Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What to expect when feeding your dog or cat with a gastrostomy tube
By Seaman, R & Legendre, A M·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1998·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Owner experiences with home use of a gastrostomy tube in their dog or cat.
Plain-English summary
Many pet owners have successfully used gastrostomy tubes to feed their dogs and cats at home, even if they were initially hesitant. In a survey of 25 pet owners, most reported feeling comfortable with the process after some time, and nearly all believed their pets were comfortable as well. While some owners faced minor challenges, like managing bandages and feeding supplies, the majority found the experience positive and would choose to use a gastrostomy tube again if needed. Overall, it seems that with proper guidance, feeding pets through a gastrostomy tube can be a manageable and effective option.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe owner experiences with gastrostomy tubes used at home. DESIGN: Telephone survey. ANIMALS: 20 cats and 5 dogs. PROCEDURE: Owner's opinions obtained by phone interview. RESULTS: Although 32% (8/25) of owners were initially reluctant to feed their cat or dog through the gastrostomy tube, 92% (22/24) of owners became comfortable with the procedure. Eighty-four percent (21/25) of owners were able to feed their dog or cat unassisted; 16% (4/25) required another person to help. Median time required for feeding was 19.8 minutes. Ninety-six percent (24/25) of owners believed their dog or cat was comfortable with the procedure. Eighty-four percent (21/25) of owners experienced complications or difficulties. Most problems involved bandage maintenance, administration of food through the syringe and tube, or acquisition of syringes and special foods. Ninety-six percent (22/23) of owners would be willing to use a gastrostomy tube again. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Most owners had positive experiences with the feeding experience and would be willing to use gastrostomy tube feeding again. Difficulties encountered by owners were not serious and could be avoided by specific client instruction.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9604027/