Oh Traci, oh wise one......keeper of the golden pedastal....

[MA]

I just got the strangest email and hope perhaps you or davet might have heard of this? I sense an urgency about it, whatever it may be-


Hello,
I wonder is there anyway I can get information on Pectus Excavatum which is fatal in our wonderful felines?

I can only find limited information on this genetic defect. My vet has tried to find as much information as she can but has only found one article that pertains to felines. Most of it is related to humans.

I would appreciate any information you may be able to offer me or if you can point me in the right direction.



Thanks friend!

[Mona]

Ma~

This had me wondering. Here is a link I found which tells the whole story.

http://www.catvet.homestead.com/FCK.html

Mona, HOneybun and Chloe

[MA]

Thanks Mona! I will send the link on to this poor woman and hope it helps-Gotta love this board - thanks again!

[Traci]

The urgency is that her vet needs to refer her to a qualified feline surgeon who can evaluate the necessity for surgical correction. If kitten is moderately or severely affected, surgical intervention might be the option. A surgeon is the only one who can tell the owner what to expect, in terms of surgery success, based on the severity of deformation, degree of current respiratory distress, if the heart is compromised, etc. If kitten has no other heart deformities and it is flat-chest only, this might improve as the kitten develops (without surgery). But, heart deformities, respiratory distress, infection, etc all must be ruled out before attempting surgery.

I'd recommend the owner contact a small animal internal medicine surgeon ASAP (ACVIM-board certified).