4526. Pregnant cat with diaphragmatic hernia

 

.  DATE: 8 JAN 2025

PATIENT: Domestic short-haired cat, F, 5 years. Resident in Myanmar.
HISTORY: 6 months ago, the cat was hit by a car. Difficulty in breathing for the past 6 months.
X-RAY: Diaphragmatic hernia.

2.  DATE: 25 MAR 2025
Difficulty in breathing for the past week.
HISTORY: Had an acquired diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed in Jan 2025.
No treatment.
X-RAY: Diaphragmatic hernia and pregnant with 3 formed kittens

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The thoracic cavity, also known as the chest cavity, is a hollow space within the thorax protected by the rib cage and diaphragm. It contains organs like the heart, lungs and major blood vessels. It does not contain the liver and spleen.

 

 A diaphragmatic hernia in cats occurs when abdominal organs push through a tear or opening in the diaphragm which is the muscle separating the abdomen from the chest cavity.

This hernia can be caused by trauma or be congenital.

The pregnant cat has severe respiratory distress as you can see in the video.

NATURAL BIRTH OR CAESAREAN SECTION?atural birth or caesarean section (CS)?

Dr Thet had to decide.

High anaesthetic risk of death if the cat has natural birth or caesarean section (CS). This is due to the OPEN-MOUTH BREATHING indicating great breathing difficulty as the lungs are not able to function normally. Part of the liver and spleen press on the lungs obstructing its breathing movements. Insufficient oxygen, therefore open-mouth breathing.
 

Dr Thet decided on natural birth.

If the cat has very severe breathing problems during natural birth, he would do a Caesarean section to save the three kittens.

SUPPORTIVE THERAPY:

IV drip of glucose and normal saline was administered. Oxygen gas supplementation was administered to the cat.Oxytocin injection was given when the amniotic fluid was discharged.Three kittens were born naturally.

 The cat was an in-patient for one day to monitor her respiratory distress. She went home the next day.

Oral vitamins were prescribed.

 Dr Thet’s advices:1. No depo progesterone injection should be given to the female cat when she is on heat.
2. To separate the female cat from the male cats.

 

 TO VIEW TWO OTHER VIDEOS OF THIS CAT WITH BREATHING DIFFICULTIES FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS:

Video link_1
https://youtu.be/-R2QmRHZ5K8

Video link_2
https://youtu.be/b5FVskHqnZQ

 TO BUY PHOTOS OF THIS CAT, KITTENS AND X-RAYS:

www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

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FROM DR THET.

 

Mother has high risk of death in both normal parturition and CS.
So, I explained the owner about the consequences. And decided to support normal parturition first. If it couldn’t give birth normally or mom would get severe life threatening respiratory distress, plan to do CS surgery immediately at that time to save kittens at least.


I gave Calcium, B12, Glucose IV and normal saline drip first and wait. After seeing vaginal discharge, I give oxytocin injection IM.
And also oxygen supplementation the whole time.
All 3 kittens could be born by normal parturition but only 2 alive.
Hospitalized for one day to monitor mom’s respiration and then gave vitamin oral supplement and discharged the next day.
I advised the cat owner not to inject depo injection and better to separate male cats.