Flattening of the sternum in kittens. Flat chest. Flat Chest Syndrome in Cats

With the syndrome flat chest cats are relatively rare. This pathology strikes kittens. To recognize such a defect, it is necessary to probe the sternum and ribs. In the presence of pathology, deformed ribs and sternum are found.

Causes of the disease
O exact reasons formation of flat chest syndrome is unknown. It is assumed that this disease may occur due to the following factors:
1. Unfavourable conditions life of a pregnant cat. It is believed that poor ecology can affect the development of the embryo.
2. Viral or bacterial infection, manifested during the gestation of a kitten. It is worth noting that such infections can be asymptomatic for a cat. However, kittens as a result of this may be born with defects.
3. Inadequate and unbalanced nature of nutrition. Especially we are talking about the lack of calcium in the food taken by the cat. Deficiency of this trace element leads to the formation of fragile bone tissue.
4. genetic predisposition. This syndrome may represent hereditary feature, which is detected when examining the kitten's parents. In some cases, they act as carriers of the gene that is responsible for the development of this defect.

According to experts, there a large number of causes of this disease. Sometimes the cause of flat chest syndrome remains unexplained.

Pathogenesis
Having a flat chest makes it impossible to expand your lungs properly. As a result, there is a violation of the relaxation of the intercostal and diaphragmatic muscles. For a full breath and receive enough oxygen the animal must make great efforts.

Clinical picture of the disease
As a rule, the syndrome of having a flat chest in cats is manifested the following symptoms:
1. Difficulty in breathing.
2. Constant opening of the mouth during breathing.
3. Decreased activity level and general depression of the animal.
4. Delay physical development kitten. This is manifested by growth retardation.
5. Finding the front paws in a splayed position.
6. Possibility of loss of consciousness as a result of breathing problems.

Treatment
Revealing this disease considered an indication for immediate treatment for veterinary care. The prognosis for this disease is uncertain. The main way to deal with flat chest syndrome in kittens is physiotherapy. As a rule, we are talking about massage. Such procedures are carried out daily. It is planned to bend the kitten's paws and massage them in the normal position. This contributes to the weakening and lengthening of the muscles and tendons in the paws. As a result, their gradual development in the correct position is noted. If the kitten's paws are in a splayed state and the animal prefers lying position, it is shown turning on its side and holding it in this form for several minutes. These exercises are also high efficiency. To strengthen general condition kitten is assigned special food. The development of such a diet is the responsibility of the veterinarian.

In addition to physiotherapy procedures, it is possible to carry out surgical treatment flat chest syndrome. This method used to correct deformed ribs and sternum. It consists in using a special design. It is worth remembering what surgical intervention Not suitable for kittens under 8 weeks of age. At early detection signs of this disease may full recovery animal health.

Orientals are one of the unique breeds, unlike any other. Charismatic appearance and enough good health makes them very popular among cat lovers. Orientals have practically no specific ailments transmitted genetically, and with proper care and the maintenance of these animals live long enough. Only two problems, inherited from generation to generation, overshadow the cloudless life of Orientals and, as a result, their owners.

PROGRESSIVE RETINA ATROPHY

it hereditary defect(accepted abbreviation - PRA), in which the destruction of the visual cells of the retina of the eye occurs, which ultimately leads to complete or partial blindness of the animal. As soon as the process of cell atrophy affects nerve endings the process will become irreversible and it will be impossible to restore vision. The disease can develop in both young and adult animals. Symptoms of early progressive retinal atrophy are detected at the age of 3-4 months to 2 years, late atrophy - after 4-6 years.

PRA is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that in outwardly healthy parents - carriers of the disease, the probability of having healthy kittens is 25%, while the rest will either be sick - also 25%, or carriers - 50%.

To understand that the animal is sick is not immediately possible, since the symptoms are blurred. During the day or with good lighting in a familiar room, the cat, as a rule, orients itself well, and begins to show anxiety only in the dark. The eyes look normal, without redness and excessive lacrimation. The animal does not squint or rub them, as the disease is painless. In addition, PRA develops over a long period of time, so the cat gradually gets used to its illness. Noticeable eye changes occur over late stages: the pupils of the pet dilate, sometimes the lens becomes opaque or cloudy.

Most effective way identify disease in early stage and do everything to stop complete loss vision, examination veterinary clinic. The diagnosis is made after an ophthalmological examination, less often resort to electroretinography. Examinations do not cause a cat pain. Unfortunately, PRA is not completely curable. Animals with suspected PRA are excluded from breeding and spayed. Breeders must be sure that none of the cats or males participating in breeding programs are carriers.

FLAT CHEST SYNDROME

Another problem in oriental animals is the flat chest syndrome in kittens (accepted abbreviation FCKS). it genetic disease leads to a significant deformation of the sternum - it either becomes flat or funnel-shaped. In most cases, flattening appears from the 2nd to the 10th day after birth. It is almost impossible not to notice the disease: in addition to the changed shape of the chest and a clearly visible depression on the back behind the shoulder blades, the kitten has difficulty and rapid breathing, fast fatiguability, decreased activity. The animal is weaker than its littermates, its limbs are set apart, like in amphibians.

So far, it has not been possible to accurately determine the cause of the birth of sick kittens. Only theoretically possible versions are put forward: bacteria or viruses; malnutrition a pregnant cat, as a result of which she either lacks vitamins and trace elements, or they are not absorbed for some reason, as well as a genetic predisposition.

In a kitten with FCKS, the lungs do not expand properly. The animal needs effort to take a full breath and get enough oxygen. Probability lethal outcome very high - kittens die from constriction of the lungs and heart. However, in the case weak form diseases, there is a chance to save the kitten.

Kittens with FCKS go through two crisis points - 10 days and 3 weeks after birth. If the period of 3 weeks has passed and the kitten is alive, it is likely that during growth rib cage will return to its normal shape or, remaining flattened, will not have a detrimental effect on the health of the animal.

Previously, FCKS was attributed only to Burmese cats, but studies conducted in 1995 and 2013 showed that the pathology occurs in other breeds, as well as in outbred cats. FCK is most common among Bengals and Orientals. Russian and foreign breeders have created groups in in social networks, where they share information about this disease in order to accurately find out the ways of its occurrence.

How to help a kitten with flat chest syndrome?

Faced with such a problem, first of all, you need to try to reduce the pressure on the kitten's chest. It should be borne in mind that the bones of newborn kittens are still soft and the hard surface on which they lie leads to even greater deformation of the chest. In addition, it is necessary to constantly hold the newborn in a position on its side, with the help of rollers and pillows, to reduce pressure on the chest. Some breeders use homemade corsets, as well as physiotherapy and chest massage every three hours during the day. It must be remembered that the most reliable degree of the disease can be established using x-rays.

STRABISM IN ORIENTALS

It is generally accepted that strabismus occurs only in Siamese cats. In fact, in the Siamese-Oriental group, 80% of patients with strabismus (the so-called strabismus in medicine) are Siamese, and 20% are Orientals. Strabismus is the inability to coordinate eye movements, causing the eyes to stare different directions, and the gaze cannot be focused on one object. Strabismus can either be congenital or result from trauma that has damaged the nerves. eye muscles. Rarely, strabismus occurs in cats, which develops as a result of a violation nervous system and vestibular apparatus. Strabismus in Orientals can be inherited, therefore, such cats or cats are not used in breeding.

The baby was born fifth, with a very strong crease on the tail. Otherwise, a normal cat, healthy, large. Gained weight perfectly, grew up with everyone on a par. On the 8th day, he developed a syndrome flat sternum (FCK-Flat Chested Kitten ). We do not like to write about defects, so it was difficult to find how to deal with this further. I turned to Inna Vladimirovna Shustrova for help, she sent me a long article about this defect on English language. Having learned how it is written in English, I found more materials on this subject.

In most cases, flattening appears from the 2nd to the 10th day after birth. It's hard not to notice, because the kitten has flat ribs, with varying degrees expressiveness. In the figure from left to right: the correct chest, flattening of the sternum, funnel-shaped sternum.

As you can see, the degree of manifestation of this syndrome can be different, the survival rate of kittens depends on the degree of severity. The ribs can be completely flat below and even curl inward into the chest (funnel chest).

The critical age for kittens with FCKS is 3 weeks and 4 months. At 3 weeks, kittens die with a very strong severe syndrome due to difficulty breathing and, as a result, insufficient oxygen supply. At the age of 4 months, kittens die from compression of the lungs, and, as foreign sources write, from inversion of the sternum into the chest, violations of the diaphragm and compression of the heart. If the kitten is going through a critical age, then it grows into a normal healthy cat, like any of his peers. They also say that with age, the back and ribs return to normal and no one will notice that the kitten had any problems in childhood.

Symptoms:

• flat chest
• a hollow on the back behind the shoulder blades (the fact is that, as can be seen in the figure above, flattening occurs both above and below. Sometimes the back is more convex, sometimes flatter)
• labored and rapid breathing
• fast fatiguability
• decreased activity, apathy
• significant growth retardation
• kittens in general are in poorer condition compared to littermates
• legs are set apart, like in amphibians (popularly, the syndrome is also called “turtle chest”, ribs in thoracic region reminiscent of a turtle shell)

Where is it from?
The reasons for the birth of a kitten with flat chest syndrome can be different, but it is impossible to determine the exact cause. The following theoretical reasons are put forward:

• Environment– the cause of the syndrome may be factors such as too flat hard surface in the “nest”, with too high temperature. In such conditions, kittens disperse in different directions and lie on their backs, while normal temperature they lie all together, well, or in pairs, often changing position. The constant presence of the mother in the nest, as a result - the kitten may lie for a long time in one position. Bacteria or viruses are also suspected to cause this side effect.
• Food- perhaps the diet of a pregnant cat was not enough important vitamins and trace elements, or for some reason they were not absorbed. Hypotheses are put forward about the lack of selenium, taurine or calcium. However, there is no practical evidence for this.
• Genetics– perhaps FCKS or a predisposition to it is inherited genetically. Possibly polygenic inheritance, but autosomal recessive inheritance can also be assumed.

Caring for Kittens with Flattened Chest Syndrome (FCKS)
Foreign sources suggest different methods. Offer to wear a bandage made from a roll frame on kittens toilet paper to thus give the chest round shape, you can also do massages, it is also believed that swimming will help improve the tone of the intercostal muscles. I really can’t imagine how to make a two-week-old kitten swim ...

I looked at different sites, some of them have diaries from the life of such kittens. And that's what I definitely decided not to do - it's a bandage ... it seemed to me that if you squeeze the already compressed chest, the kitten would simply suffocate. I decided to do baby massages. Several times a day I took it out of the nest and with a little effort from both sides simultaneously massaged the ribs. At the same time, after a few days, I began to feel that the ribs began to smooth out from the sides. The most important thing for me was for the baby to stand on his feet, I thought that then he would be able to move more and the muscles would strengthen better.

I also made obstacles in the nest, such boulders from the bedding, so that the kittens had to overcome barriers on the way to the mother cat. Sometimes I carefully turned the baby on its side, you know, the first times were just terrible, imagine putting a turtle on the edge of the shell ... At the same time, breathing was very difficult. Gradually, I increased the time I slept on my side. I had to find support for the kitten, in the form of a brother-sister or mother 🙂 Now the baby can already sleep on his side.

Unlike terrible symptoms, which are given by me above (I took them from one English-language site), my baby did not have a lag in growth, appetite and condition. He is very mobile, gaining weight along with everyone. And a miracle happened, he learned to walk. Of course, compared to littermates, he keeps on his feet worse, but I think that everything will be fine with us.

About the Law of Vileness ...
I really wanted to keep a white cat from this litter.
Of course, this kitten will be the most extreme 😉 Absolutely white, with blue Siamese eyes. The name was chosen for him for a long time and found with a double meaning. As always - this is a hero from the cinema, this time from "Alice" Jack of Hearts. But for me he is the knight of my heart. Very tame, talkative and kissable. Meet Orientville's Knave of Hearts, Siamese white cat "foreign white".

The baby was born fifth, with a very strong crease on the tail. Otherwise, a normal cat, healthy, large. Gained weight perfectly, grew up with everyone on a par. On day 8, he developed flat sternum syndrome ( FCK - Flat Chested Kitten). We do not like to write about defects, so it was difficult to find how to deal with this further. I turned to Inna Vladimirovna Shustrova for help, she sent me a long article about this defect in English. Having learned how it is written in English, I found more materials on this subject.

In most cases, flattening appears from the 2nd to the 10th day after birth. It is difficult not to notice, because the kitten has flat ribs, with varying degrees of severity. In the figure from left to right: the correct chest, flattening of the sternum, funnel-shaped sternum.

As you can see, the degree of manifestation of this syndrome can be different, the survival rate of kittens depends on the degree of severity. The ribs can be completely flat below and even curl inward into the chest (funnel chest).

The critical age for kittens with FCKS is 3 weeks and 4 months. At 3 weeks, kittens with a very pronounced syndrome die due to difficulty breathing and, as a result, insufficient oxygen supply. At the age of 4 months, kittens die from compression of the lungs, and, as foreign sources write, from inversion of the sternum into the chest, violations of the diaphragm and compression of the heart. If the kitten is going through a critical age, then it grows into a normal healthy cat, like any of its siblings. They also say that with age, the back and ribs return to normal and no one will notice that the kitten had any problems in childhood.

Symptoms:

• flat chest


• a hollow on the back behind the shoulder blades (the fact is that, as can be seen in the figure above, flattening occurs both above and below. Sometimes the back is more convex, sometimes flatter)


• labored and rapid breathing


• fast fatiguability


• decreased activity, apathy


• significant growth retardation


• kittens in general are in poorer condition compared to littermates


• legs are set apart, like in amphibians (popularly, the syndrome is also called "turtle chest", the ribs in the thoracic region resemble a turtle shell)

• Environment- the cause of the syndrome may be factors such as too flat hard surface in the "nest", at too high a temperature. In such conditions, the kittens disperse in different directions and lie on their backs, while at normal temperatures they lie all together, well, or in pairs, often changing position. The constant presence of the mother in the nest, as a result, the kitten can lie in one position for a long time. Bacteria or viruses are also suspected to cause this side effect.


• Food- it is possible that important vitamins and microelements were lacking in the diet of a pregnant cat, or they were not absorbed for some reason. Hypotheses are put forward about the lack of selenium, taurine or calcium. However, there is no practical evidence for this.


• Genetics- it is possible that FCKS or a predisposition to it is inherited genetically. Possibly polygenic inheritance, but autosomal recessive inheritance can also be assumed.

I looked at different sites, some of them have diaries from the life of such kittens. And that's what I definitely decided not to do - it's a bandage ... it seemed to me that if you squeeze the already compressed chest, the kitten will simply suffocate. I decided to do baby massages. Several times a day I took it out of the nest and with a little effort from both sides simultaneously massaged the ribs. At the same time, after a few days, I began to feel that the ribs began to smooth out from the sides. The most important thing for me was for the baby to stand on his feet, I thought that then he would be able to move more and the muscles would strengthen better.

I also made obstacles in the nest, such boulders from the bedding, so that the kittens had to overcome barriers on the way to the mother cat. Sometimes I carefully turned the baby on its side, you know, the first times were just terrible, imagine putting a turtle on the edge of the shell ... At the same time, breathing was very difficult. Gradually, I increased the time I slept on my side. I had to find support for the kitten, in the form of a brother-sister or mother :) Now the baby can already sleep on his side.

Unlike the terrible symptoms that I have given above (I took them from one English-language site), my baby did not have a lag in growth, appetite and condition. He is very mobile, gaining weight along with everyone. And a miracle happened, he learned to walk. Of course, compared to littermates, he keeps on his feet worse, but I think that everything will be fine with us.

About the Law of Vileness ...
I really wanted to keep a white cat from this litter.
Of course, this kitten will be the most extreme;) Absolutely white, with blue Siamese eyes. The name was chosen for him for a long time and found with a double meaning. As always - this is a hero from the cinema, this time from "Alice" Jack of Hearts. But for me he is the knight of my heart. Very tame, talkative and kissable. Meet Orientville's Knave of Hearts, Siamese white cat "foreign white".