My cat won't eat after stroke. Should I consider a feeding tube?

Hi. If she isn't getting better, and it's been that long, I would recommend an ER and a second opinion. And yes, a feeding tube may be very helpful for her, but you have to find the primary cause of why she needs it in order to fix it. Good luck. I'd head to the ER.

If Pussy Cat truly cannot swallow food on his own, he will need a feeding tube placed to allow for him to continue to receive regular nutrition. This will need to be placed by a veterinarian under sedation or general anesthesia. Depending on the type of tube, some can be left in place for long periods of time until the injury or problem with the GI tract is resolved. Without knowing the actual nature of the injury it is very difficult for me to assess how long it might be until things are back to normal. If you could perhaps provide some more details or a picture of the problem, I might be able to help some more.

Without knowing the course of his illness, test results, etc. it is difficult to give accurate advice. It does sound serious enough that your cat likely needs a feeding tube surgically placed so that you can give him the necessary amount of food each day. It is quite difficult to force feed a cat who is sick and doesn't want to eat. The feeding tube is often needed in these situations. You should discuss this option with your veterinarian and inquire about having it done asap. It may also be necessary that your cat remain hospitalized for more intense supportive care including IV fluids. Please consult with his doctor right away.

Oh my goodness! Poor guy! He does need nutrition. What was your vet's recommendation for feeding him? Its hard to assess the risk of infection without knowing what the area looks like more specifically. Definitely offer him water. Is he on antibiotics? If he is on antibiotics, offer him a liquid diet; you can soak cat food in water, mash it up with a fork and let him lap it up. Sometimes a temporary feeding tube is needed to help patient's recover from significant oral injury. Regarding the IV, My understanding from the information you gave is that he was on IV fluids during the surgery, but he went home after surgery. The IV fluids will help him maintain hydration for the time that he's getting them, but not much beyond that, so he does need to be offered water and if he's unable to drink it you need to take him to a vet and either discuss subcutaneous fluids (fluids you can give under the skin at home) https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-care/how-give-subcutaneous-fluids-your-cat or possibly a feeding tube, as subcutaneous fluids don't provide nutrition (calories, fat, carbohydrates), only hydration and electrolytes. IV fluids also do not provide nutrition. Thank you for asking PetCoach!

If she is unable to even swallow water she will need to have a feeding tube inserted to provide nutrition and may also require intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. This must be extremely distressing for her and it may be time to consider letting her go if the condition cannot be managed as fasting in cats can create further serious health complications on top of the tumor

Unfortunately I don't know that theres going to be a safe, non messy way to feed her other than her tube. Without her tongue to help her pick up the food and channel the saliva, there just is not a way for her to do it without making a mess. You could try "containing" the mess by putting her in a bathroom or laundry room for feeding time, where the surfaces are easy to clean up. I'm sorry, there really just isn't another option, unfortunately. Thank you for taking such great care of her! She's lucky to have such a dedicated owner.

Unfortunately it can take a long time - weeks to months - to recovery from hepatic lipidosis. I typically recommend a feeding tube because feeding the appropriate number of calories is most important and it can be difficult to get enough calories in with syringe feeding alone. If you have other concerns for questions about her care you should check in with your vet and be sure to follow up for all recommended rechecks.