When feline patients test positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1), it is not uncommon for the clients to make the difficult choice to euthanize their cat. Recently, an outbreak linked to raw cat food resulted in the euthanasia of a cat after it ingested the food and later tested positive.

 However, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) led a study, recently published in 

that demonstrated promising results when a cat infected with avian influenza receives care and is treated early.

“Most importantly, our study shows cats can survive bird flu if they receive early care and antiviral treatment with oseltamivir. Cats need not be euthanized in every case. They can regain full health and what appears to be strong protection from reinfection for at least several months after recovery,” said Kristen K. Coleman, PhD, the study’s lead researcher and an assistant professor at UMD’s School of Public Health.

Because H5N1 spreads quickly through animals, the researchers are concerned that infected cats will pose an unexpected threat to humans they come into contact with, such as family members and veterinary teams. Study results highlight both the importance of quick recognition of disease and the potential of antiviral therapy to protect animal health and possibly reduce spillover cases.

“We found that cats infected with avian influenza were able to survive when treated promptly with oseltamivir. The key is early intervention. Being able to recognize and begin treatment at the first signs of illness gave us the best chance for success,” said Jake Gomez, DVM, who treated infected cats at Cross Street Small Animal Veterinary Hospital in Tulare, California.

On October 31, 2024, a family in Tulare, the epicenter of the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle for the state, brought their aged 1 year and 7 months male neutered domestic longhair pet cat (known in the research as Cat 2) to a local veterinary clinic for lethargy and refusing to ambulate. Cat 2’s owner stated that they had no knowledge of exposure to toxins for the cat, that he had indoor/outdoor access, and that he was up to date on his core feline vaccinations in California.

Cat 2 was given supportive treatment with subcutaneous fluids (200 mL lactated Ringer's solution) and cefovecin sodium, which is given as a single-injection, long-acting cephalosporin that lasts 14 days and is often used for adherence reasons and treats feline patients that are not eating. After 24 hours, Cat 2 returned to the clinic with minimal signs of improvement. Cat 2 was given an appetite stimulant but died 2 days later.

During their initial visit, Cat 2’s family reported that before Cat 2 displayed symptoms, another one of their cats, known as Cat 1 in the research, was acutely ill but was brought to another clinic. Cat 1, a male, neutered domestic shorthair aged 1 year and 5 months, was indoor only and up to date on all vaccinations.

Cat 1 suddenly became lethargic and was rushed to the local emergency facility for blood work and imaging of the thorax. At the time, the team suspected Cat 1 had an upper respiratory infection and was given Convenia and oxygen therapy. However, Cat 1 died suddenly when he returned home.

The attending veterinarian who cared for Cat 2 is a mixed-animal veterinarian who cares for under 100,000 cattle in California. When Cat 2 came to the clinic, multiple local herds and poultry operations were experiencing outbreaks of H5N1. Due to the acute mortality of Cat 1, this veterinarian was concerned that these feline patients could have H5N1, especially because they live less than a mile from the nearest cluster and one of the owners is a traveling hay salesman. The veterinary teams discussed precautions and isolation techniques with the owners and encouraged them to bring any remaining cats to the clinic immediately if they began to show signs. The attending veterinarian contacted the US Department of Agriculture and the FDA for testing and possible necropsy.

On November 6, 2024, the family brought in Cat 3, a male neutered domestic longhair aged 1 year and 7 months, who was also up to date on his vaccines and lived indoors only. He was lethargic and anorexic upon arrival, but a physical exam was "otherwise unremarkable."

 Cat 4, a 4-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair who was up to date on vaccines and lived only inside, was brought in the next day, presenting with lethargy and anorexia, and had an unkempt hair coat and nasal discharge.

Cat 3 was given meloxicam alongside subcutaneous fluid therapy, but because there was a suspicion of H5N1, he was also given 15 mg oseltamivir (Tamiflu) by mouth every 12 hours for 10 days. Three days later, he was given more subcutaneous fluids and put on meloxicam as an oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. During his recheck on November 13, he was drinking normally, his activity had returned to normal, his appetite had improved, and he had gained weight. Cat 3 was found to have hypopyon in his right eye and no fever, so he was given a broad-spectrum topical antibiotic/steroid eye drop.

Cat 4 also had signs of purulent nasal discharge bilaterally, serous discharge from both eyes, and increased bronchovesicular sounds bilaterally.

 He was given subcutaneous fluids, meloxicam, and oseltamivir. He was given meloxicam orally after 24 hours.

After their treatments, both cats came in for a follow-up. In February 2025, the owners reported that both pets had recovered and were back to normal. No information on human illness was provided, and blood samples were collected from the recovered cats at a follow-up visit about a month later. 

Both Cats 3 and 4 were positive for influenza A virus antibodies via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and positive for neutralizing antibodies against influenza H5N1 2.3.4.4b. Blind results from the study were also in agreement.

This outbreak of H5N1 among house cats demonstrates how quickly H5N1 can spread through multiple animals in a home, posing an unexpected spillover risk to family members and veterinarians caring for them. Most importantly, we demonstrate that with early supportive care and early treatment with oseltamivir, H5N1 is a survivable disease in domestic cats,” the researchers stated.

“Our results support the continued prioritization of neuraminidase inhibitors in the treatment of H5N1 in mammals and highlight the importance of early identification and targeted treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that survivor cats can regain full health and maintain high titers of neutralizing antibodies against H5N1 at least 3-4 months post recovery. These findings suggest that cats and other mammalian species may sustain strong protection from reinfection of H5N1 after natural infection and continue to thrive,” they concluded.

Bird flu outbreak in house cats: high-risk but survival possible. News release. University of Maryland. September 18, 2025. Accessed October 1, 2025. 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1098916

Gomez JF, Bemis IG, Shittu I, Gray GC, Coleman KK. Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza a(H5N1) among house cats: a case series involving oseltamivir treatment. 

. 2025;21:101211. doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101211

Articles

Researchers at the University of Maryland found that antiviral treatment and catching the illness early can improve survival rates of cats positive for H5N1. 

Study finds if bird flu is caught early enough, felines can survive it

A new round-the-clock specialty and emergency hospital in San Luis Obispo, California, has emerged, marking the region’s first hospital of its kind. In South Florida, a referral-only advanced imaging center for pets has opened, providing diagnostic imaging services only for patients referred by veterinarians. Additionally, a provider of veterinary and human healthcare education has broken ground on a new location.

Continue reading to learn more about these updates.

Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital (San Luis Obispo, California)

Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital. (Image courtesy of Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital/New Times San Luis Obispo)

A 24/7 veterinary specialty and emergency care center, Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital, in San Luis Obispo, California, recently opened. The new hospital is the first 24/7 veterinary and specialty hospital in the region.

“Finally, pet owners in San Luis Obispo and the surrounding areas don’t need to travel hours away for advanced care,” Joseph Raleigh, DVM, DACVS-SA, co-founder of the center, said in a news release.

 “We’re proud to provide the highest level of emergency and specialty services, right here in our community.”

Currently, the hospital offers surgery, internal medicine, radiology, and cardiology. The hospital said it plans to offer oncology and critical care services soon. According to Cerro Alto, the center will contain more than 50 staff members.

Thinking about the future of your business or career? 

 free 30-minute webinar offers key financial and emotional strategies to help you plan your exit, protect your wealth, and earn CE credit along the way!

The referral-only diagnostic imaging center MyPetScan, will be opening in mid-October in Doral, Florida. The center will be the only referral-only advanced imaging center for pets in South Florida.

"Our goal is to be the easiest 'yes' on your referral list,” Mario Arellano, DVM, ABVP, medical director of MyPetScan, said in a company news release.

 “Get the patient in, get high-quality imaging, and get a clear, board-certified read within 24 hours-so you can move on the plan that same day or next."

The center will offer magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, echocardiography, and endoscopy. MyPetScan said it will also provide wellness imaging for senior pets and predisposed breeds.

Viticus Group Nashville Education Centers (Nashville, Tennessee)

Viticus group has finalized the purchased of a new property in Nashville, Tennessee, and officially broken ground. With this, the organization is set to begin the retrofit construction phase for education centers. Viticus Group said its headquarters will still be located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of our team, whose expertise and commitment were invaluable in navigating the complex details and ensuring we closed on time and within budget,” Andrea Davis, CEO of Viticus Group, said in an announcement.

According to Viticus Group, its education centers will be modeled off of their service lines in Las Vegas. Additionally, the new facility will consist of nearly 80,000 sq ft of additional space in adjacent centers.

Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital opens as San Luis Obispo County’s first and only 24/7 specialty & emergency veterinary facility. News release. Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital. September 16, 2025.

MyPetScan announces grand opening in Doral: South Florida’s referral-only advanced imaging center for pets. News release. MyPetScan. September 6, 2025.

Viticus Group officially closes and breaks ground on Nashville property. News release. Viticus Group. September 30, 2025.

The latest updates relating to animal care establishments and platforms.

Clinic center: California’s Central Coast gets first 24/7 specialty and emergency hospital opens, & more

April Blong, DVM, DACVECC, discusses one way that all respiratory distress cases should be handled.

Managing respiratory distress

What is one key point that every veterinarian should know about caring for a patient with respiratory distress? April Blong, DVM, DACVECC, an associate clinical professor at the Iowa State University Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center in Ames and the medical director at Iowa Veterinary Specialties in Des Moines, discusses techniques for stabilizing a patient with respiratory distress, in a 

Blong presented continuing education (CE) sessions on emergency and critical care at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, where her interview was recorded. These CE sessions presented insights on abdominal and thoracic injuries in blunt force trauma cases as well as identifying and stabilizing possible traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. In this video, she addresses one of the key takeaways from her CE sessions.

The following is a transcript of the video.

: There are lots of causes of respiratory distress, but the vast majority of respiratory distress cases can be stabilized with low stress handling, oxygen and sedation. Don't overlook giving these animals some butorphanol...It doesn't matter the cause of respiratory distress. Every respiratory distress patient should be sedated.

Common causes of blunt force trauma in pets

You can also learn more and register for the 2026 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City

Videos

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are critical tools in veterinary care, providing reliable vascular access for fluid therapy, medication delivery, parenteral nutrition, and repeated blood sampling in critically ill patients. While their use can be essential to patient survival, introducing a catheter into central circulation carries greater risks than peripheral catheterization. Potential complications include catheter-related bloodstream infections, thrombotic events, and mechanical issues such as malposition or vessel injury. To minimize these risks, strict aseptic technique and meticulous catheter management are required throughout placement, maintenance, and removal.

This review outlines the key indications, contraindications, necessary supplies, and a step-by-step approach to safe and effective CVC use in veterinary medicine.

Some items may be included with the central line kit:

Appropriately sized catheter-gauge and length

Sterile 0.9% NaCl flushes x number of lumens

+/- Sedation with appropriate monitoring devices

: Place the animal in the preferred recumbency.

Measure the distance from the intended insertion site to the desired placement.

This is the insertion site to the thoracic inlet.

The tip of the catheter should lie within the thoracic inlet, just cranial to the right atrium.

: Perform a wide clip of fur using a clean #40 clipper blade, centered on the intended venipuncture site.

Ensure the area is large enough so no part of the catheter, including suture, will be within the patient’s fur.

: Clean the area with gauze soaked in chlorhexidine scrub

Be thorough but gentle when scrubbing the area, as abraded skin will support colonization of pathogenic bacteria.

Do not clean the same place twice with the same gauze.

Clean residual scrub from skin with alcohol to prevent dermatitis.

Do this procedure again, alternating between scrub and alcohol 2 times.

 touch the insertion site after preparation.

Figure 1: Example of a sterile draped for placement (Photo courtesy of Jenn Bench, RVT, VTS (ECC), T-CCFP)

: Using sterile technique, flush with 0.9% sodium chloride solution (NaCl) and cap all ports prior to insertion.

: Drape the patient to prevent inadvertent contamination of the catheter 

Palpate the vessel while the restrainer occludes the vessel.

Infiltration of a local anesthetic at the intended insertion site is recommended for nonsedated animals.

: Insert introducing needle or short over-the-needle-catheter bevel up, going toward the direction of the heart.

: When blood is observed flashing back into the needle, if using a short over-the-needle catheter, advance the catheter and then remove the stylet before feeding the guide wire.

The distal end of the wire has a flexible J-tip to prevent puncturing the vessel.

Feed the guide wire approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of its length into the vessel.

Place sterile gauze over the insertion site with a slight amount of pressure while removing the insertion needle or short over-the-needle-catheter to prevent blood loss

: Thread the vessel dilator over the wire.

: Grasp the dilator near the distal tip and advance it into the vessel using a forward, twisting motion.

The skin entry site may need to be enlarged using a scalpel blade (RVT or DVM 

Minimize cutdowns; larger cutdowns increase the risk of bacterial colonization.

: Remove the vessel dilator while still holding the wire.

: Place sterile gauze over the insertion site with a slight amount of pressure while removing the vessel dilator to prevent blood loss.

: Remove the cap from the distal (brown) port of the catheter and ensure it is not clamped.

: Thread the multilumen catheter over the wire until the proximal end of the wire protrudes from the port.

: While holding the distal end of the guide wire, advance the catheter into the vessel until the desired distance is achieved (as determined by the previous measurement).

Figure 2: Example of shaved and sutured CVC (Photo courtesy of Sheridan Tidball, RVT, VTS (SAIM))

: While holding the catheter in place, remove the guide wire.

: Attach a syringe of sterile 0.9% NaCl to the port and aspirate blood to ensure proper placement and remove any air bubbles.

Flush open port, clamp and then place the infusion cap on the end.

: Suture the catheter to the skin using the plastic clamps with 

All single or multilumen CVCs should be sutured in.

If the catheter is too long, place the provided spacers over the exposed catheter before suturing.

: Take a lateral placement radiograph to ensure proper placement of the tip of the catheter 

: Cover the site with a small nonadherent pad and small Tegaderm (avoid ointments).

Figure 5: Example of bandaged multilumen catheter (Photo courtesy of Mandy Helton, RVTg, VTS (ECC))

The bandage should be firm, but never tight.

Wrap with cast padding, stretch gauze, and vet wrap.

Wrap with cast padding, followed by vet wrap.

Secure lumens with tape so they don’t get caught on anything.

: Wipe injection ports with alcohol before using.

: A 250-mL bag should be labeled when first punctured "For this patient's use only"; it expires in 72 hours (please refer to hospital policies regarding sampling).

: Flush CVC with sterile 0.9% NaCl every 6 hours.

Unwrap bandage and visualize insertion site every 24 hours (change bandage).

Check for signs of phlebitis/infection/dislodgment, redness, swelling, heat or discharge and notify the doctor of any abnormalities.

If a portion of the catheter becomes visible and has pulled out from the insertion site:

Aseptically clean the area with 2% chlorhexidine solution.

Place spacers on top of the exposed catheter.

 reinsert the catheter back into the vessel.

: When a patient is disconnected from intravenous (IV) fluids, a new male adapter should be used to cover the CVC hub and cap the fluid line with the other end of the male adapter.

: There is no need to remove the CVC unless signs of phlebitis/infection/dislodgement occur.

: Evaluate the need for a catheter and remove it as soon as it is no longer necessary to decrease the chances of bloodstream infection.

: Using 2% chlorhexidine solution, followed by sterile 0.9% NaCl, clean a circular area 2 inches in diameter around the insertion site, beginning at the insertion site and moving outward. This reduces microbial skin contaminants from migrating into the site.

: Withdraw CVC slowly in 1 continuous motion.

 if resistance is met: The catheter may be knotted or lodged in the vessel. Secure the CVC, cover the site, and report to the physician.

: Place pressure on the site with clean gauze dressing until hemostasis is achieved; 1 to 5 minutes is suggested.

: Apply clean gauze dressing, cover with a transparent film dressing, wrap with cast padding, then use vet wrap to prevent air emboli.

: Leave the bandage in place for about an hour.

Increased intracranial pressure: potential for decreased venous drainage during placement

This step-by-step guide outlines safe placement, maintenance, and removal of central venous catheters, as well as supplies, indications, and contraindications to reduce complications in patients.

Central venous catheter placement and maintenance

The FTC announced earlier last month that it voted 3-1 to vacate the 2024 final rule banning most post-employment noncompete agreements. With this vote, the FTC formally ended the initiative from the Biden Administration to eliminate these types of contracts across the US.

Noncompete agreements generally restrict employees who leave a job from working in that field or for a competitor of the company for a specific time frame as well as in a certain geographic area, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

 In April 2024, the FTC announced its final rule to ban noncompete nationwide and estimated that new business formation would increase by 2.7%, higher wages for workers, and lower health care costs.

Now, most of the commissioners support prosecuting anti-compete agreements and issued a request for information to better understand the prevalence, scope, and effects of noncompete agreements.

When the FTC issued its noncompete rule, it would have prohibited almost all noncompetes prospectively and retroactively, which impacted an estimated 30 million workers in the United States. The rule then created legal challenges from employer groups. In August 2024, US District Court for the Northern District of Texas stated that the rule was "arbitrary" and "capricious" and then vacated the rule. The FTC appealed, but due to the recent vote by the commission, the FTC filed motions to withdraw the appeals that it filed.

FTC also dismissed its pending appeals in the Ryan LLC v. FTC before the Fifth Circuit and Properties of the Villages v. FTC before the Eleventh Circuit, accepting the district court decisions find FTC lacked statutory authority to issue this ruling. The court then ordered the Ryan case enjoined the FTC rule, which ended the nationwide ban. Although the categorical prohibition is no longer in effect, the commission will continue to pursue individual enforcement actions, such as collaborating with states' attorneys general, against noncompete agreements that are considered anticompetitive under current law.

The actions of the FTC leaves regulation of noncompete agreements primarily to the states, which some have passed or are considering new restrictions. For the veterinary community, Former FTC Chair Lina Khan has stated that veterinarians were some of the most active professionals that submitted comments during the rulemaking process back in 2023.

“I was struck by the extent to which we heard from veterinarians—hundreds of people sharing stories about how noncompetes had buried them in expensive litigation, cost them job opportunities with better wages and conditions, and even forced people to uproot their families or commute hours away,” Khan told attendees during the 2024 AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum.

FTC bans noncompete agreements in the veterinary profession

Current FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson cited in a recent FTC action against Gateway Pet Memorial Services, which according to the commission, allegedly used noncompete to stop worker mobility in the pet aftercare industry. The commission found that under a proposed FTC consent order, the company must immediately stop enforcing all of its existing noncompete agreements, among other terms.

Although majority seem to be in favor of vacating the rule, Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, the only dissenting vote, criticized the decision to vacate. She stated that out of roughly 26,000 public comments on the rule, over 25,000 supported a categorical ban. She argued noncompetes "not only present barriers to worker mobility, but suppress wages, prevent new business formation, and slow innovation."

“Today, sadly, the FTC’s Republican majority decided to throw in the towel. In place of a rule to protect nearly all American workers from abusive noncompetes, the majority offers a one off settlement and a request for information (as though the record of tens of thousands of comments does not exist),” Slaughter stated in her statement.

“Perhaps the agency is hoping that, by dismissing the Commission’s appeals and refusing to continue defending the rule in court, no one will notice that the FTC is choosing the side of controlling bosses over American workers. But every worker trapped by a noncompete who would be liberated by this rule—and that is millions of workers in America— knows the truth,” she continued.

The agency is now seeking public comments to gain a better understand of the agreements, plus gather information that can inform future enforcement actions. The deadline to submit a public comment is November 3, 2025, and if anyone wishes to make their submission confidential, they can email noncompete@ftc.gov and mark it as such. Once submitted, comments will be posted to regulations.gov.

The provided list of sample questions for commenters includes:

Does the employer enforce the noncompete agreements? If so, how?

Are you aware of former employees covered by the noncompete agreements taking a new job with lower pay or worse conditions to avoid violating the terms of those agreements?

Are you aware of former employees covered by the noncompete agreements leaving the industry or changing their job type when taking a new job in order to avoid violating the terms of those agreements?

Are you aware of business owners limiting the geographic territory in which they operate to avoid violating the noncompete agreements with former employers?

Are you aware of rival employers making job offers that were declined due to the potential employee learning that they are restricted by a noncompete?

Have any noncompete agreements covering workers in the healthcare sector affected wages, labor mobility, or the availability, quality, or cost of healthcare services in particular? If so, how?

“We are asking the public to help shine a light on unfair and anticompetitive agreements,” said Kelse Moen, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Competition and co-chair of the agency’s Joint Labor Task Force,

“Unreasonable noncompete agreements have proliferated for too long in the dark. With the assistance of the employees and workers most burdened by them, the Trump-Vance FTC intends to uproot the worst offenders and restore fairness to the American labor market. We look forward to closely reviewing every response.”

FTC vacates noncompete rule, shifts to case-by-case enforcement. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. September 30, 2025. Accessed October 1, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/ftc-vacates-noncompete-rule-shifts-case-case-enforcement

McCafferty C. FTC bans noncompete agreements in the veterinary profession. April 26, 2025. Accessed October 1, 2025. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/ftc-bans-noncompete-agreements-used-by-some-veterinary-employers

Federal Trade Commission. Gateway Pet Memorial Services. Federal Trade Commission website. Updated September 4, 2025. Accessed October 1, 2025. 

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/gateway-pet-memorial-services

Slaughter RK. Dissenting Statement of Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter Regarding the Dismissal of Appeals in Noncompete Rule Litigations. Federal Trade Commission. September 5, 2025. Accessed October 1, 2025.

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/slaughter-noncompetes-litigation-withdrawal-statement.pdf

Federal Trade Commission Issues Request for Information on Employee Noncompete Agreements. News release. Federal Trade Commission. September 4, 2025. Accessed October 1, 2025. 

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/federal-trade-commission-issues-request-information-employee-noncompete-agreements

The commission is now seeking public comment on scope, prevalence, and effects of noncompete agreements.

Federal Trade Commission vacates noncompete rule 

Recently, the University of California (UC), Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine highlighted the case of Ginger, a male kitten who was discovered to have a narrowing in his esophagus, called a stricture, that prevented food from reaching his stomach.

To save Ginger, a team at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s (VMTH’s) Feline Pediatric Service had to perform multiple rounds of surgery to open Ginger’s esophagus.

Esophageal strictures in cats can develop from a variety of causes, including anesthesia, trauma such as the ingestion of a foreign body, ingestion of caustic substances, certain medications like doxycycline or clindamycin, esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

 Tumor invasion can be another cause of strictures in the esophagus, though esophageal tumors are rare.

Ginger was found as an abandoned newborn kitten alongside 3 siblings and placed in a foster home with a volunteer named Kendra from FieldHaven Feline Center, an animal shelter located in Lincoln, California. At approximately 5 weeks old, he began regurgitating his food. The issue continued with more feedings, so he was examined by a veterinarian at FieldHaven. However, after Ginger’s condition continued to worsen, he was referred to the VMTH’s Feline Pediatric Service for specialty care.

There, radiographs revealed a stricture in Ginger’s esophagus. Subsequent CT scans showed that his esophagus was opening less than 1 mm, far below the 8-mm opening typical for a healthy 6-week-old kitten. CT findings also included pneumonia, likely due to aspiration from regurgitation.

X-ray of Ginger showing his esophageal stricture. 

Karen Vernau, DVM, MAS, DACVIM (Neurology), who was working on Ginger’s case, consulted with Sean Hulsebosch, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), another faculty member at VMTH, after “recognizing that Ginger’s case could quickly become fatal.”

 Hulsebosch then created a treatment plan to open Ginger’s esophagus with a ballooning procedure that is done through an endoscopy.

The procedure proved to be successful, with Ginger experiencing no regurgitation and feeding well. However, approximately 6 days later, Ginger experienced a recurrence, which is not uncommon with this form of stricture, and regurgitated his food again. As a result, Hulsebosch repeated the procedure and initiated weekly ballooning treatments to gradually fully open Ginger’s esophagus, according to UC Davis.

Hulsebosch performing an endoscopy on Ginger to open the stricture. 

Ginger’s condition recurred following every procedure. However, the esophagus gradually widened with each ballooning, reaching 7 mm after the last procedure.

“After each procedure, Ginger’s esophagus stayed open 1 mm, then to 2 to 3 mm, 3 to 4 mm, 4 to 5 mm, and finally remaining [at] 7 mm following the last ballooning,” UC Davis said in its report.

Although the kitten will need to stay on soft food for the rest of his life, UC Davis said Ginger's outlook is positive.

“Since his final surgery [3] months ago, Ginger has had no recurring regurgitation issues,” Kendra said in the report.

 “And nothing is slowing him down. He is the most energetic and personable kitten imaginable.”

According to UC Davis, Ginger has been officially adopted by Kendra and her husband. “We will continue to monitor Ginger for any recurring issues, but he is doing very well now and enjoys the canned food,” Kendra said.

Procedure to correct esophageal stricture saves kitten on brink of starvation. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. September 29, 2025. Accessed September 30, 2025. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/procedure-correct-esophageal-stricture-saves-kitten-brink-starvation

Esophageal strictures in small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. May 2025. Accessed September 30, 2025. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-esophagus-in-small-animals/esophageal-strictures-in-small-animals

Imaging revealed the kitten’s esophagus was under 1 mm in diameter compared with 8 mm expected at his age.