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Exercise and luxating patellas question
Quite possible nobody knows the answer to this, since luxating patellas
are so rare in cats... Meep has this problem. Both hind legs. Pretty sure she's also starting to get arthritis, based on the way she moves sometimes. She's 12. She's getting Dr. Fosters & Smith Joint Care 2. My understanding is, increased exercise is best for arthritis. I also know that when a horse has luxating patellas (stifle lock), exercise - hill work, mostly - is indicated to strengthen the muscles and reduce the problem. But the problem is different in cats, I understand, so I'm not sure if exercise is indicated for stifle lock in cats. We've moved from a single-story house to a three-story house; been here about a month. I'm wondering whether this will help or hurt Meep's issues? She's not hesitating to climb stairs (litterbox is now in the basement, her food is on the main floor, and we sleep on the second floor), but the way she climbs the stairs sometimes makes me worry about her. Then again, I'm a hypochondriac when it comes to her I'm also worried I might hurt her unintentionally, when we play with her string. Floors are hardwood. She jumps after it with wild abandon, and I'm afraid she'll hurt herself. I think in her mind, she's still a kitten (in my mind, I'm still about 19, so I can relate g). So, anybody have any experience with this, or advice? jmc |
#2
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Exercise and luxating patellas question
"jmc" wrote in message ... Quite possible nobody knows the answer to this, since luxating patellas are so rare in cats... Meep has this problem. Both hind legs. Pretty sure she's also starting to get arthritis, based on the way she moves sometimes. She's 12. She's getting Dr. Fosters & Smith Joint Care 2. My understanding is, increased exercise is best for arthritis. I also know that when a horse has luxating patellas (stifle lock), exercise - hill work, mostly - is indicated to strengthen the muscles and reduce the problem. But the problem is different in cats, I understand, so I'm not sure if exercise is indicated for stifle lock in cats. No. Rest. See below. We've moved from a single-story house to a three-story house; been here about a month. I'm wondering whether this will help or hurt Meep's issues? She's not hesitating to climb stairs (litterbox is now in the basement, her food is on the main floor, and we sleep on the second floor), but the way she climbs the stairs sometimes makes me worry about her. Then again, I'm a hypochondriac when it comes to her I'm also worried I might hurt her unintentionally, when we play with her string. Floors are hardwood. She jumps after it with wild abandon, and I'm afraid she'll hurt herself. I think in her mind, she's still a kitten (in my mind, I'm still about 19, so I can relate g). So, anybody have any experience with this, or advice? jmc Patellar luxations in cats are usually graded 1-4. Did your vet give Meep's a grade? Sounds like a Grade 2 or possibly a cruciate ligament injury to me- which is not all that common but its more likey in an older cat. Here's how PLs are graded: Grade 1: infrequent luxation, infrequent lameness, leg strait, patella tends to be in proper location. Grade 2: frequent luxation, patella usually out of place, rotation of the limb present but overall the cat does well. Grade 3: patella luxated and fixed in luxated position, animal still most often uses limb but lameness may be present, abnormal rotations of limb present. Grade 4: patella luxated and fixed with severe twisting of limb and moderate lameness. Which one do you think best describes Meep's? Grade 1 and some Grade 2s usually require only rest- and if necessary, confinement to enforce the rest until the inflammation subsides. More serious Grade 2s and some Grade 3s usually require pain medication. Most Grade 3s & all Grade 4s almost always require surgery. Phil |
#3
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Exercise and luxating patellas question
Suddenly, without warning, Phil P. exclaimed (8/10/2008 12:09 AM):
"jmc" wrote in message ... Quite possible nobody knows the answer to this, since luxating patellas are so rare in cats... Meep has this problem. Both hind legs. Pretty sure she's also starting to get arthritis, based on the way she moves sometimes. She's 12. She's getting Dr. Fosters & Smith Joint Care 2. My understanding is, increased exercise is best for arthritis. I also know that when a horse has luxating patellas (stifle lock), exercise - hill work, mostly - is indicated to strengthen the muscles and reduce the problem. But the problem is different in cats, I understand, so I'm not sure if exercise is indicated for stifle lock in cats. No. Rest. See below. We've moved from a single-story house to a three-story house; been here about a month. I'm wondering whether this will help or hurt Meep's issues? She's not hesitating to climb stairs (litterbox is now in the basement, her food is on the main floor, and we sleep on the second floor), but the way she climbs the stairs sometimes makes me worry about her. Then again, I'm a hypochondriac when it comes to her I'm also worried I might hurt her unintentionally, when we play with her string. Floors are hardwood. She jumps after it with wild abandon, and I'm afraid she'll hurt herself. I think in her mind, she's still a kitten (in my mind, I'm still about 19, so I can relate g). So, anybody have any experience with this, or advice? jmc Patellar luxations in cats are usually graded 1-4. Did your vet give Meep's a grade? Sounds like a Grade 2 or possibly a cruciate ligament injury to me- which is not all that common but its more likey in an older cat. Here's how PLs are graded: Grade 1: infrequent luxation, infrequent lameness, leg strait, patella tends to be in proper location. Grade 2: frequent luxation, patella usually out of place, rotation of the limb present but overall the cat does well. Grade 3: patella luxated and fixed in luxated position, animal still most often uses limb but lameness may be present, abnormal rotations of limb present. Grade 4: patella luxated and fixed with severe twisting of limb and moderate lameness. Which one do you think best describes Meep's? Grade 1 and some Grade 2s usually require only rest- and if necessary, confinement to enforce the rest until the inflammation subsides. More serious Grade 2s and some Grade 3s usually require pain medication. Most Grade 3s & all Grade 4s almost always require surgery. Phil Vet didn't give a grade. She was originally diagnosed in England, circa, oh, 2003 or so. I'd say Grade 1, perhaps 1.5. It doesn't stick much - in fact hasn't in months that I've seen. When it does, she does limp, and comes to me - I can pick up that leg in such a way as to pop it back, then she walks off sound. However, when diagnosed (she landed badly from a jump, necessitating a vet visit), vet commented that it was easy for her to pop 'em out. I know that rest is indicated if she's had an "episode", what I'm asking about is essentially "maintenance". With horses, exercise is indicated to strengthen the muscles and tendons that help hold the kneecap in the proper position. I've cared for horses with stifle lock, twice. One was a Standardbred filly who locked terrible bad, even cantering, and I believe she did eventually get the operation. The other was a young Arab gelding who locked mildly, vet had me riding him up and down hills. He went on to be a capable team penning horse, I believe, and did not require surgery. Not sure what "twisting of the limb" means. Her leg bones are somewhat bowed, and she walks cow-hocked. Always has. I believe her "deformed" leg structure is why her kneecaps can pop out of position. jmc |
#4
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Exercise and luxating patellas question
"jmc" wrote in message ... Vet didn't give a grade. She was originally diagnosed in England, circa, oh, 2003 or so. I'd say Grade 1, perhaps 1.5. It doesn't stick much - in fact hasn't in months that I've seen. When it does, she does limp, and comes to me - I can pick up that leg in such a way as to pop it back, then she walks off sound. However, when diagnosed (she landed badly from a jump, necessitating a vet visit), vet commented that it was easy for her to pop 'em out. I know that rest is indicated if she's had an "episode", what I'm asking about is essentially "maintenance". You might to try to keep her from jumping down - if that's possible) to reduce the risks of an episode- and probably try to limit (as if that's even possible) her activity for a few days after an episode. With horses, exercise is indicated to strengthen the muscles and tendons that help hold the kneecap in the proper position. I've cared for horses with stifle lock, twice. One was a Standardbred filly who locked terrible bad, even cantering, and I believe she did eventually get the operation. The other was a young Arab gelding who locked mildly, vet had me riding him up and down hills. He went on to be a capable team penning horse, I believe, and did not require surgery. Not sure what "twisting of the limb" means. Paws facing outward. Her leg bones are somewhat bowed, and she walks cow-hocked. Always has. PL is also genetic in some cats- its inherited. The jump and subsequent injury may have just aggravated or exacerbated a preexisting condition. I believe her "deformed" leg structure is why her kneecaps can pop out of position. How long has this been happening? Phil |
#5
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Exercise and luxating patellas question
Suddenly, without warning, Phil P. exclaimed (8/11/2008 5:25 PM):
"jmc" wrote in message ... Vet didn't give a grade. She was originally diagnosed in England, circa, oh, 2003 or so. I'd say Grade 1, perhaps 1.5. It doesn't stick much - in fact hasn't in months that I've seen. When it does, she does limp, and comes to me - I can pick up that leg in such a way as to pop it back, then she walks off sound. However, when diagnosed (she landed badly from a jump, necessitating a vet visit), vet commented that it was easy for her to pop 'em out. I know that rest is indicated if she's had an "episode", what I'm asking about is essentially "maintenance". You might to try to keep her from jumping down - if that's possible) to reduce the risks of an episode- and probably try to limit (as if that's even possible) her activity for a few days after an episode. With horses, exercise is indicated to strengthen the muscles and tendons that help hold the kneecap in the proper position. I've cared for horses with stifle lock, twice. One was a Standardbred filly who locked terrible bad, even cantering, and I believe she did eventually get the operation. The other was a young Arab gelding who locked mildly, vet had me riding him up and down hills. He went on to be a capable team penning horse, I believe, and did not require surgery. Not sure what "twisting of the limb" means. Paws facing outward. Her leg bones are somewhat bowed, and she walks cow-hocked. Always has. PL is also genetic in some cats- its inherited. The jump and subsequent injury may have just aggravated or exacerbated a preexisting condition. I believe her "deformed" leg structure is why her kneecaps can pop out of position. How long has this been happening? Phil She's been bowlegged/cowhocked her whole life. Her hind paws do point outwards. What is PL? Did you mean LP? She was diagnosed with luxating patellas in 2004, I think, when she was about 8. It's been quite some time since she last came up lame, and asked me to fix it, and that was in our single-story home. Yea, keeping her from jumping around is an exercise in futility. We're on 3 stories now, and no way to block her from any of them. I tried buying her a spiral tree to replace the one she has to jump in to, but she won't use it at all jmc |
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