Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Stress fractures and hiatal hernia in dogs and cats
By Hardie, E M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1998·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Abnormalities of the thoracic bellows: stress fractures of the ribs and hiatal hernia.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This study looked at issues with the rib cage and diaphragm, known as the thoracic bellows, in dogs and cats. Researchers found that 21 pets with conditions affecting their heart, lungs, or muscles had problems like stress fractures in their ribs and hiatal hernias (a condition where part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm). Most of the rib fractures were seen in female cats and were often linked to severe breathing efforts or metabolic diseases. The study also noted that Bulldogs with hiatal hernias had more serious breathing problems. Overall, these thoracic bellows issues may be signs of other health problems rather than the main cause of illness.
Abstract
The thoracic bellows mechanism consists of the rib cage and the diaphragm. The purpose of this study was to determine if nontraumatically acquired lesions of the bellows were secondary to underlying disease. Abnormalities of the bellows, specifically stress fractures of the ribs and hiatal hernia, were found in 21 dogs and cats with underlying cardiopulmonary disease, neuromuscular disease, or metabolic disease. A case-control study of Bulldogs demonstrated that hiatal hernia was associated with the more severe manifestations of brachycephalic syndrome. Stress fractures occurred mostly in females and in cats, and involved multiple ribs. Fractures were usually related to severe respiratory effort, but also occurred in association with metabolic disease. Hiatal hernia was also associated with severe respiratory effort, but may be exacerbated if a neuromuscular disorder affecting the diaphragm is present. Abnormalities of the thoracic bellows, such as rib stress fractures and hiatal hernia, may be signs of underlying disease, rather than being primary causes of disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9686388/