Talk:Flat-chested kitten syndrome

Notes

It is important to note that this subject has virtually no references in veterinary literature, and though FCKS is well known to breeders, the condition suffers from lack of information and understanding. There are therefore virtually no references that can be cited, and such articles as are available pre-date the crucial discovery that FCKS is caused by collapsed lungs, and may therefore be misleading. The Wikipedia article is the MAJOR reference for the condition. 81.156.189.13 (talk) 20:02, 20 September 2015 (UTC) Julia Craig-McFeely 81.156.189.13 (talk) 20:02, 20 September 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Julia.cmcf (talk • contribs) 10:26, 6 June 2012 (UTC)

I'm a family and urgent care doctor and breed Burmese. I have had quite a lot of flat chested kittens but friends who have the same lines have often not. We have narrowed it down to nutrition. Recently I had a miraculous improvement in a kitten when I gave vitamin D and calcium liquid.

I have noticed that it often happens in the larger, more rapidly growing kittens. It becomes more noticeable at about 1 week, this is the time they double their weight. Often other kittens in the litter have stalled growth at the same time. The kitten often passes away at about 3 weeks of age at 300g. Bones are often soft and squishy around the chest especially.

I propose this condition is severe Ricketts or vitamin D deficiency.

In humans, mothers are often short in vitamin d In the winter in areas with low sunshine, babies receive this vitamin D across the placenta and this is often not sufficient, particularly in premature neonates. Most neonatal units will supplement vitamin d over the first 12 months of life , particularly for breast fed babies. Vitamin D is added to infant formula.

Treatment: supplement vitamin D to pregnant mothers 1000 IU every second day right through the pregnancy and breast feeding period. Supplement the kittens 25 IU daily, particularly in the first week (note I haven't tried this supplement treatment but will update this once I've tried this on a few litters if it's incorrect or needs modification. Abfabmiriam (talk) 07:26, 5 September 2023 (UTC)

I have put a post on a Cat Loving Dr page to see if any endocrinologists or neonatologists might have some comments. Abfabmiriam (talk) 08:39, 5 September 2023 (UTC)

Some place like that is certainly a more appropriate venue. WP:NOT#FORUM, WP:NOT#ADVICE.  — SMcCandlish ☏ ¢ 😼  01:01, 6 September 2023 (UTC)

Hi, not ever added anything to wikipedia before, I think my insights are valuable but not sure how to add them to the page in a way that's helpful. 125.238.158.96 (talk) 01:13, 7 September 2023 (UTC)

Literally no one's personal insights are valuable here. Wikipedia is not a publisher of original thoughts and ideas. We do not do original research. What is of value here is material already published in reliable, independent sources, which we cite as references. If you are looking for a place to publish your personal insights, try starting a blog or going to a web forum about cats.  — SMcCandlish ☏ ¢ 😼  01:17, 7 September 2023 (UTC)