Surgery to correct Pinto's Pectus Excavatum

Aim

Pinto was diagnosed with Pectus Excavatum. His case is severe with his lungs able to expand only 50%. He needs surgery to correct it.

Update: A vet hospital has given a quote for the surgery  

Animal Aid- the organization I adopted him from is also accepting direct donations under Pintos name for his surgery. They are doing there best to help support us in this situation. If I am unable to fund his surgery fully, donations will cover his past bills and the rest will go directly to Animal Aid to help other pets in need.

My mom is a cat foster for Animal Aid and she regularly brings in kittens in need. Her foster home had been experiencing kitten sickness and loss. She wanted me to come meet the new bunch. I’m not much of a kitten person. I think they are cute but I don’t feel the need to take every one I see home. At first glance Pinto was different. He was the only grey tabby in a group of white and orange kittens and he was incredibly small. My mom explained that he was a runt and could benefit from individual care.

 I held his siblings first not thinking much of them, but when I held Pinto to my chest, our hearts tied immediately. I didn’t want to set him down and I didn’t want to leave the house without him. My mom noticed the connection and encouraged me to take him.

I have a 7-year-old Torbie named Salem at home so I knew I needed to consult the boss first. I left my moms with a plan to foster through Animal Aid at first and adopt later. I set up a room for Pinto and I bought new supplies for a kitten-I knew he wasn’t leaving.

Normally when bringing a new pet into my home I get very anxious and I need to be a hover parent, but with Pinto I was so happy and at ease, it didn’t feel possible to harbor any negative emotion. I would cry whenever I looked at him too long just because I loved him so much it was hard to hold inside. Having Pinto around was already the highlight of my year but anyone in my circle knows my 2026 bad luck strikes without mercy. 

My elation deflated when I noticed something was off about his breathing. His ribs expanded a little to forcefully and with what seemed to be a large effort on his part. I set up his initial kitten exam and made a list of questions I had for the vet. The vet said it could be a heart defect, pneumonia, or hernia. It was noted that his prognosis was poor despite not knowing the final diagnosis. I left there completely devastated, knowing that Pinto would eventually suffer too much and I would have to let him go. I knew I had to fight more. All those possibilities and no final answer didn’t feel right. 

I went to another vet where they gave me his final diagnosis. Pectus Excavatum. An extremely rare condition. Basically, his chest cavity is underdeveloped and cuts off the room needed for his lungs to fully expand. X-rays are required to see the severity of the condition and if treatment was applicable. In Pintos case, the sternum dysfunction cuts off up to 50% of his lung space.

Because we could see him struggling to breathe and the x-ray showed the extent of the deformation; surgery is needed to prolong his life. Since he is so young the best surgical option for him would be the external splinting technique. It is the ideal fix for him but depending on different factors other approaches may be needed. 

According to PetMD  “External splinting involves using stitches to attach a splint to the chest wall. The splint then applies gentle and constant force to the sternum to correct the deformity. The splint is worn for four to eight weeks.” Routine vet visits and x-rays are needed to track his progress. I have a few hospitals that I’m hoping to get information from, but it of course comes at a cost.

• first vet visit
• first x-rays
• travel fees
• consultation fee
• surgery cost - anesthesia, dressings, splint, etc.
• medications - pain management
• follow up vet visit
• regular checkups and x-rays to monitor progress
• final procedure to remove splint

 In Pintos case is important to do the surgery between 8-12 weeks of age, which is exactly where his age falls. Completing the treatment during this time ensures he can tolerate the anesthesia and his bones are malleable enough to provide success for the surgery. I'm hoping to get him a consultation as soon as possible. I need to get him started to give him the best possible outcome.

I unfortunately can’t afford this on my own. I have my own disabilities which only allow me to work part time. I’m also on government assistance. I’ve been in and out of the hospital myself a few times so my sick days for work have all been used. All appointments for Pinto have been paid out of pocket by myself and I’m struggling with the amount I have left. 

 I’m asking for funds for his full treatment plan. I’m willing to find whatever path may lead to Pinto living a long and healthy life. He is such a sweet kitten, I want to know him at every age and every quirk he acquires. I want to know what his face looks like as a grown boy and I’ll never forgive myself if I give up. I’m fighting for him and myself because we both deserve a life together.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 1st October 2026 at 2:32pm CDT