A healthy and affectionate pet cat never fails to give joy to their human parents. Cats may seem aloof at times but they’re playful, loyal, and special. But what happens when they have a health condition or a physical issue like sunken hips? Physical abnormalities among pet cats are a cause for worry and should be promptly addressed.
Possible causes why cats’ hips are sunken in
There are at least a variety of reasons why cats’ hips are sunken in. These are just a few of them:
1. It may be due to hip dysplasia
A possible cause of a cat’s sunken hip may be hip dysplasia. It’s a degenerative condition also known as poor hip joint conformation. The ball and socket joint of the hip becomes malformed and may result in a sunken hip.
2. As a result of an inherited or congenital disorder
Your cat’s sunken hip may be attributed to an inherited disorder from its parents. Other common inherited disorders among cats include muscular dystrophy, deafness, and retinal atrophy.
3. It could be due to a nutritional disturbance
Cats that have nutritional deficiencies or are malnourished may manifest a sunken hip condition. Pet cats need a healthy dose of vitamins such as Vitamins A, C, D, E, B2, K, Niacin, and Biotin, among others. Moreover, your pet cat should have a balanced and healthy diet to ensure optimum health.
4. As a result of a fracture due to a fall
An accidental fall or a blunt force trauma, including broken bones may be the culprit of your cat’s sunken hip. Your pet may or may not show any signs of pain at all because cats are known to be experts of hiding pain if it’s at a tolerable level.
5. Extreme weight loss due to an underlying illness like hyperthyroidism, gastrointestinal tract disease or diabetes
Aside from malnutrition, your pet feline may lose a notable amount of weight and manifest a sunken hip condition because of an underlying disease. Hyperthyroidism and diabetes among cats result in weight loss, restlessness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Physical and behavioral changes caused by a sunken hip
A sunken hip may cause extreme pain among cats if it’s due to malformation, injury, or an illness. If you notice that your pet is limping, looks weak, has an abnormal gait or posture, is less active, and has difficulty in jumping then it may be due to the condition. Your pet may also manifest behavioral changes like being irritable, withdrawn, rarely grooms or self-cleans, anxious, and becoming aggressive.
What to do to correct the sunken hip condition in cats?
Prompt medical and alternative treatment options are available to treat sunken hips among cats. These are some of the significant things to do:
1. Visit the veterinarian for a thorough check-up.
Be sure to visit your veterinarian first before you give any form of medication or treatment to your cat. The vet knows what’s the best thing to do such as performing the necessary tests and physical examinations to ascertain the condition of your cat and give the proper diagnosis.
2. Correct the cat’s eating habits if malnutrition is the cause
In case the issue is caused by malnutrition, try to get the cat to eat more calorie rich foods and even supplements including iron and potassium.
3. Perform physical rehabilitation therapy.
Feline physical rehabilitation therapy may be an ideal treatment option for cats with sunken hips. A good massage can help your cat feel relaxed. It’s also known to treat conditions like spinal cord trauma, osteoarthritis, and femoral fractures. However, it’s best to consult your veterinarian first before bringing your cat to a physical therapist.
4. Consider acupuncture treatment.
You may have to consult your veterinarian first before trying this type of treatment for your beloved pet. Cat acupuncture is a widely accepted treatment option because it provides notable pain relief for pets that have a chronic pain condition, fractures, arthritis, asthma, and allergies.
Being a responsible pet owner entails a lot of commitment and a sense of sensitivity. Noticeable behavioral, as well as physical changes in your pet, may be a sign of an underlying condition such as a sunken hip. Don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian right away while it’s still at a manageable stage to ensure prompt medical treatment and attention.