Using the Feeding Tube, Part One

I was a little overwhelmed at first -- nervous about feeding Bullwinkle through his feeding tube. Now I've fed him probably 25-30 times (I'm aiming for 5 times a day, more often on the weekends) and I have a bit of a system down. I want to stress that, beyond what the cancer clinic told me, and my own experiences, I really don't have a clue. I'm definitely not an expert, and for all I know, maybe this is all wrong. (We go back to the clinic tomorrow; perhaps I'll learn more then.)

In other words: if you're just getting started feeding your pet through a feeding tube, I think you should follow the directions of your vet, and not necessarily adopt my technique(s). With the help of Bullwinkle's Auntie Joyce, however, we made some videos which, hopefully, might make it easier for you to get started. The main thing I think I've learned is: have everything ready before you start. Here's step one:

I know it's hard to see the little stopper for the feeding tube (I didn't communicate my intentions very well to the camerawoman ahead of time), but you'll be able to see it in a later video. To recap what I did in this one: first I took the stopper out of the feeding tube. Then I put the tip of the syringe with Bullwinkle's pain meds right inside the feeding tube and pushed the fluid in.

Next: I pulled the syringe out of the feeding tube (it wasn't screwed in or held in by suction or anything else, so it was just a matter of moving it) and then screwed the syringe with the food onto the feeding tube. I want to reiterate that none of these syringes have needles and also, that this doesn't seem to be a painful process in any way for Bullwinkle -- uh, except for the need to more or less stay in one place for 20-30 minutes.:)