Some of Dav's intestine and part of the liver had come through a hole in his diaphragm
Little Dav’s Big Fight For Life: Chestergates Saves Tiny Kitten
4 days ago 
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A six‑week‑old kitten from Cheshire is lucky to be alive after a sudden medical crisis left him fighting for his life - until specialists at Chestergates Veterinary Specialists stepped in with urgent, life‑saving care.
Little Dav, a black‑and‑white rescue kitten, had only just settled into his new home when his owner Trevor noticed he was frighteningly unwell. Once playful and energetic, Dav suddenly became lethargic, wouldn’t eat, and could barely keep his eyes open. His condition rapidly deteriorated, prompting his worried owners to rush him for emergency help.
On arrival, it was immediately clear Dav needed specialist intervention. He was referred straight to Chestergates Veterinary Specialists, one of the North West’s leading veterinary hospitals, where a team of experts began fighting to stabilise the tiny kitten.
Colleagues at the hospital described Dav’s condition as extremely serious. “He was very poorly,” said EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery Georgia Jenkins, who led his treatment. “A kitten of that age has very little reserve and can decline within minutes. Any further delay could have been fatal.”
Dav was quickly placed on intensive support. The Chestergates team carried out blood tests, imaging, fluid therapy and round‑the‑clock monitoring to uncover the cause of his collapse. It was found that some of his intestine and part of the liver had come through a hole in his diaphragm, affecting his ability to breathe, and digest food. Because of Dav’s tiny size, every aspect of his care had to be delivered with exceptional precision. Even a slight change in temperature or blood sugar level could have been catastrophic.
“Anaesthetising and operating on a patient this size is challenging - drug doses, fluid volumes and body temperature all have to be controlled far more tightly than in an adult cat,” said Georgia. “It takes a highly coordinated team to stabilise them long enough to diagnose and treat the underlying problem. This relies on the nursing and anaesthesia team as much as anything I do.”
For the first several hours, Dav’s condition remained precarious. His owners waited anxiously for updates as Georgia operated to repair the hole in his diaphragm and return his organs to the correct position in the abdomen. Finally, after a tense 24 hours, Dav began to show the first signs of improvement: lifting his head, responding to touch, and even attempting a faint, wobbly purr.
“That was the moment we knew he wasn’t giving up,” said Georgia. “He showed remarkable spirit for such a tiny kitten.”
Dav’s relieved owner Trevor said: “The staff at Chestergates were amazing, from reception to the veterinary nurses, the vets and Georgia, the surgeon. While it may appear obvious that anyone who works at a veterinary practice or hospital is going to like pets, the medical and non-medical treatment of Dav and the empathy shown to my wife and myself was special. It obviously helped that Dav is incredibly cute and as playful and as lively as a kitten can be when his lungs are being squashed. That element of his personality obviously connected with everyone at the hospital.”
The incident highlights just how quickly young kittens can become critically unwell. Veterinary specialists warn that any changes in behaviour - such as lethargy, refusing food, vomiting, diarrhoea, or hiding - should prompt owners to seek veterinary help immediately.
“Kittens decline fast because they have no reserves,” said Georgia. “They can’t afford to go even a few hours without food or fluids. If something seems wrong, it’s always safest to call a vet straight away.”
After several days of specialist treatment, tiny Dav was finally strong enough to go home. He left the hospital brighter, stronger and ready to return to his new family - who say he made a strong recovery.
Chestergates Veterinary Specialists is a leading specialist led, multi-disciplinary veterinary referral hospital situated just north of Chester in the Northwest of England. It offers a 24-hour supervised hospitalisation area, separated by species, 365-days a year. The Chestergates team offer a broad range of specialist veterinary referral services including anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, cruciate repair, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, internal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation & physiotherapy, soft tissue & general surgery, and total hip replacement. For further information, visit https://chestergates.org.uk/ .
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