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Caring for a sick cat: IVs, feeding tubes, and prednisone questions
Updated on September 23, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Male | neutered | 8 lbs
I have three questions at this Point: 1. Can a cat be put on IV fluid and travel 6 hours to a University hospital for treatment? Is it safe to do so? If not, are there any alternatives? 2. Can a cat be fed intravenously? How is that different from being fed through an esophageal tube? 3. How is prednisone administered to cats? Orally or can it also be administered intravenously? Thank you so much for your help with these questions.
1 Answer
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on August 3, 2017
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry Sam is so sick.
To answer your questions:
1) I would be cautious to allow a pet owner to travel 6 hours while the cat is attached to IV fluids. We use fluid pumps to administer the right volume of fluids. They would be unable to use a pump in the car due to the need to likely have to plug it in a some point. They do have a battery but in my experience the batteries never last long enough. They could set a drip from the IV fluid bag but cats are sensitive to fluid overload and I would worry that with out a properly trained person monitoring the drips that Sam could receive too much. Maybe the best option would to keep Sam on IV fluids as long as possible and give him some fluids under the skin before he leaves to go to the University hospital. And then may be teach you how to give a 2nd dose under the skin half way to the University. Also he might be fine without fluids for 6 hours, but I am not sure how sick he is
2) IV fluids are just used to provide hydration. There are electrolytes and sometimes sugar int he fluids that in some way can "feed" the pet but it is not appropriate nutrition for a long time. There is Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) which is a white milk substance that is formulated to your pets needs that is given thorough a CENTRAL LINE placed in the animals neck (jugular vein) under anesthesia or heavy sedation. It has to be done sterilally and be kept sterile. It is an expensive option to feed a sick pet. TPN doesn't help the intestinal track stay healthy. Eating and digestive food feeds the intestinal cell lining and prevents shrinking of the lining. It is always best, if possible to geed food through the mouth. TPN has it's place for sure in critical animals. An Esophagostomy tube is a large red rubber tube that is placed under anesthesia in the side of the neck. The animal is feed a blenderized watered down canned food. Feeding this way helps keep the intestines happy, it is easy to place, it is less expensive and pet owners can do it at home when the animal is discharged until eating on their own and it can stay in a long time.
3) There are many ways steroids can be give. They can be given intravenously (dexamethasone, Dex SP), subcutaneously as a long lasting injection (Depo medrol, Vetalog), subcutaneously short term (injectable prednisole), as a pill or it can be compounded in to a liquid.
I wish you and Sam the best of luck!
To answer your questions:
1) I would be cautious to allow a pet owner to travel 6 hours while the cat is attached to IV fluids. We use fluid pumps to administer the right volume of fluids. They would be unable to use a pump in the car due to the need to likely have to plug it in a some point. They do have a battery but in my experience the batteries never last long enough. They could set a drip from the IV fluid bag but cats are sensitive to fluid overload and I would worry that with out a properly trained person monitoring the drips that Sam could receive too much. Maybe the best option would to keep Sam on IV fluids as long as possible and give him some fluids under the skin before he leaves to go to the University hospital. And then may be teach you how to give a 2nd dose under the skin half way to the University. Also he might be fine without fluids for 6 hours, but I am not sure how sick he is
2) IV fluids are just used to provide hydration. There are electrolytes and sometimes sugar int he fluids that in some way can "feed" the pet but it is not appropriate nutrition for a long time. There is Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) which is a white milk substance that is formulated to your pets needs that is given thorough a CENTRAL LINE placed in the animals neck (jugular vein) under anesthesia or heavy sedation. It has to be done sterilally and be kept sterile. It is an expensive option to feed a sick pet. TPN doesn't help the intestinal track stay healthy. Eating and digestive food feeds the intestinal cell lining and prevents shrinking of the lining. It is always best, if possible to geed food through the mouth. TPN has it's place for sure in critical animals. An Esophagostomy tube is a large red rubber tube that is placed under anesthesia in the side of the neck. The animal is feed a blenderized watered down canned food. Feeding this way helps keep the intestines happy, it is easy to place, it is less expensive and pet owners can do it at home when the animal is discharged until eating on their own and it can stay in a long time.
3) There are many ways steroids can be give. They can be given intravenously (dexamethasone, Dex SP), subcutaneously as a long lasting injection (Depo medrol, Vetalog), subcutaneously short term (injectable prednisole), as a pill or it can be compounded in to a liquid.
I wish you and Sam the best of luck!
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