My cat has diaphragmatic hernia. Is surgery best for eating problems?

It sounds like Mili has a diaphragmatic hernia, and yes she does need the surgery. Already, she is having trouble breathing, and she can't eat or drink a lot because her stomach can't expand normally. There is an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. https://www.redrover.org The other options are to start a GoFund me page, or ask family and friends for help with the bill.

Unfortunately fixing a chronic diaphragmatic hernia can also have some potential complications since scar tissue can form in the lungs and edema can develop following surgery. If the hernia is still present however anesthesia could be risky. I would recommend rechecking with your vet and having x-rays repeated. If the hernia is still present you can discuss surgery. I would think that a spay at the same time would be reasonable as long as anesthesia is going well since a hernia is fixed through an abdominal incision as well.

Hello. I would not say your Lily is in overt pain, but this cannot be comfortable. She is probably vomiting intermittently, perhaps you are seeing a little blood, too in the vomitus. HHs can compromise esophageal function & the longer you let it go the more \pathology you can see & the greater the risk for aspiration pneumonia. If your vet has recommended surgery, do consider it, or at least follow all medical recommendations closely. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The problem with hernias is that the internal organs can become twisted and cut off blood supply. That is very painful and will lead to death. This is something that needs to be fixed with surgery. Depending on the severity of the hernia, it may be an easy fix and not a risky surgery. Only the vet treating Flash can tell you if it's risky or not. I hope this helps!

A hernia is essentially a loop of intestine (variable in size) which protrudes through a defect in the abdominal wall. A spay is done by opening the abdomen (aka, belly) by cutting between muscle layers beneath the skin. If the layers do not meet when the incision is closed, intestine can protrude. Depending on the size of the hernia and if the tissue can be pushed back into the abdomen, surgery may or may not be required to correct the defect. I recommend keeping a close eye on Kurisu to make sure she does not lose her appetite, develop diarrhea or begin vomiting; as these may be a sign of intestinal constriction. I recommend keeping her diet constant, and avoiding giving any human food which may upset her stomach. I hope this helps and that all is well!

You could talk to your vet about a GI specific diet, as this may help reduce inflammation in the GI tract. It also won’t hurt anything to deworm him, and may help if he has Physeloptera (a stomach worm). If he is well controlled on his medications (omeprazole) and a GI diet, it’s probably fine to leave it at that. Regurgitating once every few weeks is not a huge deal... if it becomes more frequent or other symptoms (including weight loss) develop, talk to your vet about further diagnostics and treatment. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

onHi, I will try and cover all the questions about Hiatal Hernia (HH) you have: In most veterinary patients, hiatal herniA (HH) appears to be a congenital or birth defect. Brachycephalic dogs (those with a shortened nose such as English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs) are at an increased risk. Trauma can also cause a HH but much less likely. Diagnosis of HH is most commonly done via fluoroscopy (a moving x-ray study) using radiographic dye. Esophagoscopy and gastroscopy may also be performed. In general treatment options include conservative medical treatment and surgical repair. Medical treatment aims to control clinical signs with with medication, diet changes, and supplements. This will probably reduce the frequency of the clinical signs but may not alleviate the condition. In many cases medical management is attempted initially (around 30 days), but if non-responsive then surgical repair will be done. Bear in mind the information given is general without knowing the specifics of your individual case. Hope that's help.