Feeding after G/A

RE: Feeding after G/A

Laura Ringsell — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 06:44:38 GMT

Great reply, thanks Nick and Susanna, good ammunition, I have one vet who likes to feed and one who prefers them to go home hungry so the owners are delighted that they are well enough to eat. Hard facts change everything

RE: Feeding after G/A

kerryfeehan — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 21:39:21 GMT

we try to feed patients as soon as they are able to eat but also taking into account what time they are going home incase of vomiting in car. We do not charge anything extra and I personally think clients have paid enough for a surgical procedure without then being charged for a bit of food. I always offer clients a little pouch of sensitivity or gastro wet if they want to feed that at home and that costs less than £1. I think it awful if patients aren't fed before going home, especially as some are starved from 7pm the previous night and may not be going back home until 6pm the following day!

RE: Feeding after G/A

suz85 — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:23:25 GMT

Out of interest, how many people do charge clients for post op food or do people absorb the costs? We actually discussed post op feeding in work recently, I will be honest, I tend not to, if they are going home mid afternoon, as always been worried about vomiting on the way home, so advice O's to feed when get home, exceptions being puppies/kittens and patients who are going home later in the day, but reading some of these replies, I wonder if we should be. Problem is, my boss would mention costings, so wonder if we mark up all neuters by a couple of pound and they all get food?

Re: Feeding after G/A

Nicola Smith — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 06:55:36 GMT

We ask owners to bring small amt food with them. We like to feed asap but if they were on special diet due to gi issues etc we didnt want to risk upsetting them so this works well. Not everyone remembers but most do.

Re: Feeding after G/A

Sal the 1st — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 02:15:22 GMT

[quote user="Ilovethebug"]Thanks Susanna! Unfortunately our boss has stopped post op feeding!

[/quote]

if it is because of the cost of feeding post op not being charged ( and yes I have worked for plenty of places where this has been a reason for not feeding) a way around this is to send the patient home with a recovery pack of food which can be charged ( and the clients like them too) and to use part of the recovery pack immediately post op - that way every body is happy - the patient , the nurse , the client and the vet.

Re: Feeding after G/A

Ilovethebug — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 20:41:07 GMT

Thanks Susanna! Unfortunately our boss has stopped post op feeding!

Re: Feeding after G/A

Susanna Taylor — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:14:09 GMT

Hi jade. I have had a look and asked some Anaesthesia colleagues and can't find anything published. Very typical of current lack of EBM in vet nursing! If it helps I can confirm that patients at the RVC are fed when they are awake enough to sit and stand. It certainly helps warm them up by getting digestion and metabolism going again. The exception to the rule is neurological patients, inc spinal sx due to increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. I believe most up to date theory of food after an enterectomy is as soon as possible, as it promotes blood supply to the damaged area. Risk of leakage should be absolutely minimal if surgical repair was adequate! So no concrete I'm afraid, just sand!

Re: Feeding after G/A

Jade Simmons — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:23:28 GMT

Hi Everyone, Sorry to bring this up again - do you have any research to support the feeding as soon as awake? Need something concrete to support post op feeding.

Re: Feeding after G/A

xxserahxx — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:38:17 GMT

We offer sensitivity control as soon as there able to support themselves with routine ops and other simple procedures. Some dont touch it.. others want to eat the actual bowl itself. They have been starved since 9pm the previous night 99% of them are marvin and will eat it all up :D

Re: Feeding after G/A

BengalcatRVN — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:47:43 GMT

I had dental surgury a few years ago. Was told by the doc not to eat till the following day and even then to have cooled down soup.

I went out and had a cornish pastie less than 30mins later.

If they are hungry, they will eat. I offer as soon as they are able to hold themselves. Some cases your shouldn't, so I check with the vets, but cat spays and things. Gets them better quicker sometimes! I always think of myself after my ops. STARVIN'!

Re: Feeding after G/A

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:18:34 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon RVN"]

I'm of the 'as soon as they can stand' camp.

It was a thread on here a while back that swung me - like Bizzy said it helps speed up the metabolism and therefore recovery. This was then later confirmed by my tutor.

I remember Nick posting something about free radicals (not the 90's band ) too, but I can't remember the details, and my brain is tired - hopefully he will come along and elaborate

[/quote]

Free radicals occurs during incidents such as anaesthesia, surgery, radiography etc... the free radicals created causes damage to cells and tissues they cause aging and decaying of the cells. the damage caused by free radicals can be counteracted by giving antioxidants many prescription diets that are suitable post operatively contain antioxidants. and this is where the theory feed as soon as possible comes from.

With regards to any surgery where the GIT has been penetrated eg grastrotomy, enterectomy, anastomosis I was always taught 12hrs for oral fluids and 24hrs for oral food. but at the end of the day its up to vet, so in these cases check with them prior to feeding and usually its giving little amounts to start with.

Re: Feeding after G/A

Phrin Vernon RVN — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:51:59 GMT

I'm of the 'as soon as they can stand' camp.

It was a thread on here a while back that swung me - like Bizzy said it helps speed up the metabolism and therefore recovery. This was then later confirmed by my tutor.

I remember Nick posting something about free radicals (not the 90's band ) too, but I can't remember the details, and my brain is tired - hopefully he will come along and elaborate

Re: Feeding after G/A

Honeybadger — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:25:46 GMT

They should ideally be fed as soon as they are able - little and often of a bland diet. It helps to speed up the metabolism of the GA and leads to better recovery. (Not including FB - varies from vet to vet)

Re: Feeding after G/A

les punton — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:22:49 GMT

yeah we are the same as above, as soon as up and about.

again with fb our vets prefer 24 NBM but I have been on cpd inc hills saying feeding post fb help repair internal wounds and repair any damage

Re: Feeding after G/A

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:35:39 GMT

In our practice a lot of it comes down to the nurses in kennels. Some have been trained not to feed them until they go home.

I generally feed routine surgery animals like Sal says... when they are self supporting.

FB surgery tends to be the disretion of the vet, and the surgery performed. End to ends tends to be about 8-12 hours post op. Just "simple" FB surgery some vets like them to eat asap 4-6 hour post op.

Then some vets want a 24 hour period of rest before feeding them...

Re: Feeding after G/A

Sal the 1st — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:17:07 GMT

depending on the surgery we offer food as soon as an animal is self supporting and awake enough to be able to eat.