Diaphragmatic Hernia in Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

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Diaphragmatic rupture or hernia is a common and serious condition in cats. Diaphragmatic rupture is a relatively common injury in cats following traumatic episodes such as road traffic accidents. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are rare but are more common in some pedigree breeds of cats such as Himalayan and Maine Coon cats.

Quick Overview: Abnormal Diaphragm Opening (Diaphragmatic Hernia) In Cats

text-size Other Names: Diaphragmatic hernia, diaphragmatic rupture
search Common Symptoms: Irregular or muffled heartbeat, labored breathing, shock (from trauma), intermittent digestive disturbance (chronic)
medical-files Diagnosis: X-rays, ultrasound, history of past trauma, findings consistent with the disease on physical exam
pill Requires Ongoing Medication: No
jam-medical Treatment Options: Surgical repair of the tear or hole in the diaphragm
home Home Remedies: No

The diaphragm is the thin sheet of muscle and ligament that separates the abdomen from the thorax, keeping the abdominal contents (liver, stomach, intestines, etc.) separated from the thoracic contents (lungs, heart, etc.).

When a cat suffers a diaphragmatic rupture or herniation, a hole develops in the diaphragm, allowing abdominal contents to pass from the abdomen into the chest, so that the small intestines and other structures are in direct contact with the lungs, adversely impacting on normal function.

Also Read: How Much Does It Cost To Own A Cat

Causes of Diaphragmatic Rupture or Hernia

Cats can be born with a diaphragmatic hernia, or it can happen as a result of a serious accident.

There are two types of diaphragmatic hernias. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are anatomical defects that are present at birth. These hernias can be complex, involving the pericardial sac (the bag around the heart) as well as a defect in the diaphragm (a peritoneopericardial hernia, technically called a peritoneal-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia or PPDH).

Acquired diaphragmatic hernias (also known as diaphragmatic ruptures) are caused by blunt trauma, such as road traffic accidents, falling from a height, or an attack by another animal. If blunt trauma causes sudden increased pressure on the abdominal cavity while the glottis (larynx) is closed so that the animal cannot expel air, the abdominal contents are forced under high pressure against the diaphragm, and the diaphragm muscle tears, creating a hole. Abdominal organs can then pass into the chest cavity.

If the hole is small, there might only be a small movement of organs (e.g., part of the liver might enter the chest cavity). If the hole is large, multiple organs might move (e.g., liver, stomach, intestines, and the omentum—the sheet of fibrous tissue, created by an infolding of the peritoneum that normally floats around the abdomen).

The term diaphragmatic hernia is often used to describe a diaphragmatic rupture, so the terminology is not strictly adhered to in practice.

Also Read: Lung Cancer in Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Symptoms of Diaphragmatic Hernia in Cats

A cat with diaphragmatic hernia might have breathing issues and might not want to move around or eat.

Clinical signs of diaphragmatic hernia in cats include difficulty breathing (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), reluctance to exercise, dullness, weight loss, anorexia or inappetence, vomiting and/or diarrhea, and a tucked-up, empty-looking abdomen.

Also Read: 10 Subtle Signs Your Cat May Be Sick

Diagnosis of Diaphragmatic Hernia

Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical exam and will want to perform certain tests to help diagnose a diaphragmatic hernia.

If your veterinarian suspects that your cat may have a diaphragmatic hernia, they will discuss every aspect of your cat’s background and overall health care. For example, indoor-only cats are highly unlikely to develop traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

It should be noted that cats can carry an undiagnosed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture for many years, with very few signs of being unwell. Sometimes the condition is found incidentally (e.g., if a cat is x-rayed for another reason), or sometimes signs develop at a later stage in life for various reasons. The causative accident might sometimes have happened many years previously, which is why a detailed history is so important.

Physical Examination

Your veterinarian will check your cat over carefully, checking for the signs of diaphragmatic hernia. The main physical sign is often irregular or pronounced breathing, along with an empty-feeling abdomen. Other signs of the traumatic event may be present, such as fractured limbs or bruising.

If the hind legs of the cat are elevated, this sometimes makes the breathing even worse, because the abdominal contents move further into the chest cavity (this must be done with great care in case of a serious aggravation).

Other signs may include pale gums or sometimes blue-tinged (cyanotic) gums. Your vet will listen to your cat’s chest; the heart sounds and lung sounds might be obscured because the misplaced abdominal contents might be lying over them, blocking the sound.

Heart irregularities might sometimes be heard. Sometimes, intestinal gas sounds (borbyrygmae) might be heard when listening to the chest (in a normal cat, these can only be heard when the stethoscope head is placed on the abdomen).

Also Read: What Is A Normal Heart Rate For A Cat?

Routine Blood Tests

It’s very likely that your veterinarian might carry out the usual blood work, including a standard panel of diagnostic tests, such as hematology (blood count) and biochemistry profiles. These results might be normal, or there might be some changes such as elevated liver enzymes if the liver has become trapped in the hernia.

Also Read: Cat Bloodwork (Different Types of Tests, Health Conditions And Costs)

Diagnostic Imaging

Radiography (x-rays) often clearly show the abnormality, with disruption of the normal distinct line of the diaphragm, separating the abdomen from the thorax and allowing the protrusion of abdominal contents into the chest area.

Abdominal viscera might be seen overlying the lungs and heart in the chest. Sometimes pleural and peritoneal fluid accumulation has gathered around the displaced organs, causing a so-called pleural effusion. This can obscure the diaphragmatic tear and can make diagnosis more complicated.

Ultrasound can be a sensitive way of detecting the presence of abdominal organs in the thorax and this is effective even in the presence of copious pleural fluid, so it can be a useful backup to radiography in making a definitive diagnosis.

The precise location and size of the tear need to be analyzed carefully. A ventral location of the diaphragmatic defect (lower down on the diaphragm, closer to the abdominal wall) might need a different approach to a dorsal tear (closer to the spine). The right side of the diaphragm is significantly bigger than the left side, but either side might tear.

Also Read: How Much Does A Cat X-Ray Cost?

Treatment for Diaphragmatic Hernia

Surgical repair is the only viable treatment for diaphragmatic hernia, but the procedure is complicated.

Surgical correction of the hole in the diaphragm is the only successful form of treatment, but this needs to be planned carefully. There is a greater anesthetic risk than in many surgeries due to the nature of the problem.

The immediate priority is to stabilize an affected cat as they have suffered major general trauma. It is important that they are fully stabilized before commencing the surgery to repair the tear in the diaphragm. This might mean that the surgery might need to be delayed for 24 hours or more.

However, the operation to repair the diaphragmatic hernia should not be delayed unduly; it should be carried out as soon as the patient is fully stabilized. The repair is usually conducted through a midline incision in the abdomen. Rarely, an additional incision in the thoracic wall might be needed, to improve visibility and access.

It’s important to note that the surgery involves high risks: an anesthetic assistant (a veterinarian or a veterinary technician) needs to use a ventilator to inflate the cat’s lungs during the procedure, as they may be unable to breathe for themselves due to the damage to the diaphragm.

The lungs might be collapsed after the accident, and care must be taken not to forcibly reinflate the lungs too rapidly or harshly, as this might damage the lungs and potentially cause a complication called re-expansion pulmonary edema.

Complications during the surgery can include adhesions between the displaced abdominal viscera and the contents of the chest cavity. These need to be carefully broken down as the various structures are separated and placed in their correct locations.

After the diaphragmatic hernia is closed, air needs to be drawn out of the thoracic cavity to recreate the vacuum that allows the lungs to expand in normal breathing. The final suture needs to be placed with care, with the lungs inflated to optimize that vacuum and to minimize the risk of pneumothorax (air being present around the lungs). A chest tube might be left in place to allow repeated drawing out of the air, as well as fluid, in the immediate post-operative period.

It’s difficult to estimate the cost of treating diaphragmatic hernia, as there are so many possible factors going on in the background of individual cases. The surgery needed to remedy the problem depends on the precise size, shape and location of the tear in the diaphragm. Ask your veterinarian for a detailed estimate before agreeing to proceed with treatment.

Also Read: How To Keep Your Cat From Jumping After Surgery

Monitoring and Prognosis

After surgery, your cat will require close monitoring and care as they recover.

Cats are likely to be in intensive care for some time post-operatively, with oxygen therapy and close monitoring. As well as frequent physical rechecks, repeated X-ray checks might be taken to monitor the cat postoperatively.

The prognosis is variable, with between 50% to 90% of cats making a full recovery from surgery to repair a diaphragmatic hernia. The outcome depends on the type of diaphragmatic hernia and the overall underlying health of the patient.

Also Read: Why Does My Cat’s Nose Change Color?

Final Thoughts

Diaphragmatic rupture is a serious condition with a profound impact on affected cats. Treatment, involving surgical repair, is possible, with a good chance of a full recovery.

Also Read: 9 Cat Behavior Changes To Worry About

Frequently Asked Questions

What can cause diaphragmatic hernia in cats?

Some cats are born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (and this might not show up until they are adult cats). The common causes of acquired diaphragmatic hernias include road traffic accidents and falling from a height.

How do I know if my cat has diaphragmatic hernia?

The main signs include difficulty breathing (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), reluctance ot exercise, dullness, weight loss, inappetence, vomiting and/or diarrhea, and a tucked-up, empty-looking abdomen. Any cat showing these signs needs to visit a veterinarian, and they will be able to confirm the diagnosis.

Can a cat survive diaphragmatic hernia?

The prognosis depends on the type of tear in the diaphragm as well as the presence of other injuries. Between 50% and 90% of affected cats survive.

How serious is diaphragmatic hernia in cats?

This is a very serious and life threatening condition, requiring urgent and comprehensive veterinary treatment.

Is diaphragmatic hernia fatal in cats?

In some cases, cats do not survive the initial incident that causes a diaphragmatic hernia. Of cats that undergo surgery, between 10% and 50% do not survive.

Can a cat live with a diaphragmatic hernia without surgery?

If there is a very small tear, it is possible that a cat might survive without surgery, but there is an ongoing risk that an organ may be trapped in the tear, leading to a sudden deterioration. For this reason, corrective surgery is nearly always recommended.

Can cats live with diaphragmatic hernia?

As mentioned above, some cats may live for years with an undiagnosed diaphragmatic hernia, so yes, it is possible for cats to live with one. However, there is a risk of an unexpected deterioration, so surgical repair is the ideal approach in most cases.

How is diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed in cats?

Normally, radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound are used by veterinarians to confirm this diagnosis.

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About Dr. Pete Wedderburn, DVM

Dr Pete Wedderburn qualified as a vet from Edinburgh in 1985 and has run his own 4-veterinarian companion animal practice in County Wicklow, Ireland, since 1991. Pete is well known as a media veterinarian with regular national tv, radio and newspaper slots, including a weekly column in the Daily Telegraph since 2007. Pete is known as "Pete the Vet" on his busy Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, regularly posting information on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic. He also write a regular blog at www.petethevet.com. His latest book: “Pet Subjects”, was published by Aurum Press in 2017.

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    1. Mallory Crusta

      Are you sure that the cat doesn’t have a diaphragm? In very rare cases, a kitten might be born without a diaphragm. This is a very severe case and would be life-threatening, as it allows abdominal organs to spill into the area of the heart and lungs, restricting the function of these organs. I would talk with your vet about what’s going on.