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- Nov 18, 2023
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Hi all,
I’ve posted this in pregnant and kitten care before but there’s some new observations and I am asking for more advice.
The kitten (1 in 5 of litter) is now 2-week old. As the mother’s nursing well, I’ve left them to be except for weighing the kittens daily. On day 9, when I picked up this one, I felt the chest/rib was abnormal, checked online and thought it was flat-chest kitten syndrome. He’s breathing a bit faster and heavier than his litter mates but otherwise he appeared to behave normal, feeding well & gaining 8-14g weight daily.
I’ve made him a “vest” hoping to correct the ribcage, however later when I observed him for a longer period of time I found that he’s got funnel chest - the first 5 ribs were normal (a bit flat but not too bad), then from the 6th rib, it curves inwards, and have a sunken hole area when he breathes. Photos attacked you can see when he sucks the curve in the belly.
I’ve checked this for a few days now, it is not worsening but I don’t know if it improves either. I called my vet who has no experience in dealing with this condition.
My suspicion is that he’s the first born of the mom’s first litter and did spend a long time in birth canal - maybe he was squeezed etc during birth and since he’s the smallest one of the litter always feeding at the bottom of the pile on this belly….
Surgery is not an option now as he’s too small. I also need some help in finding an experienced vet in the UK which also does not break the bank…
Has anyone experienced with kittens born with this condition? I’ve made him a corset - which does not compress the sides of his rib, but give him some support when he’s on the belly so the chest is not pressed - is this a good idea or shall I just take it off and let him grow naturally? I am not giving him any massage on the chest as I worry the pressure may make it worse. The little guy’s super cute, like to play with my fingers.
Online materials said that if he passes 3 weeks old, then survival chance would be good. But as his organs grow, further problems could occur, even sudden deaths. Can ppl share their experiences please? If someone in the Uk has gone through surgery, can you please let me know where and costs? Thank you.
I’ve posted this in pregnant and kitten care before but there’s some new observations and I am asking for more advice.
The kitten (1 in 5 of litter) is now 2-week old. As the mother’s nursing well, I’ve left them to be except for weighing the kittens daily. On day 9, when I picked up this one, I felt the chest/rib was abnormal, checked online and thought it was flat-chest kitten syndrome. He’s breathing a bit faster and heavier than his litter mates but otherwise he appeared to behave normal, feeding well & gaining 8-14g weight daily.
I’ve made him a “vest” hoping to correct the ribcage, however later when I observed him for a longer period of time I found that he’s got funnel chest - the first 5 ribs were normal (a bit flat but not too bad), then from the 6th rib, it curves inwards, and have a sunken hole area when he breathes. Photos attacked you can see when he sucks the curve in the belly.
I’ve checked this for a few days now, it is not worsening but I don’t know if it improves either. I called my vet who has no experience in dealing with this condition.
My suspicion is that he’s the first born of the mom’s first litter and did spend a long time in birth canal - maybe he was squeezed etc during birth and since he’s the smallest one of the litter always feeding at the bottom of the pile on this belly….
Surgery is not an option now as he’s too small. I also need some help in finding an experienced vet in the UK which also does not break the bank…
Has anyone experienced with kittens born with this condition? I’ve made him a corset - which does not compress the sides of his rib, but give him some support when he’s on the belly so the chest is not pressed - is this a good idea or shall I just take it off and let him grow naturally? I am not giving him any massage on the chest as I worry the pressure may make it worse. The little guy’s super cute, like to play with my fingers.
Online materials said that if he passes 3 weeks old, then survival chance would be good. But as his organs grow, further problems could occur, even sudden deaths. Can ppl share their experiences please? If someone in the Uk has gone through surgery, can you please let me know where and costs? Thank you.
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