Page 997 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

45 – THE CAT WITH LAMENESS 989

Diagnosis Pathogenesis

Constellation of clinical signs suggests the diagnosis. Inherited disorder of fold-ear cats.
Radiographs show dysplastic femoral heads and necks Get shortening of the coccygeal vertebrae, metacarpal
and subluxated hip joints. and metatarsal bones and phalanges.

Excessive granulation of neutrophils, and vacuolation They may develop periarticular exostoses and joint
of lymphocytes are suggestive. ankylosis.
Positive urine toluidine test for sulfated beta glycos-
aminoglycans is consistent with diagnosis. PECTUS EXCAVATUM
Definitive diagnosis is via enzyme assays of leukocytes
Classical signs
and skin fibroblasts to demonstrate deficient beta glu-
curonidase activity. ● A congenital disorder characterized by
dorso-ventral flattening of the thorax.
● Kittens and cats show variations in
OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA
respiratory and cardiovascular
abnormalities.
Classical signs
● Also associated with lateral limb deviation.
● A defect in osteogenesis results in multiple
spontaneous fractures. Clinical signs
● Present with multiple sites of bony pain
due to fractures, or unwilling to ambulate. A deformity of the sternal and costal cartilages result-
● Lameness generally of young cats. ing in narrowing of the thorax.
Occurs as a congenital abnormality of cats, with the
Clinical signs specific cause unknown.
A heritable disease with failure of osteoprogenitor cells Can be associated with the so-called “wimmer’s”syn-
to develop into mature osteoblasts. drome, in which there is lateral deviation of the limbs
and impaired ambulation.
Results in bones that are very brittle and fracture
spontaneously. Kittens and young mature cats < 1 year of age may
show respiratory and cardiovascular abnormalities
Spontaneous fractures can occur in any bones, although
associated with flattening of the thorax.
the long bones are more commonly affected.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Based on clinical signs and radiographic findings of
Radiographically the cortical bone is very osteopenic, dorso-ventral flattening of thorax and lateral deviation
with multiple fractures present. of limbs.

SCOTTISH FOLD SPINA BIFIDA
OSTEOCHONDRODYSPLASIA
Classical signs
Classical signs
● Congenital disorder caused by a closure
● Disease affecting cats with at least one
defect of the vertebral arches.
fold-eared parent. ● Inherited with the gene for taillessness in
● Lameness generally occurs at 5–6 months
Manx cats.
of age.
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