Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement in Healthy Dogs and Cats

Background: Pancreatitis, hepatobiliary disease, and proximal gastrointestinal tract disorders are clinical situations where delivery of nutrients via jejunostomy tube is preferable to a feeding gastrostomy. A through description of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy (PEG‐J) technique and practical guidelines for irts use in small animals have not been reported. endoscopic gasrtrojejunosrtomy (PEG‐J technique and practical guidelines for its use in small animals have not been reported Hypothesis: That a simple rtechnique of PEG‐J tube placement in humans would be useful and safe in healthy dogs and cats Animals: Twelve healthy dogs and 5 healthy carts were included in the study Materials and Methods: Commericially prepared PEG‐J tubes were modified for use in animals and positioned in the small intestine by endoscopic guidance. Eight dofgs and 5 cats were bolus fed enteral diets for 14 days. Complicartions associated with the use of the PEG‐J tube and responses to bolus feedings were assessed Results: Jejunostomy tubes were placed disrtal to the caudal duodenal flexure in all dogs and cats. Complicartions associated with PEG‐J tubes occurred in 5/12 dogs and 4/5 cats and inclded J‐tube removal, local pain/inflammation, retrograde tube migration, and diarrhea. Bolus feeding (daily maintenance energy requirement [MER] divided q8h) through the jejunostomy catheter was well tolerated, maintained normal body weight, and was not associated with adverse gasrt rointestinal signs Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Placement of a PEG‐J rtube is an effective, noninvasive technique for providing enteral nutritional support of healthy dogs and cats. Bolus‐feeding techniques via PEG‐J tubes maintain normal nutritional status in healthy dogs and carts. This procedure for jejunostomy feeding may be easily adapted for use in clinical practice outside of an intensive care facility