Hiatal hernia in cats: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Hiatal hernia in cats: a rare condition that can occur in the feline. Let’s see what are the symptoms not to be underestimated.
Sharing your life with a four-legged friend means taking care of him and knowing how to recognize when the feline has health problems.
Although a hiatal hernia is rare in our furry friends, it is wise to know how to recognize the signs. Let’s see together what are the symptoms of hiatal hernia in cats.
Hiatal hernia in cats: causes and symptoms
It can happen, due to a trauma, an injury or a genetic defect, that an opening in the diaphragm can arise and that the organs of the cat can escape through the muscle tissue into the thoracic cavity.
This condition is called a hiatal hernia in cats. A congenital hiatal hernia in the feline may rarely occur, while a hernia caused by trauma is very common.
In the event that the hiatus hernia present in the feline is mild, our four-legged friend may have no symptoms. If the hernia in question was caused by trauma, however, some symptoms may be present , to be careful of:
Vomiting in cats
Cough in cats
Lack of appetite
Difficulty swallowing
Dyspnea in the cat
Unease
Weight loss
Hiatal hernia in cats: diagnosis and treatment
If a hiatal hernia occurs in a small cat, the cause is most likely a genetic defect.
In this case, the veterinarian will carry out a complete examination to highlight any other genetic defects. If, on the other hand, the cause of the hiatal hernia in the cat is trauma, the specialist will carry out specific tests to highlight other lesion that could be lethal for the cat, after which he will deal with the hernia.
The tests performed by the veterinarian to diagnose hiatal hernia in cats are: fluoroscopy, chest X-ray, gastroscopy. Depending on the severity of the condition, there is a different treatment.
In severe cases, surgery may be required. In other cases, the vet may prescribe drugs to improve sphincter strength, or prescribe a low-fat diet to the feline.
