Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kitten with breathing trouble from lung and hernia defects plus bone
By Del Magno, Sara et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2022·From the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Congenital Lobar Emphysema in a Kitten with Concomitant Hiatal Hernia and Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-month-old domestic shorthair kitten was brought in for trouble breathing and difficulty walking. X-rays showed that one of its lung lobes was over-inflated, and there was a mass in the chest, suggesting congenital lobar emphysema and a hiatal hernia. The kitten also had low calcium levels due to a poor diet, which led to weak bones. The vet performed surgery to remove the affected lung lobe and fix the hernia, along with calcium supplements. The kitten fully recovered and was able to walk better after treatment.
People also search for: kitten breathing problems · congenital lung disease in cats · hiatal hernia treatment for kittens · kitten calcium deficiency symptoms
Abstract
A 2 mo old domestic shorthair kitten was presented for acute respiratory distress and severe ambulatory difficulties. Thoracic radiography revealed hyperinflation of the left cranial lung lobe and a mass with soft-tissue/gas opacity in the caudal mediastinum, leading to the suspicion of congenital lung lobe emphysema and hiatal hernia. Decreased bone radiopacity and suspected pathological fractures were also present. Complete clinicopathological analyses showed significant ionized hypocalcemia and suspicion of secondary hyperparathyroidism related to an inadequate diet. Lung lobectomy and reduction of the hiatal hernia following a median sternotomy and a cranial laparotomy were performed. IV and oral supplementation of calcium led to a full recovery and improvement in the kitten's walking. A histopathological analysis revealed pulmonary emphysema associated with hypoplastic and irregular bronchial cartilage. Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare disease in both humans and animals. This is the first veterinary report describing a kitten affected by congenital lobar emphysema combined with a hiatal hernia and additionally complicated by secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism with a good long-term outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35576398/