Hip Dysplasia in Cats

Source: Catster

Until recently, it was thought that cats were not affected by hip dysplasia. However, it is now known that this common health condition found in dogs affects cats as well. While no cat is immune to this condition, it is more often found in heavy-boned breeds such as the Persian and Maine Coon.

Hip dysplasia is the abnormal growth or development of the hips – basically, a poor fit of the ball-and-socket hip joint. It is likely an inherited disorder, which is not obvious at birth, but develops as the kitten grows.

Many cats with hip dysplasia go undetected. Even though this condition develops early, many cats don’t have pain associated with the condition until they are in adulthood, after they have been walking on their poorly formed hips for many years. But some cats, especially the more severely affected or those that are overweight, will have obvious symptoms right away. Symptoms include stiffness when walking, reluctance to jump and climb, or lameness.

There are varying degrees of hip dysplasia, and while there is no complete cure, there are a range of treatment options that alleviate the clinical signs. Non-surgical interventions include weight control, exercise control, and medication. If these three elements fail to maintain an adequate quality of life, surgical options are available.