were similar, although I'm *not* a morning person, so 6am was painful. The noon feeding today was a little more challenging as Jack is feeling a bit more energetic and it showed. He's a bit of a mush for scritches though, so some well-timed scratching helped. :smile:
I managed to get one bg reading last night of 92 (2 hours after 1st feeding) and one tonight of 152 (again, about 2 hours after feeding). I'm not even considering insulin tonight. The vet is going to curve him tomorrow and do some basic bloodwork. I also need to get Pepcid and some anti-nausea meds. It's obvious that he wants to eat - he comes when I open the treat bag, comes when I give Boo food, etc., but he just sniffs and then looks at me like "that's it?". I've tried feeding him by hand, and putting a bit of meat juice on his lip as well. He licks it, but it doesn't seem to prime anything.
Right now he's sleeping next to me on the couch, and I'm fighting off the urge to rub his shaved belly. Sick or not, I think I'd lose my hand. :smile: So, right now things are ok. Tomorrow I get a bit of free time while he's at the vet - laundry and food shopping, whee! - and then we'll see about the next steps.
My Garland had one for a little over a month back in August. Tube feeding becomes sooo easy once you get used to it and get your routine down. And dont worry about him not eating. Dont try to force food on him right now, he will start to eat when he is ready. It takes time before they eat on their own again.
