Helping your dog fight chronic kidney disease often means giving her prescribed medications, a special diet and subcutaneous fluids at home to promote kidney function and keep your pet comfortable. As the disease progresses, nausea and stomach upset can cause your dog to stop eating. Force feeding her may be necessary to keep her alive and achieve "full caloric intake," according to Dr. Dennis McCurnin and Dr. Joanna Bassert in "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."
Things You'll Need
- 10- or 35-ml feeding syringe
- Blender
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Towel
Instructions
Discuss with your veterinarian the type of food necessary to provide your ill dog with adequate nutrition and hydration. Learn how many calories your pet needs at each feeding, and how often and for how long the vet recommends syringe feeding.
Purchase a 10-ml (milliliter) or 35-ml syringe from your vet or online to use in feeding your dog.
Prepare the prescribed dog food (typically a wet, low-sodium, low-protein, low-phosphorus diet specially prepared for dogs with kidney disease) by placing it in a blender and pureeing the food until smooth. Add a little water if the food is very thick and pour it into a microwave-safe bowl. If it has been refrigerated, allow the food to come to room temperature or warm it in a microwave.
Fill the body of your feeding syringe with the food, either by pulling up on the plunger and sucking it into the canister, or removing the plunger, spooning the food into the canister, and then replacing the plunger.
Place your sick dog on your lap or, depending on her size, hold her head on your lap on top of a towel. Keep the bowl with the extra food close by where she can see and smell the food and make a decision whether or not to eat on her own.
Holding her head up at a slight angle with one hand, use the other hand to put the end of the syringe in the side pocket of your dog's mouth on the outside of her gums. Gently push in 1 ml (milliliter) of the food. She should automatically swallow when she feels the food on her tongue.
Continue this process 1 milliliter at a time until she has eaten the entire amount required for that feeding.