Why is my 6-week kitten inactive with narrow ribs and white gums?

Question

This 6 week old kitten has some kind of deformity in his ribs. The top pair of ribs seem alright, but the lower pairs are much more narrow. His gums are getting whiter, and he's pretty inactive and we need to know if there's anything we can do for him

Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA · Accepted Answer

If he has a deformity of his ribs then I worry he could also have a deformity of his diaphragm and a diaphragmatic hernia where abdominal structures herniate into the chest and prevent proper oxygenation. This can produce a whitish gum color. The kitten could also be pale from anemia caused by parasites or other infectious diseases. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will be able to access the kitten and give you a more realistic prognosis based on their physical examination findings. Best of luck and I hope he improves! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Why is my 6-week kitten inactive with narrow ribs and white gums?

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