Expert: Jessica - 9/29/2010

Question
I took in about a 3 week old kitten today and it cries constantly. I have been feeding it kitten milk but girl I took it from was giving it regular milk. I told her it was not good for kitten and she said she would bring to me tomorrow. She gave it water in that time period. While holding and stroking kitten, I noticed that it seems to have what feels like a layer of bubbles under its skin. Could you tell me what caused this and what to do about it

Answer
Hi Dee,

Bubbles under the skin are called “subcutaneous emphysema”.  Subcutaneous means under the skin, and emphysema is derived from the Greek word for inflate.  The condition in itself is not generally dangerous, but its cause often is.  There are several causes for subcutaneous emphysema, depending on its location.  The most common cause is a bad cough.  The kitty will actually blow a hole is his trachea (windpipe), and air will be allowed to enter the throat and chest area.  Other times, a severe upper respiratory infection can result in a hole blown into the nasal septum, and air is allowed to escape into the head area, traveling over the head and back of the neck, even down to the shoulders.  Sometimes internal injuries and infections can be the cause of subcutaneous emphysema.  A vet should take a look at the kitten to try to diagnose the initial cause.  Once the underlying cause is treated, the subcutaneous emphysema typically resolves on its own within a few days.

Cows’ milk is a poor diet for kittens because it doesn’t contain nearly enough fat, protein or sugar in it.  But I don’t suspect it’s the reason for the subcutaneous emphysema, if this is indeed what the little one is suffering.  Your kitten might be fussy because he has been malnourished but also because subcutaneous emphysema can be uncomfortable, and whichever condition has caused the air under his skin is likely rather serious.  However, most causes are treatable and adult pets, at least, generally make a full recovery, so I would encourage a vet visit right away.

Best of luck!

Jessica