Critical care nutrition for feline patients

Top Companion Anim Med. 2008 Nov;23(4):207-15. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2008.08.001.

Abstract

Nutritional treatment in critical care patients is an important component of the complete treatment plan. Assessment of nutritional status and careful consideration of the disease course will help guide the selection of the most appropriate assisted-feeding method. Enteral nutrition is favored over parenteral nutrition when the gastrointestinal tract is functional. Common routes of enteral feeding include nasoesophageal, esophagostomy, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy feeding tubes. Parenteral nutrition is indicated for patients who cannot tolerate enteral feedings, or are poor anesthetic candidates for proper feeding tube placement. Appropriate diet selection and implementation of proper feeding guidelines and monitoring will aide in limiting complications associated with enteral and/or parenteral feeding.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / diet therapy
  • Cat Diseases / therapy*
  • Cats
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / diet therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary*
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • Nutritional Status
  • Nutritional Support / adverse effects
  • Nutritional Support / methods
  • Nutritional Support / veterinary*