Retrospective evaluation of enteral nutrition supplementation in 295 hospitalized dogs and cats (2014-2023).

Objective: The goal of this study was to describe clinical and hospital-related factors associated with time to feeding tube placement in hospitalized dogs and cats.

Methods: This was a retrospective study from January 2014 through December 2023. Medical records at an academic veterinary teaching hospital were reviewed for small animal patients in the ICU with nasogastric or esophageal feeding tube placement for enteral nutrition due to inadequate food intake during hospitalization. Patients with feeding tubes placed prophylactically at hospital admission for surgery or physical inability to eat were excluded. Factors associated with placement including species, disease, inappetence, nutritional plans, and medical record recording of caloric intake were reviewed.

Results: 295 patients (89 cats and 206 dogs) were included. Median duration of hospitalization prior to feeding tube placement was 2 days (0 to 17 days) and was shorter in cats. Weekend admission and initial placement of an esophageal tube were associated with increased time to placement. Adequate feeding instructions were provided for only 53 of 295 patients (18%) and associated with both higher likelihood of having caloric intake recorded (OR, 10.30) and earlier feeding tube placement.

Conclusions: Provision of enteral nutrition occurred later than recommended by nutritional guidelines in many hospitalized patients. Clinician inclusion of specific diet instructions, weekday admission, and initial nasogastric tube placement reduced this duration.

Clinical relevance: Multiple factors may impact timely provision of nutrition in hospitalized dogs and cats. Close attention to energy requirements and exact food intake should be considered to optimize patient nutritional care.