Peritoneopericardial Hernia

What is peritoneopericardia hernia? Peritoneopericardial hernia ranks as the most common congenital pericardial disease in cats as well as in dogs. This hernia is a protrusion of a portion of an organ (usually the liver, small intestine, spleen or stomach) or tissue through an abnormal opening from the abdomen into the chest and heart sac.

How does my cat get peritoneopericardia hernia? This is a congenital disorder present from birth. The cause of this condition remains unknown.

How do I know if my cat has peritoneopericardia hernia? Peritoneopericardial hernia is challenging to clearly identify because it does not offer explicit symptoms. Symptoms range from none to severe, depending on the amount of herniated tissue and which organ has been impacted. Cats with this condition may lack a healthy appetite, act weak, even collapse and have breathing difficulties. The gums may turn pale and bouts of vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Your veterinarian will need to do a thorough physical exam, blood work, chest X-rays and ultrasound of the heart and abdomen to confirm the diagnosis.

What can I do about peritoneopericardia hernia? Treatment depends on the significance of the hernia that your cat has. Your veterinarian may remove excess fluid inside the pericardial sac, but in most cases, will need to perform a surgery called a herniorrhaphy to treat this type of hernia.

Is there anything I can do to prevent my cat from getting peritoneopericardia hernia? Not really. No clear cause has been identified for this inherited condition.

Are there certain breeds that get  peritoneopericardia hernia more often? Yes. Himalayan, Persian and Domestic Longhair breeds are more susceptible to inheriting this condition.