12/02/2023
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Just like people, animal can exhibit scoliosis - even house pets. Most cats who have scoliosis are born with the condition.
While incredibly rare, cats can suffer from scoliosis. Usually, this condition is congenital, meaning a cat is born with it, so if your pet has scoliosis, you most likely already know about it. However, in some cases, it can also be caused by trauma. Hereโs what to know if you think your cat has scoliosis to ensure they are comfortable and well cared for.
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Scoliosis is an abnormal position or curving of the spine. Extreme cases of trauma can cause scoliosis, but itโs most likely a condition your pet wouldโve been born with. This is a type of deformity of his spine. If you look at Kitty's spine from the top down, his spine should be straight from his neck to his tail. If it curves to one side or the other, this lateral deformity is referred to as scoliosis. It can be mild, which you probably won't even notice by looking at him, to severe and obvious. It occurs when one of his vertebrae didn't develop all the way, called a hemivertebrae.
Catโs spine has 30 vertebrae, which is five more than you do. Between each of his vertebrae, he has a thick disk of cartilage that functions as a shock absorber. His shoulder blades allow for movement in most directions. Unlike your collarbone, which is anchored and restricts movement, Kitty's is floating. This means it is flexible enough to allow him to fit into tight spaces. This flexible spine is part of what makes your feline pal so agile, allowing him to race up a tree with ease, jump to high places and almost always land on his feet.
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Malformed hemivertebrae can cause two other forms of spinal deformation. If Kitty's spine resembles the Hunchback of Notre Dame's, it is referred to as kyphosis. If he's spine sags and makes a โUโ shape, this deformity is called lordosis. Kyphosis and lordosis can occur at the same time as scoliosis.
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The cause of a malformed spine is most likely genetic, meaning he inherited the disorder from his mom or dad. It could also be because of a genetic mutation that occurred while he was in the womb, possibly because his mother was malnourished or exposed to toxins that caused birth defects while she was pregnant. Since it is genetic and he could pass it on to any of his kittens, you should get him neutered as soon as he's old enough.
๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ญ๐บ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ข๐ญ ๐ค๐ถ๐ณ๐ท๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ญ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆ:โข Irregular shaped vertebrae
โข Ligament abnormalities, leading to bending and instability
โข Insufficient muscle support around the vertebrae
When the spine curves in a cat with scoliosis, spinal cord compression can occur. Just like in intervertebral disk disease, when the spinal cord is compressed, pain and neurologic signs can occur. Cats with scoliosis may have back pain, particularly around the curve of the spine, and they may also have neurologic deficits in their hind or front legs (or both).
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ
Luckily, scoliosis is rare, and it often doesnโt cause any trouble when itโs present. If you think your pet has a spine thatโs curvier than normal, but doesnโt have associated pain, you should talk to your vet at your petโs next appointment. But if you begin to notice back pain or changes in how they walk, you should contact your vet immediately.
There are many types of scoliosis in cats. Diagnosis is easily made by taking an X-ray of your cat. The atypical curvature of the spine can be seen right away.
Diagnosing neurologic involvement is a bit trickier, however, and will usually require more advanced tests, such as injecting contrast material into the spinal column or doing a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI).
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To find out if your cat has a deformed spine, his vet will take X-rays of his back. To find scoliosis, these X-rays will need to be from the top down. If he's looking for kyphosis or lordosis, the X-rays will be taken of his spine from the side. If the deformity is severe, he may need surgery to correct his spinal alignment. A deformed spine can put pressure on his spinal cord, leading to neurological symptoms. In less severe cases, his vet will want to take X-rays a few times a year to make sure the condition hasn't gotten worse. Physical therapy can be useful in helping cat get around easier.
Treatment for cats with scoliosis will depend on how severe the symptoms are. Often, no treatment is needed. Or, if your pet has mild scoliosis, they can be treated with cage rest on days when theyโre sore.
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