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Maine Coon Cats and Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a serious problem for Maine Coon Cats. This is a hereditary disease that can lead to crippling at the most, and very painful arthritis at the very least. Hip Dysplasia, which is more common in dogs than in cats, can also be found in humans on the rare occasion.
Because cats inherently hide pain, you may not know that your cat has hip Dysplasia until it is in its advanced stages. You might notice that your Maine Coon is limping after jumping, or that he isn’t as active as usual. Because hip Dysplasia is a genetic disease, your cat can be tested early in life to see if he or she is at risk. Hip Dysplasia can be treated with medication, proper nutrition and exercise, and in extreme cases, with surgery. It is not fatal, but again, is very painful.
Weight management is often the first thing that your veterinarian will address, as added weight puts additional stress on the hips. Furthermore, veterinarians do not feel that surgery will benefit an animal with hip Dysplasia, if that animal is overweight. Therefore, make sure that you follow your veterinarian’s nutrition recommendations to help your Maine Coon either get down to his ideal weight, or to maintain it.
Weight management and exercise will almost always be the first stage of treatment for hip Dysplasia. Your veterinarian will discuss various exercises for your Maine Coon, which will be designed to build muscles and improve the range of motion, without wearing on the joints. Some exercise that he may suggest includes walking on a leash, walking on a treadmill, and going up and down stairs. You will have to exercise right along side of your Maine Coon, because you probably won’t be able to convince him to do it on his own.
Just as cold weather and a lumpy mattress affect humans who have arthritis; these things also affect a cat that has hip Dysplasia. He should be kept warm, and this can usually be accomplished with a pet sweater. Also, consider purchasing a memory foam mattress top (twin size will be more than large enough) for your Maine Coon to sleep on.
Your veterinarian will also show you how and where to properly massage you’re Maine Coon, in order to offer him or her some relief from painful joints. Moist heat will be recommended for those times when the joints are swollen. Anti-inflammatory medicine may also be prescribed, but surgery will probably not be suggested unless it becomes apparent that the animal is in a great deal of pain the majority of the time.
Breeders are doing their part in trying to eliminate hip Dysplasia in cats altogether by slowly breeding the disease out. They ask that all breeders have their studs and queens x-rayed with the OFA or PennHIP methods, and those breeders only breed normal-to-normal hips. But because hip Dysplasia can still occur – although rarely – it is important that you do your part by reporting it, and not breeding a Maine Coon that has been diagnosed with hip Dysplasia.
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Next Article: Important Terms Associated with Maine Coon Cats
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