Conservative treatment of flat thorax in two littermate kittens: A case report

Three 18 days-old kittens were referred because of severe dyspnea and thorax flattening of one subject. At clinical examination, one kitten was normal weighed and developed, whilst two littermates showed dyspnea, thorax flattening, delayed weight gain and abnormal posture for the age. After stabilization and x-ray, kitten A was diagnosed with a severe dorso-ventral thorax flattening, whilst kitten B had a moderate degree of the same defect, without pectus excavatum. A conservative treatment for thorax correction was chosen. As suggested [1], a C-shaped paper roll splint was prepared for each kitten, allowing a ventral space to avoid compression on the thorax, which was applied using medical tape. Few minutes after splint positioning, both kittens began to breathe normal and displayed interest to suckle the mammary gland. Clinical check-ups were scheduled two times per week, for patient monitoring and splint remodelling, adjusted to kittens growth. Fourteen days later, the thorax of kitten B was completely returned to the normal shape and the one of kitten A strongly improved. Both kittens did not display respiratory distress anymore, and showed normal weight gain, good general development and normal walking. Therefore, the splints were removed and a close clinical monitoring was scheduled on a two-times weekly basis. Two weeks after splint removal, both kittens were healthy, and showed normal behaviour of 45 days old kittens, including playing, running, jumping, even though kitten A still displayed a slight deformation of the thorax profile. In conclusion, conservative treatment with splint application can be considered as a non-invasive treatment of kittens affected by thorax deformity. Three 18 days-old kittens were referred because of severe dyspnea and thorax flattening of one subject. At clinical examination, one kitten was normal weighed and developed, whilst two littermates showed dyspnea, thorax flattening, delayed weight gain and abnormal posture for the age. After stabilization and x-ray, kitten A was diagnosed with a severe dorso-ventral thorax flattening, whilst kitten B had a moderate degree of the same defect, without pectus excavatum. A conservative treatment for thorax correction was chosen. As suggested [1], a C-shaped paper roll splint was prepared for each kitten, allowing a ventral space to avoid compression on the thorax, which was applied using medical tape. Few minutes after splint positioning, both kittens began to breathe normal and displayed interest to suckle the mammary gland. Clinical check-ups were scheduled two times per week, for patient monitoring and splint remodelling, adjusted to kittens growth. Fourteen days later, the thorax of kitten B was completely returned to the normal shape and the one of kitten A strongly improved. Both kittens did not display respiratory distress anymore, and showed normal weight gain, good general development and normal walking. Therefore, the splints were removed and a close clinical monitoring was scheduled on a two-times weekly basis. Two weeks after splint removal, both kittens were healthy, and showed normal behaviour of 45 days old kittens, including playing, running, jumping, even though kitten A still displayed a slight deformation of the thorax profile. In conclusion, conservative treatment with splint application can be considered as a non-invasive treatment of kittens affected by thorax deformity.