diaphragmatic hernia

[tinab1181]

I took my approximately seven month old cat to the vet for coughing and difficulty breathing yesterday and today and he was diagnosed as having a diaphragmatic hernia, as seen on X-rays. The vet states that it's probably congenital as he has been kept indoors since we've had him (a friend found him outside by her mailbox when he was about two weeks old). She states that while surgery is an option, the prognosis is not good and it's beyond my budget as she estimates that it would cost about $2,000 to 2,500. She also said that she can't really estimate how much time he has as she's surprised that he hasn't manifested symptoms until recently.

According to the X-rays much of his lower intestine is in his chest cavity, and as he grows and his organs grow they constrict his lungs making it difficult for him to breath.

Other than his occasional coughing/wheezing fits, which began about a week ago and happen as much as three times a day on bad days and not at all for days at a time, he shows no other symptoms. His coughing/wheezing fits usually last about 30 seconds. He's eating well and still very active. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to make his time with us as pain free as possible, or any other information you guys might have.


Thank you!

Christine

[sealovr222]

hi
Sorry to hear about your kitty What about pet insurance? Can you get any
covarage?
sealovr222

[Traci]

I strongly suggest a second opinion IMMEDIATELY...and preferrably by either an ER vet facility or vet specialist in your area, wouldn't wait another minute on this.

In my experience, most diaphragmatic hernias can be surgically repaired and the costs of the surgery are justified (to relieve pain and suffering and offer repair and healing)..PLEASE, see an ER vet facility ASAP to get another opinion (most ER facilities are more experienced in these areas and can offer better diagnostiics, surgical technique, etc)

[davet]

agree with Traci and it is a difficult piece of surgery (especially when i did the unassisted) but it usually turns out well but it is pricy,,,Did the vet tell you that when the cat is having difficulty in breathing to hold him up by the chest with his himd legs hanging down and maybe a jiggle or two to get the guts back out of the chest...ask you vet about this because sometime they will almost choke todeath when the guts displace the lungs...it is a safe procedure but ask you vet if it is applicable in thiw case....however this is one problem that can only be corrected by surgery...it will not heqal on its own....gooc luck

[Traci]

Davet, that procedure can be done with a chest wrap as well

[davet]

that would be new for me...can't say good or bad cause i don't know if that wauld compramize the breathing any more...i have always found that the chest jiggle when needed at least makes the cat more comfortable but i can't reccomend it without seeing the cat...but i have had cats go a long time using that as needed,but they all eventualy needed surgery.....just am not familiar with a wrap---but then there are a lot of things that i don't know so can[t advise

[Traci]

It would depend on the true nature of the injury....where intestines are indeed pushed up into the chest cavity, there isn't any amount of pressure or chest wrapping that can relieve that or correct it....surgery would be required. In slight displacement of organs into the chest cavity (and of course, based on palpation, x-ray evidence, and clinical signs/vitals), it might be possible to wrap, although breathing would still be compromised to some degree....depends on the vet's technique and extent of damage. I can only remember we did one chest wrap that didn't require surgery, but the nature of the injury was a dog attack, with the dog shaking the kitty in it's jaws, as opposed to blunt-forced trauma, such as hit by car, etc.

[davet]

i will be working in an ER tonight and will ask around...

[tinab1181]

I just brought back Jerry from the vet. The vet stated that the shaking technique you mentioned should work okay, she also mentioned the price that they would charge for the surgery and I saw the X-rays. His one lung is basically collapsed and you can see that mostly small intestines are in the cavity. It seems the big risk with the surgery would be getting this lung to inflate after the intestines (and part of the liver and colon) are moved back. She also stated that the intestines have probably become somewhat attached to the lobes of his lung and that his chances would be about fifty/fifty, which compared with the alternative at least gives us some hope.

I've just called another the vet that I usually take Jerry to, and I'm waiting on a call back to see how much expertise he has in this area. While I would love to take Jerry to the specialist, even the initial visit is so expensive, that I believe it would be just completely beyond my means. Especially when I didn't even mention that to get my otherwise loving and playful cat into the arms of a vet he needs anesthesia, adding a good deal more to any visit. My poor baby. Any way, thanks for the information so far, I will keep you all posted, and if you all have any other suggestions, please post.

Christine

[davet]

if the intestines are attached to the lungs then this may have gone unnoticed....i wish there was a simple solution but with therse thigs there is not.....just hope for the best for you and your buddy.....