Maine Coons are generally known to be a healthy and robust breed of cats. However, hip dysplasia in Maine Coons is unfortunately a relatively common health problem among them.
It is important to learn as much as possible about this health issue in order to detect it early and slow down its progression.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball-and-socket joint that connects the femur to the pelvis is malformed. Over time, the joint rubs against the pelvis, causing the joint to loosen and leading to pain, inflammation, and stiffness. There is no way to prevent this hereditary disease, but if detected at an early stage, it can be treated to slow down its progression.
Although hip dysplasia is a painful condition that cannot be cured without surgery, it is not a death sentence! Cats with hip dysplasia can be managed through various treatments aimed at reducing pain and increasing your cat’s mobility.
Read on to learn how to manage hip dysplasia in your cat, as well as what you can do to detect it at an early stage and slow down the progression of the disease.
The Maine Coon is an incredibly popular breed of cat, known for its large size. These cats developed naturally in the wild, and have since been bred and refined by cat enthusiasts.
Due to a more restricted genetic pool, most purebred cats are more susceptible to genetic diseases than ordinary cats. However, the wild origins of the Maine Coon mean that they are generally robust and healthy cats.
However, Maine Coons are still prone to a few genetic or hereditary diseases, including:
– Polycystic kidney disease
– Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
– Spinal muscular atrophy
– Another common hereditary disease in Maine Coons is hip dysplasia.
Did you know that the average domestic cat has only a 5% chance of suffering from hip dysplasia, but this number can reach 20% in certain cat breeds, including:
– Himalayan
– Persian
– Maine Coon
Overall, hip dysplasia occurs in about 18% of Maine Coon cats. This makes it one of the most common conditions in this breed of cat.
The age of onset for hip dysplasia in Maine Coons can vary greatly, but most cases begin between four and sixty months. Unfortunately, this disease worsens progressively with age. However, this progression can be slowed down with treatment, especially if detected at an early stage.
What is hip dysplasia?
The Maine Coon’s hip dysplasia is caused by a joint malformation, specifically in the femur’s head.
Cats with hip dysplasia can be affected in one or both of their femoral joints.
The hip joint is a type of ball-and-socket joint, where the femur’s head can rotate in the pelvis, allowing for leg movement.
However, in cats with hip dysplasia, this femoral head has an abnormal shape and grinds against the pelvis when in motion. This means that when the cat walks, jumps, or uses its hind legs, the joint between the femur and pelvis gradually erodes.
Over time, this joint becomes loose, leading to inflammation and painful grinding that makes movements difficult or even impossible for the affected cat.
Cats with hip dysplasia often limp and have difficulty jumping onto their favorite sleeping spot or even getting into the litter box.
Causes of feline hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease caused by genetics. The genes responsible for this condition must be inherited from both parents, but it is possible for a cat to pass on the disease to its offspring without showing any outward signs of hip dysplasia. Unlike some other hereditary diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia is caused by a combination of genes rather than a single gene. Unfortunately, this means that there is no way to test for hip dysplasia. You will simply have to wait and see.
Hip Dysplasia Symptoms in Maine Coons
It was previously believed that dogs were much more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia than cats. However, experts now wonder if cats are actually more susceptible to hip dysplasia than initially thought. Cats are masters at hiding pain and injuries, so some owners may not even realize that their cat is suffering from hip dysplasia. Discovering and diagnosing hip dysplasia in cats can be challenging, but knowledge is power. Here are the symptoms of hip dysplasia in Maine Coon cats, so you can hopefully detect this condition at an early stage.
Irritability or Outbursts
Cats are experts at hiding pain and injuries, as it was advantageous for survival in the wild. However, this tendency to conceal pain can actually worsen a cat’s situation. One of the first symptoms of pain in cats is irritability, biting, or aggression. If your cat hisses or bites when you touch them, especially near their hindquarters, it may be their way of telling you that they are in pain and do not want to be touched in that area. Unfortunately, many cats with hip dysplasia become grumpy because they are constantly in pain, and many owners automatically assume that their cat no longer loves them.
Reduced mobility
Cats with hip dysplasia experience pain when walking, jumping, and climbing. They may stop climbing or jumping on their favorite spots and start lying down more often. You might think that your cat is more tired than usual or has become lazy, but the true cause of this phenomenon is chronic pain and inflammation.
Changes in gait and posture
A cat with hip dysplasia may exhibit an abnormal gait, with a strange swaying of the hind legs when walking. Your cat may also limp, especially after exercise. Additionally, it may hop to move around. Finally, cats with hip dysplasia sometimes assume an unusual posture, often with the hind legs held close together.
Waking up slowly
Although you may not notice much difference in your cat’s gait initially, it’s important to keep an eye on how your cat gets up. Cats with hip dysplasia often struggle to get up due to the movement required by their femoral joint.
Muscle Mass Changes
As the condition of your cat becomes more painful, it will begin to rely more on the front half of its body and use the rear half as little as possible.
Cats with hip dysplasia typically have broader and more muscular front shoulders, and thin and atrophied hind legs and buttocks.
Hip Dysplasia Treatment in Cats
Hip dysplasia can be a chronic condition, but it doesn’t mean that a cat with hip dysplasia is a lost cause! If you suspect that your Maine Coon has hip dysplasia, make sure to explore the following treatment methods for feline hip dysplasia to ensure that your Maine Coon has a long and happy life.
