Gavage feeding, also known as tube or supportive feeding, delivers nutrition or medication directly into a bird’s crop or stomach using a specialized tube. This technique bypasses the bird’s mouth and esophagus, ensuring sustenance reaches the digestive system efficiently. Its purpose is to provide necessary calories and fluids when a bird is unable or unwilling to eat on its own.
Circumstances for Gavage Feeding
Gavage feeding becomes necessary in several specific situations where a bird’s natural feeding ability is compromised. Sick or injured birds, particularly those experiencing a loss of appetite, weakness from illness, or physical injuries like a damaged beak that prevent self-feeding, often require this intervention. Supportive care feedings help replenish glycogen stores, which are fuel reserves for bodily functions, especially in small species with high metabolic rates where glycogen can deplete within hours.
Young or orphaned birds, such as chicks not receiving adequate food from their parents, also benefit from gavage feeding to ensure proper growth and development. Gavage feeding is also employed for medication delivery when oral administration is difficult or when the medication needs to bypass the oral cavity directly into the digestive tract.
Rehabilitation efforts for rescued wild birds frequently involve gavage feeding. Emaciated birds or those too weak to forage can receive the concentrated nutrition needed for recovery through this direct method. A documented drop in body weight, such as a steady decline over five weeks or a total weight loss of 5% to 10% within that period, is a clear indication for supportive feedings.
How Gavage Feeding is Performed
Performing gavage feeding requires specific equipment, including a syringe and a crop tube, also known as a feeding needle or gavage tube. There are two main types of feeding tubes: curved or straight ball-tipped metal tubes often used in hospital settings, and red rubber feeding tubes more commonly seen in wildlife rehabilitation centers. The tube’s width is important, ensuring it is neither too large to pass down the esophagus nor so narrow that it might accidentally slip into the trachea.
Before feeding, the formula or medication must be prepared to the correct temperature, typically between 100-105°F (38-41°C), to prevent crop burns. Proper hygiene is paramount, with all utensils, including syringes and tubes, needing thorough cleaning and sterilization between feedings to prevent bacterial growth and infection. The bird should be gently but securely restrained, often with an appropriately sized towel, to prevent injury.
To insert the tube, the bird’s neck should be gently extended to straighten the esophagus. The tube is then carefully placed from the corner of the beak, over the tongue, and guided down the esophagus into the crop. Lubricating the crop needle with a small amount of saliva, oil, or Vaseline can aid smooth insertion into the fragile esophagus. The position of the tube can be visually confirmed and physically felt in the crop.
Once the tube’s correct placement is confirmed, the liquid is slowly and gently delivered from the syringe into the crop, observing the bird to ensure the crop does not become overfull. After the liquid has been administered, the tube should be pinched to prevent dripping and then carefully and gently withdrawn. All feeding equipment must be cleaned and sterilized after each use.
Safety and Complications
Gavage feeding carries several risks if not performed correctly, with aspiration being a serious potential complication. Aspiration occurs when the liquid formula or medication enters the bird’s lungs instead of the crop, often due to improper tube placement or if the bird struggles during feeding. This can lead to respiratory distress, pneumonia, or even death. If a bird begins to struggle or regurgitate, the tube should be immediately removed.
Crop trauma or perforation is another risk, which can happen if the tube is inserted too forcefully or pushed too far, potentially cutting or puncturing the crop membrane. A puncture allows food to leak into surrounding tissue, leading to infection or cellulitis, and requires surgical repair and antibiotics to prevent starvation and further complications. The technique should be practiced to ensure it can be performed efficiently, safely, and gently.
Incorrect volume or frequency of feeding can result in overfeeding, causing crop distension or regurgitation, or underfeeding, which fails to provide adequate nutritional support. Formula temperature issues, such as administering liquid that is too hot, can cause crop burns, while excessively cold formula can lead to crop stasis or digestive upset. Tube feeding should not be used in birds that are regurgitating, dehydrated, or not alert and responsive.
The procedure itself can be stressful for the bird, so minimizing handling time and ensuring a calm environment are important to reduce stress-induced complications. Due to these potential risks, gavage feeding should ideally be performed or taught by an experienced veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator. Professional veterinary help is important if complications arise or if there is any uncertainty about the procedure.