Introduction
While there is no cure for hip dysplasia in cats, there are things that you can do to alleviate the animal's pain and help maintain your cat's quality of life. Depending on the severity of the condition, your veterinarian will recommend a course of action that may contain surgical and non-surgical options.
Non-Surgical Options for Treating Hip Dysplasia in cats
There is no complete cure, though there are options that can enhance the quality of life for the animal. In mild cases, medication may be sufficient to help the body deal better with inflammation, pain, and joint wear.
In addition to medication, weight control and exercise play an important role in managing hip dysplasia. In many cases weight reduction alone can dramatically reduce symptoms. Reasonable exercise can stimulate cartilage growth and reduce degeneration, while long walks in early or mild dysplasia can help prevent loss of muscle mass
Surgical Options for Treating Hip Dysplasia in cats
Surgical options are available if less intrusive techniques fail to reach adequate results. Depending on the severity of the condition, veterinarians may attempt to modify/repair the hip joint or may opt for a full hip replacement.
Hip Modification
Hip modification treatments can be effective, but often are not adequate for heavier animals.
Hip modification surgeries include:
- Excision arthroplasty, in which the head of the femur is removed and reshaped or replaced
- Pelvic rotation (also known as triple pelvic osteotomy, or pubic symphodesis) in which the hip socket is realigned
- Femoral head ostectomy (FHO) can be appropriate for smaller cats and cats. In this procedure the head of the femur is removed but not replaced and the resulting scar tissue takes the place of the hip joint. In such surgeries, the weight of the animal must be kept down throughout its life in order to maintain mobility.
Hip Replacement
Hip replacement, while expensive, has the highest success rate especially in severe cases. Complete mobility is often restored and risk of recurrence is eliminated. Hip replacement can also be preferred for serious dysplasia cases in animals over about 40 - 60 lbs.