hip degeneration

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allison and Bubbles

allison and Bubbles

Member Since 2018
Hi everyone...I adopted a kitty who I have totally fallen in love with in the past month ...I took him to the vet bc he had swallowed a long piece of ribbon...thankfully it looks like that issue has been resolved without surgery. .but most unfortunately the vet showed me an xray of his pelvis and hips...the pelvis looked out of alignment and the vet said he has "something " very wrong with his hip joints...they both appear to be deteriorating ...the vet did not have any answers as to how this all could have happened...he suggested a fall or injury of some kind but was very unsure....I have done some research and found out that he may have been born with a genetic condition causing his hip joints to degenerate...does anyone have any advice or experience with this? Poor Beanie hardly moves and I asked the spca about her lack of movement in general and they said they hadnt noticed anything other than he is overweight and needs to lose some pounds...he is barely able to jump up on my bed...he crawls up...the vet said that it is possible that there is bone rubbing on bone and that an operation is in order to "make him more comfortable "...he did not use the word "cure" at all...I am so sad about this to think his beautiful life might be stymied by this condition and cut short...he is part maine coone or persian I think and I read that this degeneration tends to be in these breeds and can start in kittenhoo
 
I don’t have any experience with this condition in cats, but in my arthritic horses, I do try to keep their weight down as well as add supplements such as MSM and HA (hyluronic acid) and adequan injections. Not sure how much these will work if it’s a genetic, progressive disease, but I’d think they may help some and certainly won’t hurt. There are several supplements on the market that have the MSM and HA, but the adequan needs a script from your vet. Also do you have a kitty chiropractor around there? They might be able to help get the pelvis back in alignment.
 
As mentioned in the other thread ask for adequan. I give adequan and Gabapentin for pain. I give msm as well but not sure if it makes a difference or not. Adequan definitely does.
 
hi Sharon!...awesome suggestions!...where can I get the MSM and HA? I am not familiar with these two things...kitty chiropractor...wow...didnt know the world had even ONE of THOSE....!! Is the adequin an anti inflammatory of sorts? I am not sure that he has arthritis or any inflammation...I wonder if a blood test might show inflammation...I read this somewhere...I really am praying he will be a candidate for surgery although it scares me alot to have my cats under anaesthetic and for the length of time it might take...I feel so sorry for Beanie being shuffled from shelter to shelter and seperated from his littermate who he apparently adored...its taking him a long time to adjust as he is very fearful of everything...including my birds!! and yesterday I watched him getting all geared up to jump up on a chair...it took him a whole minute head bobbing up and down to get the courage to try and jump...from seeing this I feel he might be in some pain...he barely moves ...I just thought he was a sedate kitty and now I am wondering if he is in pain...good lord ...the last thing he wants is to beco meds for a long period of time...fingers crossed that they can do something to help him...he is only five...I sure hope my pet insurance will cover it...I know it will be around four grand...
 
allison and Bubbles said:
hi Sharon!...awesome suggestions!...where can I get the MSM and HA? I am not familiar with these two things...kitty chiropractor...wow...didnt know the world had even ONE of THOSE....!! Is the adequin an anti inflammatory of sorts? I am not sure that he has arthritis or any inflammation...I wonder if a blood test might show inflammation...I read this somewhere...I really am praying he will be a candidate for surgery although it scares me alot to have my cats under anaesthetic and for the length of time it might take...I feel so sorry for Beanie being shuffled from shelter to shelter and seperated from his littermate who he apparently adored...its taking him a long time to adjust as he is very fearful of everything...including my birds!! and yesterday I watched him getting all geared up to jump up on a chair...it took him a whole minute head bobbing up and down to get the courage to try and jump...from seeing this I feel he might be in some pain...he barely moves ...I just thought he was a sedate kitty and now I am wondering if he is in pain...good lord ...the last thing he wants is to beco meds for a long period of time...fingers crossed that they can do something to help him...he is only five...I sure hope my pet insurance will cover it...I know it will be around four grand...
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I get msm powder from www.holistichorse.com.

Adequan helps with inflammation, lubrication of joins, and helps REBUILD cartilage! Great stuff

Cats use the canine version.

http://www.adequancanine.com/

If you feel your cat is in pain ask about a pain killer like bupe or gabapentin.
 
MSM is in a lot of joint supplements or you can buy it separately. Any pure MSM will do, it doesnt have to be labeled for cats, but you’ll have to check the dosage. The adequan will help build the HA, so if you use it, you probably wouldn’t need a separate HA supplement. As I said before I’ve never used any of these in cats, but see a huge difference in the horses.
 
@JanetNJ how do you give the MSM to your cats? It tastes nasty, do they eat it in their food? My horses don’t seem to mind it...
 
thanks for the suggestions...its hard forcme to tell if he is pain but by the look on the vets face I am really wondering and I am going to get a second opinion on what is going on...I do not know if it is degenerative or if it was caused by injury...it is so unusual...
 
I would definitely try the adequan. As Janet said, it helps rebuild the joints. I’ve seen horses that couldnt be ridden anymore go back to successful show careers. It’s good stuff!
 
With civi Moxie I first noticed her bunny hopping at about 9 months. X-rays showed joint deterioration. Cataracts were also noticed even before that and she was very slow gaining weight, like took over 6 months to reach 2 1/2 lbs.
She is now 11 and her joints have gotten worse including in the vertebrae. Many years ago I started Cosequin and that helped. I then added gabapentin for pain about 3 years ago. Two years ago I added Adequan. With each addition she got better.
 
Hi Allison, I’m sorry Beanie is having a rough time. And you too!! I don’t know much about cats hips but I have that same problem in my back. I just read about the adequan which is like glucosamine chondroiton (I have heard of the pills) for people with joint problems. It is an amazing drug for pets! I want someone to give me a shot of that miracle drug! Most often there will be inflammation with these types of issues along with arthritis; and unfortunately pain. The article I read states that the synovial fluid in our joints is increased from adequan; therefore providing easier movement & less pain! I’ve never had a cat that needed this but This is definitely a great drug to know about! Sending all the good I can muster up for you both!! You deserve a break here! Big :bighug::bighug:
 
Jill...this discussion began with "hip degeneration " that I posted on the main forum...and the above comments pertain to this subject...correct me please if I am missing something ?...I posted a different thread "ate string" on the main forum aswell... for Beanie ...I am unsure why there is a question of continuity her? Please explain so I understand?
 
allison and Bubbles said:
Jill...this discussion began with "hip degeneration " that I posted on the main forum...and the above comments pertain to this subject...correct me please if I am missing something ?...I posted a different thread "ate string" on the main forum aswell... for Beanie ...I am unsure why there is a question of continuity her? Please explain so I understand?
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Because during the course of the Ate Thread topic there was a drift from the plastic ribbon problem to the hips issue. You then opened a new topic about the hips and so Jill was clarifying and guiding for everyone which was helpful :)
 
ok thanks to you and to Jill for resolving this for me! So from now pn I am not to respond to the "ate string" thread but to the "hip degeneration " thread....uugh...please tell me this correct Pusscat or anyone?...Is it ok to talk of both issues in the same thread for continuity?
 
allison and Bubbles said:
ok thanks to you and to Jill for resolving this for me! So from now pn I am not to respond to the "ate string" thread but to the "hip degeneration " thread....uugh...please tell me this correct Pusscat or anyone?...Is it ok to talk of both issues in the same thread for continuity?
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You and we all talk about any further ribbon issues in the Ate String thread

You and we all talk about the hip issues in this thread.

One thread , one topic. Better not to talk both issues in the same thread as people lose track .

Keeps it simple and clear.
 
oooh...ok I get it finally...Jill kindly included the comments about both issues in the "hip degeneration " thread so that the folks who saw them in the "ate string" thread would be brought up to date...god I hope I can remember to do this right...I have short term memory loss and have to write everything down so I don't forget...thank you!!
 
I think the hip problem showed up when the vet xrayed the abdomin for the string issue. Similar thing happened to one of my civies. I went in for constipation and after enema and X-rays, came out with arthritis meds... If you get to talk to the vet tomorrow, remember to ask about adequan.
 
Sharon14 said:
I think the hip problem showed up when the vet xrayed the abdomin for the string issue.
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I think this is the pusscat that Allison kindly adopted July 2018? A large bagpuss. Was called Bubba perhaps now called Beanie ?

He was adopted with a known rear leg problem and was having an xray 13th July I believe. Obvs when there was another xray recently a hip displacement or degeneration showed up.

I agree. Getting him on Adequan will be a great start to make Beanie comfortable. See how his mobility goes with that.
Was a weight reduction also suggested. It seems he is a large cat which places stress on the joints. Keeping mobile is also the key so I hope he does move himself about although I think I read that he can jump on and off a bed and the like.
 
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