I need your help and input! Warning, contains pictures of deceased peafowl!

[casportpony]

I've been think about writing a n article on how to tube feed, so I'm hoping that you will give me some ideas on what to include. When you have a few free minutes, can you look at this page and tell me how helpful it was? http://www.lafebervet.com/avian-medicine-2/avian-nutrition/tube-feeding/

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Here is some input from another forum:

Wow - that was awesome. Very well-explained & visualized.
I much prefer the control I have with the gavage needles as opposed to a tube.
I can easily see the tip going down the esophagus so that I know that have it in the right place.

It would be great to include video of other avians in addition to the hookbills - maybe doves or chickens?

-Kathy

 

[new 2 pfowl]

This looks pretty thorough!

For the average user, I'd say an additional more pared-down version may be useful.
You don't want someone without a lot of experience or knowledge to feel intimidated by the whole process, and by terms they don't know.

I'd like to see some clear photos of the equipment needed - maybe everything laid out so you can see immediately if you are missing something. And probably more details about where to get the equipment.
Also, really clear photos of where the tube should go, like those great Hopkins photos.
And a chart with volume calculations so people can be sure they haven't miscalculated. (I

charts!)

 

[casportpony]

This looks pretty thorough!

For the average user, I'd say an additional more pared-down version may be useful.
You don't want someone without a lot of experience or knowledge to feel intimidated by the whole process, and by terms they don't know.

I'd like to see some clear photos of the equipment needed - maybe everything laid out so you can see immediately if you are missing something. And probably more details about where to get the equipment.
Also, really clear photos of where the tube should go, like those great Hopkins photos.
And a chart with volume calculations so people can be sure they haven't miscalculated. (I

charts!)

Thanks... I've been doing it for so long I forget what it might feel like to a beginner. Let me ask you this, was it clear to you when tubing should not be done?

-Kathy

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Thanks... I've been doing it for so long I forget what it might feel like to a beginner. Let me ask you this, was it clear to you when tubing should not be done?

-Kathy

This is a good point; maybe the contraindications could be more clear at the beginning so you know immediately if it is not an appropriate treatment?
But there is so much information to include that it's hard to say what should go where, isn't it? You'd ideally want someone to read every word before doing anything at all.

Also, it isn't clear what they mean by "Tube feeding should always be the last treatment performed."
Are they saying this is "after all other options have been exhausted," or "if you are also medicating this should come afterwards," or ?

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Excellent points! What they mean by that is do all weighing, exams, injections, pills, etc. *before* tubing. Tubing should be done and the bird should go back into the cage because there is a risk that handling with a full crop will cause them to vomit and aspirate.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

AS for contraindications, that's a tricky one, because one that's not responsive needs intervention ASAP, but there will be huge risk in doing it, though it will probably die if nothing else is done.

Then there's the correcting hydration first... sigh, so much to think about, but I'm grateful for all of this input!

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Here's some more info that I'm going to pull from (ignore the subcutaneous, IV and IO bits):


-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

More resources:

http://www.fvmace.org/FVMA_83rd_Ann...chnical Procedures for the Avian Patient.html
"Crop Feeding
Crop feeding is the main way to provide nutritional support to sick birds. There are many different formulas on the market including; Harrison’s, Kaytee Exact, Zupreem and Pretty Bird. Kaytee Exact makes a formula exclusively for macaws, which require a higher fat content. Crop feeding should only be administered to well hydrated, normothermic birds that are able to stand on their own. Formula should be mixed to an appropriate thickness to provide adequate caloric intake and should be administered at a temperature between 100˚-102˚F. Crop burns can happen at temperatures greater than this and are often not seen for several days. Symptoms of a bird with a crop burn are decreased appetite and drooling. If the burn is severe enough, a fistula will open in the crop and formula will drain from it.
When crop feeding a bird, calculate the volume to be fed at 3ml per 100gms up to every six hours for adults. Juveniles are fed 10 percent of their body weight several times a day. Always check the crop first for food contents or decreased crop motility before feeding. Weighing the bird at the beginning of every day will help determine if it is receiving the appropriate amount of calories.
Crop feeder or crop needles come in several different sizes depending on the size bird. Crop feeders are stainless steel tubes with a ball at the end. They can be purchased through www.vetspecialtyproducts.com. The bird should be restrained properly while the crop feeder is inserted in the bird’s left side of its mouth and directed toward the right side advancing into the crop. The trachea should be palpated separate from the crop feeder with the ball of the crop feeder in the crop. Once placement is confirmed and with the esophagus occluded by the head, the formula is given quickly. While maintaining occlusion of the esophagus the crop feeder is removed and the bird returned to the cage feet first and slowly letting go of the head, making sure the bird does not regurgitate. In the event that the bird should begin regurgitation, leave the bird alone. Aspiration is more likely to happen if the bird is stressed causing increased respiration and inhalation of formula. Monitor the bird for further respiratory signs and adjust technique or volume at next attempt at crop feeding."

 

[casportpony]

@new 2 pfowl , maybe you could do a chart for me, like the one you did for the Corid? Of course I'll get all the data together first, but I kind of the the idea of an easy to read chart or diagram.

-Kathy