Treatment for hip dysplasia in cats

Disclaimer: This article, its content and related references do not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is showing any symptoms that could indicate a medical emergency, please seek immediate emergency care.

Hip dysplasia is a form of abnormal development in the hip that results in excessive looseness (laxity) of the joint. The condition is uncommon in cats but may result in the degradation of the hip joints over time, leading to painful osteoarthritis that affects a cat’s overall quality of life. It’s important for cat owners to be able to recognize signs of joint laxity or pain and get help from a veterinarian promptly. If you have a cat, read on to learn:

• What hip dysplasia is and which cats are at risk
• Signs of hip dysplasia in cats
• How hip dysplasia is diagnosed and treated in cats

In a healthy hip, the femoral head is held tightly in the hip socket but still provides enough range of motion for walking, climbing, running, and jumping. In cats with hip dysplasia, the joint isn’t tight enough to hold the femoral head in place. This laxity results in abnormal wear and tear on the bones and joint cartilage.

Signs of hip dysplasia in cats are often absent or subtle until osteoarthritis develops. Surgery is necessary to stabilize a dysplastic hip, and weight management, physical therapy, diet modification, and lifestyle modification are necessary for minimizing symptoms of hip dysplasia and the osteoarthritis that often develops from it.

Hip dysplasia describes the abnormal development of the hip joint, resulting in excessive movement and laxity of the joint.

The hip joint works like a ball in a socket. In a healthy hip, the rounded femoral head is held tightly within the hip socket when a cat walks, runs, and jumps. With hip dysplasia, the femoral head doesn’t fit correctly in the hip socket and is abnormally loose. Over time, this excessive movement within a cat’s hip can abnormally wear down the joint cartilage and bones, resulting in painful osteoarthritis. If the hip laxity is severe, these changes can happen quickly and affect cats at a young age.

Osteoarthritis is degenerative joint inflammation that’s usually associated with advancing age. However, the disease can develop in young cats with hip dysplasia. Osteoarthritis is a chronic, lifelong condition that can’t be cured. Surgery is the only way to correct the alignment of the hip joints in cats with dysplasia. However, mild cases can sometimes be managed with lifestyle modification.

Hip dysplasia is uncommon in most cat breeds, affecting about 5 percent of domestic shorthairs. However, in purebred cats the number goes up to 20 percent, with Maine coon, Persian, and Himalayan cats at the highest risk.

The cause of hip dysplasia in cats is not as well understood as that in dogs. There may be a genetic predisposition related to larger body size. Obesity may also be a contributing factor, as excess weight puts added pressure on the hip joints and contributes to excessive wear and tear. Overweight cats with hip dysplasia may also experience more severe symptoms than affected cats who are at a healthy weight.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia may be very subtle unless the condition is severe or osteoarthritis has developed. Clinical signs include:

• Reduced activity levels
• Difficulty or reluctance to jump or climb stairs
• Reluctance to squat or having an unusual posture in the litter box
• Reduced grooming, which may result in an unkempt coat
• Limping or change in gait
• Changes in normal behavior, such as hiding more, loss of appetite, or aggression

Hip dysplasia isn’t usually painful, but the abnormal laxity may make the joint unstable or interfere with normal movement. If osteoarthritis results, however, that can be very painful. Cats often don’t show obvious signs of pain, even if the pain is severe, so changes can be easily overlooked by pet parents. These signs are not specific to hip dysplasia; many other health issues have similar symptoms.

Other health conditions with similar symptoms

Feline hip dysplasia is uncommon, especially in domestic shorthairs and mixed breeds. Other orthopedic conditions are more common and have similar symptoms, such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Injuries, such as fractures, dislocations, sprains, and strains
• Luxating patellae
• Damage to claws, claw beds, or paw pads

It’s important to get a proper diagnosis from a veterinarian in order to provide appropriate treatment.

The best way to diagnose hip dysplasia is by having X-rays taken before any clinical signs develop. Since hip dysplasia is uncommon in cats, however, screening symptom-free young animals is not as common as it is in dogs. As a result, a cat with hip dysplasia may not get diagnosed unless the laxity is severe or osteoarthritis has developed.

When a cat presents with symptoms such as reduced physical activity, limping, and signs of pain, a vet usually starts with a physical examination and may recommend X-rays. If hip dysplasia is suspected, X-rays under sedation may be recommended. A definitive diagnosis can be made with X-rays of the hips and by measuring how deeply the femoral head is held in the hip socket. In addition, degenerative changes may be seen in the X-rays, so osteoarthritis may also be diagnosed.

While a number of surgical procedures to realign abnormally loose hip joints in young, non-arthritic dogs are available, these aren’t usually options for cats. Most cases of feline hip dysplasia can be successfully managed without surgery. If a cat with hip dysplasia ends up developing severe osteoarthritis in spite of nonsurgical management, surgical options include femoral head and neck excision (FHNE) and total hip replacement (THR).

Nonsurgical strategies for minimizing the severity of arthritis symptoms, improving quality of life, and delaying progression include:

• Weight management
• Environmental changes
• Gentle exercise and physical therapy
• Joint supplements and special diet
• Pain management
• NSAID medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Keeping cats at a healthy weight is a very important part of minimizing the impact of hip dysplasia. Obesity puts more stress on the joints, making symptoms worse and causing the condition to progress faster. A majority of pet cats are overweight, so weight loss is often part of the treatment plan.

Providing environmental modifications for arthritic cats can help make day-to-day life easier and less painful. Modifications may include:

• Low-sided litter boxes
• Stairs or ramps to favorite elevated places
• Flat or slanted scratching mats instead of vertical posts
• Plenty of soft and heated beds

Cats with hip dysplasia still require daily exercise. Gentle exercise and physical therapy can help keep the leg muscles that support the hips strong and maintain range of motion in the hips. Talk to a vet about safe activities and therapy methods based on your cat’s symptoms and dysplasia severity.

Joint supplements and diets that support joint health may help cats with osteoarthritis, but evidence supporting their benefit is weak. Additionally, dietary supplements are not regulated like medications are, so their quality varies widely. It’s best to get a recommendation from a veterinarian. Pain and anti-inflammatory medications can be challenging to use in cats in the long term. Cats are sensitive to these types of medications, and safe and effective options are very limited. NSAIDs used to treat arthritis in dogs and people can cause serious side effects in cats.

Is hip dysplasia an emergency?

Hip dysplasia itself is not an emergency in cats. “It’s an uncommon developmental condition that kittens are born with,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on Vetster. “However, it is generally not diagnosed until after the cat develops signs of osteoarthritis.”

Prompt attention is warranted when a cat shows signs of orthopedic pain, such as limping or a reluctance to jump. By the time a cat shows signs of arthritis, they may have been in pain for some time. Delaying a proper diagnosis and treatment from a vet can allow the disease to progress faster and without relief.

Do not attempt to treat your cat’s symptoms at home without veterinary guidance. A definitive diagnosis from a veterinarian is needed before proper treatment of hip dysplasia can be given. Different medical conditions with similar symptoms may require different treatment methods. Surgery is the only way to stabilize abnormally loose hips, but most cases can be successfully managed with:

• Weight management
• Diet change or joint supplements
• Low-impact exercise and physical therapy
• Environmental modifications

Your cat may also need anti-inflammatory medications, which must be prescribed by a veterinarian. Never give a cat pain medication meant for humans, dogs, or other pets, as they can be highly toxic to cats or result in severe side effects. In addition, pain relievers only mask symptoms rather than treat the underlying problem. Attempting ineffective at-home treatment delays proper treatment from a veterinarian, which may allow the condition to worsen. Online veterinary professionals can offer advice on at-home modifications, weight management, and physical therapy that may benefit your cat with hip dysplasia.

Is there a cure for hip dysplasia in cats?

Surgery is the only way to stabilize abnormally loose hip joints, but most cases of feline hip dysplasia can be successfully managed with weight loss, medications, exercise, and environmental modification. If a cat with hip dysplasia develops severe osteoarthritis, surgery to replace or remove the affected hip joint may be recommended.

Can you fix cat hip dysplasia without surgery?

Surgery is the only way to eliminate the abnormal joint laxity for a cat with hip dysplasia. However, most cases are minor and can be managed with weight management, medication, and lifestyle modification.

What can be mistaken for hip dysplasia in cats?

Hip dysplasia is uncommon in cats. Other joint issues with similar symptoms are more likely, such as osteoarthritis, luxating patellae, and injuries to the limbs, claws, or paws. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from a veterinarian to ensure your cat receives proper treatment.