What??? You say my insides are not normal???

From the outside to an extent Bones looks like a normal healthy kitty. Once he was treated for parasites and on a good diet the little guy was doing what normal kittens do, he’s eating, playing, getting into mischief, using the litter box, cuddling and growing right on track. Bones was due for his second FVRCP (feline distemper) vaccination on 8/24/18. The day before I was due to take him in for his vaccination I was watching him purr while he was sitting on me, his throat was moving in and out while he purred and breathed. It’s been 5 years since I had MK as a kitty so I was doubting myself as how a kitten looks when purring as MK doesn’t purr. I thought something was up and this isn’t right, bones should not look like a bullfrog when he purrs/breaths.

When I went to work the next day I told the Doctor what I was seeing, we got Bones out and she examined him and said “we need chest rads”, so off to radiology he went to get some films of his throat and chest.

Bones exam: Billwing of ventral neck noted with each breath, but resp difficulty. Thoracic auscult – cardiac normal. Rattles noted occasionally (referred upper airway?)

Radiographs VD and Right lateral thorax:

Opacity cranial thorax (thymus vs fluid). Dilated esophagus/no tracheal obstruction, aerophagia.

Radiographs and videos were sent to specialist to get a second opinion. This is the specialist’s response: This kittens radiographs show evidence of megaesophagus and gas in the stomach. Likely this is from aerophagia and this is commenly associated with upper respiratory disease, more often than lower respiratory disease. The paradoxical bulging you are seeing is most likely the air in the caudal esophagus being pushed (as the cats ribs and diaphragm contract) into the cervical esophagus.

I would want to get this kitten anesthetized and perform a thorough nasopharyngeal exam to rule out strictures, polyps, and obstructing tenacious mucus.

What you talking about MK?? I’m normal!!!

Bones was examined again on 8/27/18 their was no change in his breathing, he is eating, drinking well with no regurgitation. No signs of respiratory distress. Acting normal. So the doctor recommended empiric treatment for possible bacterial or parasitic cause. We started him on a dewormer for 10 days and antibiotics for 14 days. He took his medication great and continued to eat, play, purr, sleep and so forth.

I still like my cuddles!

Bones second FVRCP vaccination was put on hold until we knew his health status. He keeps going on like he should minus the throat breathing so I brought him in on 9/14/18 for his FVRCP vaccination. He is still eating well with no regurgitation. Good appetite/energy level. He is no longer on medications. Exam: Billowing of dilated esophagus with breathing ventral neck (improved since last exam), thoracic auscult – noisy breathing (upperairway?). Difficulty to stop purring.

Recheck radiographs were taken to see if things changed.

Right lateral radiograph: megaesophagus remains with aerophagia. No improvement noted on radiograph since completing antibiotics for respiratory infection.

If you look at the radiographs that are labeled showing where the esophagus is and air in the stomach the esophagus should not be that wide, it’s nearly taking up his whole throat. There shouldn’t be air in his stomach either. Since his esophagus is larger than it should be he is swallowing air along with his food so it’s dilating his stomach. Yesterday was the first time I witnessed Bones regurgitating. He regurged once while laying on his side hanging out, all of a sudden water came out. Here is a article that talks about the difference between vomiting and regurgitation, you can read it here.

Here’s a recent video of Bones breathing.

MK doesn’t care that Bones is sick she still bitch slaps him.

When I return from Canada if Bones is doing well I’ll get him neutered and have his upper airway checked for strictures, polyps and anything else that might be there. As for the megaesphagus there isn’t a cure. The specialist said Viagra has helped some cats with megaesophagus. I’m reluctant on starting a medication like that until he is really showing problems, so for now we will take it one day at a time and we will call him Jeremiah was a Bullfrog because you know he was good friend of mine!