There are moments during the coexistence with our friend in which we will have to worry about him, much more than we already do. He may be fine one day, playing, running around the house, and the next morning have trouble breathing and do not want to eat absolutely nothing.
What could be happening to him? One of the possible reasons why you feel so bad is that you have a diaphragmatic hernia. Let's see what it is and how it is treated.
What is a diaphragmatic hernia?
Diaphragmatic hernia is a very serious problem. It often occurs after a strong blow, when the diaphragm ruptures and the guts (stomach, intestines, spleen, liver) »rise», approaching the lungs and preventing the animal from breathing properly. You can also have it from birth, so it is worth taking an X-ray to the kitten to check its health.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms are:
- Trouble breathing (dyspnea), so your mouth is slightly open. As you breathe, your belly "swells" and "deflates" more than it would normally be.
- Loss of appetite, for the pain or discomfort you feel. He eats very little and almost unwillingly.
- Weight loss, which is accentuated as time passes.
- If it is a growing cat, stop growing.
- Apathy, sadness.
And your diagnosis?
Once at the veterinary clinic or hospital, what they are going to do to the cat is take the temperature, check how you breathe, and finally you will have one or more x-rays which will be the ones that help the professional to make the diagnosis.
How is it treated?
The only way to save the animal is operating it. If your cat has a diaphragmatic hernia, your vet will recommend that you hospitalize him to place the organs in place under general anesthesia.
Can there be any complications?
All operations carry risks. But after consulting three vets, I can tell you that if the cat is more or less at its weight, the chances of it getting better are very high, so it is very worth a try.
Much encouragement!