Case Highlights

Annie’s Feeding Tube Success Story 

Annie is a 12 year old gray tabby cat who recently moved with her owner into a new home with some new feline housemates.   Annie did not get along with the other cats and began hiding from everyone. She did not eat well for several weeks. Over the course of a 6 week period, she lost 3 pounds!

When Annie came to AMC on Halloween, she was very depressed, dehydrated, thin and jaundiced. Her skin and eyes almost glowed yellow due to the buildup of liver toxins in her system. After blood testing and an abdominal ultrasound, Annie was diagnosed with hepatic lipidosis.  This serious condition can occur in cats who stop eating because they mobilize fat to fuel basic body processes. The fat builds up in their liver and causes liver failure. 

Treating hepatic lipidosis requires getting calories into a cat who does not feel well and does not want to eat. Annie’s owner made the courageous decision to move forward with placement of a feeding tube in Annie’s esophagus. Working closely with AMC’s doctors and staff, Annie’s owner learned how to prepare the blend of supplements and special liquid diet that would nourish Annie through the tube until her liver could heal. 

Annie received a calorie-dense liquid diet, amino acids, potassium, probiotics, and a multivitamin through her tube for 4 weeks.  During that time she gained back almost a pound and became her normal feisty, animated self. She wore a specially designed padded collar that held her tube in place and protected the entrance site into her esophagus. After 4 weeks, Annie was meeting her calorie needs through eating on her own with minimal supplementation through the tube, so the tube was removed. 

Hepatic lipidosis can occur any time a cat, especially a chubby cat, does not eat enough for several weeks. This condition can lead to liver failure and death if not treated. Thanks to her owner’s persistence, optimism and willingness to work with the AMC team, Annie survived hepatic lipidosis.  By Christmas, Annie’s liver function tests were normal. She is maintaining a healthy weight and eating a regular diet.