There is nothing more concerning than to find your cat in pain after they have disappeared for a period of time, which in some cases, can be days. It is also alarming to learn that one cause of a dislocated hip can be as a result of rough play by small children which can result in dislocation and other injuries to the cat.
The most common causes of hip dislocation are:
- Falling from a great height
- Being hit by a car or bike
- Being stepped on
- Tail or limb being pulled
- Fighting with another animal
- Having a body part shut in a door (often the tail)
- Congenital disorder (such as hip dysplasia)
The hip is a simple ball and socket joint that has a wide range of movement in all directions and its efficient function is essential to normal hind limb movement. Hip dislocation occurs when the ball joint of your hip (femoral head) pops out of its socket (acetabulum). So how can you diagnose if your cat has dislocated it’s hip? If you do a physical examination by touching or manipulating the area it will be very painful for your cat but it is always best to speak to your local veterinarian. They may even feel a grinding sensation when they manipulate the femur. Your veterinarian may take an X-ray to show the direction of dislocation and whether a fracture has occurred. Unfortunately, if a fracture is present, it may be more difficult to repair the dislocation.
Other symptoms to watch for are:
- Holding limb up or dragging it
- Limited or abnormal movement
- Limping
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Bent limb
- Deformed joint
- Hiding away
Little Luna is a 5yr old British Shorthair who unfortunately was in a cat fight - the veterinarian discovered that she had a dislocated hip and needed surgery. He suggested that we start with an open hip relocation surgery where they cut into the leg and place the femur ball near the socket then stitch and bind the leg. The next step would be to perform a Femoral Head Ostectomy where they cut the ball of the femur off and leave it for form fibrous tissue which will anchor the femur to the socket. A few surgeries later and a mixture of medication and hip supplements, like the GudFur Cat Hip and Joint Supplement, our little Luna was back to her active self. It took a while and we had to make sure the kids were extra gentle with her but within a year she was back to her fearless self. The one thing that we discovered is how important it is to have good pet insurance and how supplements, alongside medication, helped in her recovery process. - Mrs Madsen Sidcup UK
Veterinarian bills can be very expensive especially when dealing with a cat who has a dislocated hip.
We would love to hear your stories about your cat so please leave a comment below.