Comparison of feeding tubes

Feeding tube	Duration	Advantages	Disadvantages
Naso-oesophageal	Short term (<5 days)	Inexpensive Easy to place No anaesthesia required	Requires liquid diet Some animals will not eat voluntarily with tube in place
Oesophagostomy	Long term	Inexpensive Easy to place Allows calorically dense diets to be fed	Requires anaesthesia (short term) Cellulitis is a major complication seen
Gastrostomy	Long term	Allows calorically dense diets to be fed	Requires anaesthesia and/or surgery, or endoscopy to place PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube Tube displacement may result in peritonitis
Jejunostomy	Long term	Bypasses stomach and duodenum Can be used in patients with pancreatitis	Requires anaesthesia and laparotomy For in-hospital use only Requires constant rate infusion Requires liquid diet Tube displacement may result in peritonitis