I have a premature 2 week old kitten. His chest is not like his full term sister's. It's very wide instead of round. Anyone have experience with this? It just happened today. He's eating and doing very well.
I just read it. Thank you so much. Can I do the toilet paper roll thing tonight? If so, how tight? I know I will have to cut the roll so it will open to fit him, and cut it in half just to cover his ribs. I'm so worried about him. Having lost his 3 siblings, it would shatter me to lose him too. His sister would be so alone. I never imagined having kittens would be so traumatizing. I'm so scared that he will fade away.@fatedone
the more you can keep him off of his chest the better.
In your other thread I said his brother, sorry I meant sister!!
I posted in your other thread about this.
Ok, I see what you mean. How does a kitten eat like that? He's too big for a toilet roll, and I'll make an appointment in the morning for him to be seen as soon as possible. I tried to get a photo but you can't really tell without feeling because of his hair.I don't know about advising you to do this.
I think maybe you should get him to a vet, just so he can show you in person the correct way to do it.
You don't want to squish him which WILL restrict his breathing, and I can't show you over the net, so I'm not comfortable with doing this unless a vet shows you how.
The idea is basically to add a small amt of pressure to the sides of his ribcage which will cause the chest to push outward.
But it's not something that should be snug against him all the way around.
It's like the second pic, imagine a small piece of cardboard, a rectangle, that is scored so it will fold on his back, but not scored on eaither side, then attached together in front.
This would make a bit of pressure on the sides as it is drawn together and fastened at the front of his chest.
Do you see what I mean?
Just take him in to be examined, the vet will be much more helpful in person and tell you what his breathing sounds like too, how bad the flatness is/not.
Ok, I got the photos you asked for. Also his weight gain is still steady, one day he actually gained 15g. But levels around 7-9g per day usually. I've "softened" the nest as you advised, I replaced everything with some minky blankets that have fleece innards. I had bought KMR before they were born just in case, and have a bottle if he starts going downhill. His mom keeps taking his wrap off. I've gone through quite a bit of it already. His respirtory rate was near 70 yesterday but has hovered around 50 today. I know that's still not normal but it gave me a little hope that the wrap has taken some pressure off his lungs. Do you think I'd be able to talk to Mani about their experience?Okay new day.
A couple of things I want to tell you about that I realized I had not mentioned yesterday.
One is, this next week is going to have a very big impact on whether or not he makes it.
Statistically, if a kitten makes it past 3 weeks old his chances are very good, regardless of how bad his condition is.
If it was extremely bad he would likely not still be alive now.
I think this has ALOT to do with him getting up off of his chest since he will be up on his legs mostly rather than scooting on his chest, aiding it to be flattened.
This next part is VERY big.
He absolutely MUST gain an appropriate amount of weight every single day. Due to the limited breathing a kitten will tend to slack off on the amt of nursing he does, which you will not be aware of since they appear to be nursing but are really not intaking, just latching on, which in turn will not keep his muscles thriving and strengthening, and he will not survive.
He must gain between 9 and 14 grams every single day. You can use this as a guide to tell you if he needs to be supplemented more or less.
Minimum gain daily should be 8 for him now. MINIMUM.
Between the steady weight gain and the corset until he can get off of his chest is critical for his survival.
I know it's alot of work but mostly for this next week to get him through this. Then the worst part will be past and he can be splinted for a short time and as you see his chest begin to grow properly he will be fully out of the woods.
I have my own version in my head of a splint he can be wearing now, but it's almost impossible to describe. Wish I were there!
BTW I was born and raised in Detroit Came to California for a 3 week vacation to visit mom when I was 19 and never went back!! MANY years ago........
For my own curiosity if you can post pics of him on his back with arms up, and maybe a side view I'd love to see how flat it is now.
There is another member her @Mani
who has a cat who has pectus excavatum who survived. This is a more extreme condition than fck (flat chested kitten) syndrome even, as the sternum actually curves inward in the center rather than flat.
Thank you, although your situation is different, it leaves me really hopeful that this little guy can overcome this. How does Sundar look today? I'm not worried about appearances of my little guy (I named him Rome, because he's strong), but just curious.@fatedone
I had virtually no advice except some internet articles when Sundar was a kitten. I really had to 'wing it' and used techniques I basically made up, using massage and a lot of stretching... their bones are developing and it is possible to change the process a little. But I couldn't splint him as pressure on the sides would cause the ribs to curl in more, so you're in a much better situation. I think Catwoman707 has a lot more experience and I think her advice is excellent. I wish she had been around on TCS when Sundar was a kitten!
I'm really plugging for this little one!
Oh my. My vet said there was no way to do surgery without breaking his ribs, which could leave him in a vulnerable state for the rest of his days. He is comfortable with the gradual process of reshaping his chest. I am just praying so hard that my guy makes it. He has already overcome being premature, I hope he can pull through this too.A good friend rescued a "flat" kitten last year. The veterinarian performed surgery and popped it back out. He charged her next to nothing, as he allowed his students to observe, as, thankfully this is a very rare thing. Smokey is a very small cat, but is healthy, runs and plays, and was just neutered.
That's so lovely to hear!They're all different, and what works for one kitten may not help another. In Smokey's case, surgery was the best option. He was having extreme difficulty breathing and his chances for survival without the surgery were low. He spent weeks in a sort of soft cast and it was a bit touch and go there, but he's a happy little fellow now.
I have been so busy today trapping cats for relocating, down at the humane society advising and helping out there, took pics of this darling little blind kitten who is a snowshoe siamese that is just the cutest thing ever, along with a couple of other places I had to go to for cat purposes, then the grocery store only to come home to a ton of emails and meeting dates, etc. Ugh!!Ok, I got the photos you asked for. Also his weight gain is still steady, one day he actually gained 15g. But levels around 7-9g per day usually. I've "softened" the nest as you advised, I replaced everything with some minky blankets that have fleece innards. I had bought KMR before they were born just in case, and have a bottle if he starts going downhill. His mom keeps taking his wrap off. I've gone through quite a bit of it already.His respirtory rate was near 70 yesterday but has hovered around 50 today. I know that's still not normal but it gave me a little hope that the wrap has taken some pressure off his lungs. Do you think I'd be able to talk to Mani about their experience?
If you can, are you able to make your idea of a splint and maybe send a picture? I know that's a lot to ask and you've already helped me so much but I just want to help him any way I can.
I lived in California for a year in 2011-2012. Long Beach to be exact. I miss it so much!
Sundar has a pretty deformed spine, so side on he looks a bit wonky, but he certainly doesn't seem to mind. If you put him on his back there's a very distinct 'hole' where the ribs go in, but the actual ribs have 'rounded' a little with age which is just wonderful. He was prem, too, and none of the others survived.How does Sundar look today? I'm not worried about appearances of my little guy (I named him Rome, because he's strong), but just curious.