palmigrade stance in a non-diabetic cat

[Guest guest]

This is a 14 year-old F/S indoor-only DSH who presented to me in January. She is

a cat who has been very shy all her life and generally spent her time in the

house away from the owners so they rarely saw her. In October 2010 she started

spending more time with them and at that time they noticed she was completely

dropped in both carpi, lost significant weight (14.8# in 5/2009 and 7.4# in

1/2011) and has a very mature catercact in one eye. Bloodwork and urinalysis

showed she was not diabetic but was hyperthyroid. Her thyroid is now under

control and her weight is improving. She is limping more in the left right now.

I was wondering if ayone has seen this kind of carpal hyperextension but no

changes to the hind limbs. My best differential at this point is that she

injured her self jumping down from something while she was in hiding and it is

unrelated to her other problems.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

---April K. Muse, DVM

[Guest guest]

April – Have you x-rayed the carpi? Is she de-clawed? I had a cat with bilateral carpal hyperextension and my research showed up quite a few other cases – all declawed. There were a couple of theories… damage during surgery to the digital flexor tendons vs. ‘scraping’ distal P2 during surgery causing new bone formation at this site. I believe this is the classic declawed ‘big cat’ problem seen in zoos? By removing P3, the entire forelimb dynamics are changed and the distal limb ‘collapses’ under the weight? X-rays of my kitty showed new bone formation on the distal end of every P2 – severe enough that it felt like ‘claws’ through the digital pads. I was more of the line of thought that he had ‘rocked’ backwards off the tips due to pain (I got him at 14 years already like this and the owner had not noticed anything amiss!) I am on the look out for cases in the UK (we don’t declaw here), then I’d have to re-think! I’m interested to hear other theories. -Abi Abi BSc MA VetMB CCRP(pend) MRCVSThe Annexe, 44 Mill Lane, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5NQt. 07712 165047 f. 01638 724084rehabvet@...www.timbersvetrehab.comRegistered in England and Wales no. 07495688

[Guest guest]

I have not x-rayed. The cat is having multiple problems and actually the owner

just called feeling liek the cat is dying. I was going to call and talk with her

about options but it looks like at this time we are just going to be seeing what

we can do to either limp her through her systemic problems or she may be close

to euthanasia (not becuase of the carpi).

Thanks for the input. Out of professional curiosity, I would love to hear

further information from anyone who has it but it may not be pertinent to this

patient shortly.

---April

>

> April -

>

>

>

> Have you x-rayed the carpi? Is she de-clawed?

>

>

>

> I had a cat with bilateral carpal hyperextension and my research showed up

> quite a few other cases - all declawed. There were a couple of theories.

> damage during surgery to the digital flexor tendons vs. 'scraping' distal P2

> during surgery causing new bone formation at this site. I believe this is

> the classic declawed 'big cat' problem seen in zoos? By removing P3, the

> entire forelimb dynamics are changed and the distal limb 'collapses' under

> the weight?

>

>

>

> X-rays of my kitty showed new bone formation on the distal end of every P2 -

> severe enough that it felt like 'claws' through the digital pads. I was more

> of the line of thought that he had 'rocked' backwards off the tips due to

> pain (I got him at 14 years already like this and the owner had not noticed

> anything amiss!)

>

>

>

> I am on the look out for cases in the UK (we don't declaw here), then I'd

> have to re-think! I'm interested to hear other theories.

>

>

>

> -Abi

>

>

>

>

>

> Ltd logo for e-mail

>

> Abi BSc MA VetMB CCRP(pend) MRCVS

>

> The Annexe, 44 Mill Lane, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5NQ

>

> t. 07712 165047 f. 01638 724084

>

> rehabvet@...

>

> <http://www.timbersvetrehab.com/> www.timbersvetrehab.com

>

> Registered in England and Wales no. 07495688

>