How to determine dysplasia in a kitten. Permission to breeding. Videos and Illustrations

A cat is a playful and funny animal. If your “small and gentle animal” has become unusually quiet and inactive, you should start worrying about its health. After all, the cause of this behavior may be dysplasia: it is quite rare in cats (but not in all breeds), but if the disease manifests itself, then you definitely shouldn’t expect anything good...

This is the name of a complex pathology, the essence of which, in a nutshell, is a discrepancy articular head and depressions. The cause of the disease is not fully known, but its development is clearly influenced by a number of factors.

Some experts believe that this pathology associated with excessive rapid growth kittens, but there are currently no studies to confirm this. Most likely pelvic dysplasia hip joint in cats it is an exclusively hereditary disease. But there is one circumstance that suggests the influence of both of these factors.

According to research, the breed Maine Coon this problem occurs... as much as 18% of cases!“And what is the connection here?” - you ask. It's simple: this breed is especially large. Growth rates of kittens early period simply amazing. In addition, these cats have many problems with hereditary genetic diseases. So here we see several reasons at once, as a result of which dysplasia manifests itself.

Important! If your pet belongs to this breed, be sure to have it checked regularly in good condition. veterinary clinic. Keep in mind that Maine Coons are often at risk of heart disease.

Main signs of the disease

How can you tell if your pet is suffering from this disease? Let us immediately note that symptoms can often be adequately interpreted only by an experienced veterinarian, and external signs must be confirmed by x-ray!

Read also: Dermatosis in cats: general information about the disease and methods of diagnosis and treatment

You should definitely be alarmed if you observe the following in your cat:

Bright severe weakness affected limbs.

The animal cannot even jump onto a chair, and generally tries not to jump.

He begins to fall to the side when walking, cannot stand up for a long time, meowing in pain.

Gait is wobbling, in severe cases the animal chooses where and how to place its paw.

In older cats, the hind limbs become skinny as the muscle tissue rapidly begins to degrade. If the disease continues to progress, the animal increasingly prefers to remain in place, sometimes without getting up even if the owner offers tasty food.

Predisposing factors

Certainly, genetic diseases always tend to manifest themselves, but if there are at least some contributing factors, it happens much faster. So, your pet may have this disease if:

You feed your cat a “pork” diet, and his photo looks like a humorous cartoon. An obese cat is a sick cat.

The animal feeds in moderate amount high-quality, but incorrectly selected, overly nutritious food.

In addition to being overweight, excessive weight can also contribute to the development of the disease. muscle mass(especially in the pelvic area). The latter is most often typical for large breeds.

Are any of the above true in your case? It’s a pity, but joint dysplasia in cats especially often manifests itself precisely in the presence of such factors. Therefore, I would like to immediately recommend that you consult an experienced veterinarian about your pet’s diet. Believe me, this way you can prevent the development of many diseases!

Diagnostics

When making a diagnosis, the doctor relies on both the presence of the symptoms described above and research on your animal's pedigree (if any), and also takes into account contributing factors. The animal's blood and urine are taken for analysis and full research. Finally it's done X-ray, which is often the most important “evidence”.

Important! To perform an X-ray examination, it is important that the cat is at least two years old.

Remember: dysplasia at home elbow joint in cats (or posterior section) are never diagnosed! Lameness, a wobbling gait and other signs can be a symptom of a dozen diseases, so if you discover them, do not imagine yourself as Hippocrates, but immediately take your pet to an appointment with a veterinarian.

Remember! A dislocation of the front paws or another mechanical injury may be similar to suddenly manifested dysplasia, so consultation with a specialist is vital!

Read also: Liver failure in cats is a sign of a serious illness.

Therapeutic measures

Firstly, veterinarian should assign to your cat therapeutic diet. Moreover we're talking about not only about limiting the amount of fat (in case of obesity), but also about the correct ratio of salts, vitamins, micro and macroelements in the diet. All recommendations must be based on a biochemical blood test, which gives a comprehensive picture of the animal’s health.

In addition, treatment is prescribed taking into account general condition pet and disease progress. Yes, on initial stages Physiotherapy and massage can provide excellent results. If dysplasia is already developed, all these measures can dramatically worsen the cat’s condition.

Most often practiced conservative therapy. No, not from the word “canned food”! Meaning medicinal method when the veterinarian prescribes symptomatic treatment: The cat is prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and a course of vitamins is prescribed.

This therapy is prescribed to old animals for which operating method treatment is too dangerous. But if the cat is young and has good health, it is still advisable to operate on her to give a chance for normal life. With age, symptoms will only increase, and therefore conservative approach in such cases it is not always justified.

There are three types of surgical intervention:

Triple osteotomy. It would take a long time to tell all the nuances, but its essence is to strengthen the damaged area using a special metal structure.

Resection arthroplasty. It is performed in cases of severe degenerative joint damage. Head femur is removed, and in its place the surgeon forms an “ersatz” from muscle tissue. Over time, a cartilaginous plate forms there, which allows the cat to use the limb relatively normally.

Prosthetics. Perhaps, only with this method can hip dysplasia in cats be completely eliminated, since a prosthesis made of metal or polymer materials is placed in place of the affected joint.

It is no secret that purebred animals often suffer from hereditary diseases. Selective selection for the purpose of securing certain, needed by a person qualities, is expensive for our pets. One of the most common hereditary anomalies is articular dysplasia in cats. This disease significantly limits the animal's mobility. It appears more often in infancy and progresses as quickly as the kitten gains weight. Cats of large breeds - Maine Coon, British, Persians - especially suffer from the disease. According to the International Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (IFAW), average frequency detectability of this disease among cats it is 6.6%.

Joint dysplasia is a congenital defect that arises as a result of improper formation in the embryonic and postnatal period. It consists of a discrepancy between the head of the hip or ulna and glenoid cavity. As a result, a pathological gap is formed between them, why joint cannot work effectively.

There are two types of dysplasia in cats:

Hip dysplasia. It is the most common and represents a pathology hind limbs animal.
Elbow dysplasia is less common. It represents mainly pathologies of the proximal processes of the ulna.

Hip dysplasia (HJD)

The hip joint is formed by the head of the femur, the acetabulum (the depression formed by the hip bones) and the acetabulum (a special cartilaginous plate). The ligamentous apparatus that holds the femoral head in the socket consists of joint capsule, round ligament and acetabular labrum.

The pathology consists of underdevelopment of the joint, the degree of which can vary from increased mobility with a deficiency of connective tissue and weakness of the ligamentous apparatus to severe violations. Absence adequate treatment can lead to severe complications, which are characterized by dysfunction of the hind or forelimbs up to complete loss of mobility.

Complications may be of the following nature:

Subluxation of the hip. The femoral head cannot be held in its proper place by the ligamentous apparatus. It moves outward and upward. Its partial displacement relative to the acetabulum is called traumatic subluxation.
Hip dislocation. Total loss contact between the femoral head and the acetabulum, in which the latter is wrapped inside the joint. Over time, the acetabulum can fill with connective tissue, causing the dislocation to become irreducible.
Arthrosis of the hip joint. It occurs when improper articulation leads to constant contact between the femur and acetabulum and their mutual injury. The bone is gradually destroyed, the cartilage loses its elasticity.
Pelvic deformity. It occurs with bilateral dysplasia. When both joints are affected, over time one limb becomes deformed relative to the other.

Permission to breeding

Due to the fact that dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints in cats is of a hereditary nature, it became necessary to control the possibility of breeding animals. To determine it, a special rating scale is used.

According to this scale, there are five degrees of dysplasia:

Grade "A" means healthy joints no signs of deformation.
Grade “B” is assigned when there are minor changes without significant clinical manifestations.
Grade “C” is given to animals with the initial stage of the disease and mild clinical manifestations.
Grade “D” is reserved for animals suffering from severe joint deformities.
Grade “E” means that irreversible changes have occurred in the joints, as a result of which the animal has become disabled.

Animals with stages A, B, and C are allowed for mating. An expert assessment is carried out with the participation of representatives of the Orthopedic Animal Foundation when the animal reaches the age of 1.5 years.

Symptoms of the disease

The first signs of dysplasia are often noticeable even in early age and increase as you gain weight. Elbow dysplasia usually visible from six months of age. The situation is aggravated by the presence accompanying pathologies. When making a diagnosis, you should never rely solely on external manifestations diseases. They should always be supported by instrumental examination methods, among which the main one is radiography.

Main symptoms hip dysplasia constitute the following violations:

limited movement of limbs;
muscle weakness that gets worse after physical activity;
occasional lameness;
severe pain syndrome;
valgus (X-shaped) curvature of the limbs;
crunching when the joint is working.

In behavior and appearance The client can also notice painful changes:

the joint is inflamed and enlarged;
the cat is tense during movement, meows in pain, avoids active games;
characteristic (wobbly) gait, falling to one side when walking;
emaciation of the affected limbs.

In cats with developed muscles clinical symptoms may be completely absent. Strong muscles completely compensate for weakness and stiffness of the joints. Dysplasia in such animals can only be determined by x-ray.

Causes of the disease

The main cause of the disease is hereditary predisposition. The disease is transmitted to the kitten from one of the parents. It is argued that the mutation causing symptoms dysplasia can manifest itself after 14 generations, so before mating you need to very carefully study the pedigree of the animal.

Genetic studies have shown that there is no specific gene responsible for the presence or absence of this disease. The cause of the disease is hidden disturbances in the number or structure of chromosomes that arise during the fertilization stage. Such violations always lead to deviations in work various organs and systems. That is why more and more genetic abnormalities and hereditary diseases of cats are being identified, characteristic of some specific breeds or groups of breeds.

Provoking factors

DTHD can be provoked by a whole complex of various predisposing factors, the main of which is the significant weight of the animal and its rapid growth. That is why Maine Coon cats, which are the largest cats, are more susceptible to the disease than other cat breeds. According to research by the International Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the incidence of dysplasia among individuals of this breed is 18-25%.

And yet there are several more breeds that are most susceptible to this disease:

British;
Persian;
exotic;
Siamese;
Scottish Fold (Scottish Fold).

Among other provoking factors, the most important are:

obesity;
various bone diseases;
consequences of previous injuries;
early sterilization of the animal, which promotes weight gain;
incorrectly composed diet, excessively rich in calories;
physical inactivity.

There is a hypothesis that dysplasia can be caused by insufficient content hyaluronic acid V synovial fluid, which serves as a lubricant for joints.

Diagnosis of the disease

If the disease is caught at an early stage, then competent diagnostics will help determine initial signs changes. In this case, it will be much easier to cure the disease.

Basic diagnostic measures are:

Visual inspection. The doctor examines the limbs, palpates them, determines the degree of damage and the presence of pathological deformities.
General and biochemical analysis of blood and urine. They will give an idea of the general condition of the animal and the presence of concomitant diseases.
Arthroscopy. It is minimally invasive diagnostic procedure, allowing you to assess the condition of the inner surface of the joint. A special device, an arthroscope, is inserted into the joint through a puncture. With its help, the doctor examines the intra-articular structures and assesses the degree of pathology.
Radiography. This is the main type of joint diagnosis. It is indicated for an animal that is already 2 years old. Before the examination, the animal is put into a state medicated sleep, in order to be able to place it in the most advantageous position for a high-quality photo.

Treatment of the disease

Depending on the stage of joint damage, use different methods therapy. Mild stages of dysplasia (A, B and C) are diagnosed with great difficulty, since they do not cause much concern to the animal. But if you catch the disease at these stages, treatment will be more successful. Eat Great chance that it will be possible to do without surgery.

Therapeutic diet

The basis of the therapeutic diet is the restriction of high-calorie foods and a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements. The diet should contain dietary foods rich in glucosamine and chondroitin (gelatin, cartilage). Of the microelements, calcium and manganese are especially important. It is very important to monitor the animal's weight. Under no circumstances should the established standards be exceeded.

Drug therapy

The basis of drug therapy is early stages illness is long-term use chondroprotectors (Artroglycan, ArtroVet, Stride plus). Also used homeopathic remedy Chondartron in the form of subcutaneous injections.

If necessary, intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid and absorbable drugs are prescribed to ease the functioning of diseased joints and relieve inflammation.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

They can be used only during the period of remission, so as not to provoke a worsening of the condition. These are procedures that relieve pain and inflammation - ultrasound, laser therapy, electrophoresis, massage.

Rehabilitation

The sore paw is firmly fixed. They temporarily limit the animal’s ability to move, depriving it of the ability to actively move, go outside, or jump. Peace promotes rapid recovery with an unadvanced form of dysplasia.

Surgery

Advanced stages of the disease (D and E) require surgical intervention. There are several types of operations for joint dysplasia. They differ in complexity and cost:

Pectinectomy is an operation that corrects the adductor muscle of the thigh, which is deformed, being involved in pathological process. This operation gives good effect in kittens under six months of age.
Triple pelvic osteotomy. The operation is performed on young animals whose bones and ligaments have sufficient elasticity and strength. Three osteotomies (artificial fractures) are performed pelvic bones, then acetabulum rotates and is fixed with a special plate so that the joint takes the correct position.
Joint endoprosthetics. It is practiced in cats that have reached 10 months of age and have severe dysplasia. It is the replacement of a diseased joint with an artificial one (metal or ceramic). Most effective method. Negative side its high cost.
Intertrochanteric osteotomy. Used to treat traumatic subluxations in cats and dogs. The doctor changes the angle of entry of the femur into the glenoid cavity and reduces the subluxation. This reduces the gap between the body and the neck of the bone.
Resection of the head of the bone or resection arthroplasty. The operation is aimed at forming a false joint in the place where the head of the bone was. Filling the free space connective tissue begins to act as a ligamentous apparatus.

Prevention measures

Hip dysplasia is hereditary disease. Cats with a history of dysplasia in their pedigree should not be allowed to be bred. If it is assumed that the kitten will participate in breeding, an in-depth analysis of its pedigree is necessary.

If your pet has hereditary predisposition to the disease articular dysplasia, it is important to carefully monitor his lifestyle. This will help reduce the risk of disease to a minimum.

It is very important to adjust the animal’s diet by eliminating excess fats and carbohydrates. Food should be moderate in calories and contain sufficient minerals.
It is necessary to monitor the cat's weight to prevent obesity.
Regular veterinary examinations should not be neglected.
It is necessary to provide the animal with the opportunity to move as much as possible and play active games.

It is in our hands to make sure that pets can always feel the joy of active movement. You just need to be a little more attentive to them so as not to waste time, and start treatment as early as possible.

Owners of cats, and those who do not doubt for a minute that they really should have a representative of the feline family in their home (read about the arguments for and against such a decision) know that cats are funny and playful creatures that never let you get bored. However, in some situations their playfulness may be limited. dangerous disease like dysplasia hip joints. On our website we have already written about, but since this disease is somewhat different in cats, today we decided to talk specifically about this disease in the feline family.

What is dysplasia, why does it appear in cats, is there any breed predisposition what are the symptoms, how to treat dysplasia and how to prevent it– we suggest looking for answers to these questions in our publication...

Dysplasia in cats - what does this disease look like?

Dysplasia of the hip joints is a complex pathology, the essence of which is that there is a mismatch between the articular head and the socket. And, although veterinary medicine has not yet established the exact causes of the development of dysplasia in cats, however, there are a number of factors that can create favorable conditions for the development of dysplasia.

Causes of dysplasia in cats

There is also a high probability that dysplasia is hereditary.

If we consider these 2 versions using an example, it is enough big cats breed, then representatives of this cat breed are really large in size and grow quickly, at the same time, these cats actually suffer from dysplasia more often.

Symptoms of dysplasia in cats

Now we invite you to familiarize yourself with the symptoms characteristic of joint dysplasia. However, I would like to immediately draw your attention to the fact that external signs should always be confirmed nearby additional examinations(we will talk about them a little later), and only on the basis of comprehensive results and observations can an experienced veterinarian (and not you yourself) talk about the presence of dysplasia in your cat. But, below listed symptoms should alert you and serve as a reason to contact a veterinarian.

Pronounced weakness of the cat's limbs affected by dysplasia (not necessarily the hind limbs).
Limited movement (the cat cannot jump or run, or stand up; it prefers to lead a more passive lifestyle).
Soreness, which is often accompanied by a plaintive meow.
A wobbling gait during which the cat falls to one side.
Degradation of muscle tissue on the affected limbs - the affected legs become thin.

If you notice one of these symptoms in your cat, you should not wait until dysplasia manifests itself fully. Contact your veterinarian, after all, treating dysplasia in the early stages is much easier than when the disease is advanced.

Factors contributing to the development of dysplasia in cats

Since hip dysplasia in certain cat breeds and individuals has genetic character– such animals need special proper care. This can reduce the risk of developing dysplasia. But, if, instead of proper care, the owners overfeed the animal; as a result of an unbalanced diet, the cat begins to suffer from obesity, from excess muscle mass in the pelvic area - they thereby put their health at risk pet. After all, It is obesity and excess muscle mass in the pelvic area that are the factors that can provoke the development of dysplasia and accelerate the course of the disease.

So, no matter how much you love your pet, no matter how pitifully he looks into your eyes begging for the 20th piece of meat - do not follow his lead. Consult your veterinarian about how to formulate balanced diet nutrition for your pet and strictly adhere to its recommendations. After all, obesity (you can read more about obesity in cats), in addition to dysplasia, threatens other serious disorders that can cause early death animal.

Diagnosis of dysplasia in cats

In addition to the fact that dysplasia is diagnosed on the basis objective symptoms, the veterinarian must conduct a series of studies that could confirm or refute such a diagnosis. First of all, urine is taken from an animal with suspected dysplasia, and a full examination of these materials is carried out. It is also appropriate to take an x-ray of the area where dysplasia is in question. However, we would like to draw your attention now to the fact that

X-raying of cats under 2 years of age is strictly prohibited.

So, if dysplasia is diagnosed in a cat that is under 2 years old, you will have to do without x-rays and trust the experience of the veterinarian. Regarding the latter, no matter what kind of veterinarian he is good specialists, in cases where it is possible to draw a series additional research to confirm the diagnosis, he will not refuse them, because symptoms themselves such as a wobbling gait, pain and stiffness of movement may indicate other diseases, in particular mechanical injuries. And, therefore, it is very important to correctly establish a diagnosis and correctly prescribe a course of treatment.

Treatment of dysplasia in cats

Diet for cats with dysplasia

Treatment of this disease begins with... the fact that you will need to review your pet's diet. The specialist should prescribe him a therapeutic diet, which involves limiting the amount of fat, correct ratio salts, vitamins, macro and microelements. At the same time, recommendations are given based on the results biochemical analysis blood of a sick cat, and have an individual character.

Physiotherapy

In the initial stages of the disease good result They give physiotherapeutic procedures and massage, however, if the disease is already advanced, then physiotherapeutic procedures can only worsen the animal’s condition.

Medicines and vitamins

When running and complex forms dysplasia in cats, conservative therapy is prescribed, which involves drug treatment. Based on the symptoms of the disease, the cat is prescribed painkillers, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, this conservative method treatment is almost always appropriate for old animals, on which it is no longer possible to operate due to the weakening of their body. However, if the animal is young and its body is strong, conservative treatment can be postponed until extreme case, in order to still give the cat a chance for a full recovery.