Question:
We just found out this a.m. our vet is 90% certain our two year-old cat Skyler has leg calf perthes, a very rare condition.

He's seeing a specialist on Thursday and has pain meds. He's in a lot of pain right now and largely and suddenly immobile.

He'll probably have an operation immediately with a long convalescence.

Does anyone have any links for "leg calf perthes" for cats? We'd like to read up on it.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

Answer:
I don't have any info for you, but I wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear this. I hope everything goes well.

Answer:
Aww Rick,I am sorry,this is not the kitty with no feet,is it???
I am sure someone will come up with a site for you,or maybe just Google,leg calf perthes
I have never heard of this,but I am sure you'll do everything you can to help him feel better

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I also have never heard of it. Did the vet give you any info at all?

Chico, it's not the one with the amputated feetsies (that's Polly).

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I've never heard of this in a cat. It's a toy breed disease (toy poodles, etc). It also occurs in young humans.

If you want to search on it, it's written like this:
Legg-Calves-Perthes or Legg-Perthes

You can also search under "Avascular necrosis of the femoral head".

Good luck with your kitty.

Answer:
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is something more common to dogs and can occur in humans as well it is a bone disease that affects the femur head the top of the leg bone that sits in the hip socket http://www.dogstuff.info/legg_calve_...s_lanting.html

This article does mention that it can occur as a result of trauma which would explain why is is occuring in a cat
http://siriusdog.com/articles/calve-...isease-dog.htm
and surgery similiar to the type done for smaller breed with hip dysplasia, the top of the femur is cut off, so it is no longer sitting and grinding away inside the hip socket which takes away the pain and the upper thigh muscles will become overdeveloped to support the leg, the surgery is usually quite successful for smaller breeds.
You would probably be sent to an orthopedic surgeon and extra xrays may likely be done to confirm before surgery

Answer:
Skyler is the son of Polly, our two-footed rescue. Skyler is, by association, also a rescue, arriving here with Polly and five siblings scarcely a few weeks old . . . . he was the only kitten to stay with us in the end.

We'll be seeing the specialist in Calgary on Thursday morning . . . they've already got his x-rays.

Skyler is an indoor cat and hasn't had any trauma, although he injured himself with a hasty but bad jump about six months ago.

On another board where I posted this, another answer was:

. . . .and while there's debate whether this is true Legg-calf-Perthes, the result's the same. Apparently, the vet world is tying this condition to early neuter (6 months or younger) whereby the hormonal levels don't allow certain bones to close properly, making them prone to fractures and fissures.

Could be. Either way, looks like Skyler will go under the knife and hopefully come out the other side healthy.

http://www.goldentales.ca/07770157_edited-1.jpg

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

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Good luck to Skyler I am sure he'll be fine,with a brave mom like Polly!!

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FYI - Skyler had his operation on both hips a few days ago . . . . . back at home.

This is what he had done:

http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/fho.htm

Full recovery is eight weeks. Stitches out in seven to ten days. He's isolated in a room but with a baby gate . . . . . he was running over to the gate to see Abby & Keeper yesterday, a little freakish to see given the equipment he lost only the day before.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

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I'm glad to hear he is home safe with you. I read the link you posted, it looks very interesting. I'm glad medicine has come so far that it's able to help like this.

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Great news,good boy Skyler
I hope he's not too energetic,it must be really difficult to keep a cat/dog down if they want to get up and go.
As you know,any kitty/dog having had such an experience,deserves a pic on the Forum

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Glad to hear Skyler is recovering well from his operation. Hope everything continues to go well.

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Those kitties (and doggies) certainly lucked out finding a home with you, Rick. I'm sure it wasn't cheap and you make no mention of the cost anywhere. Kudos to you.

I hope the recovery goes smoothly.

(Great site by the way- neat stuff on there.)

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So true Prin

Wishing Skyler an easy recovery

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Originally Posted by Prin
Those kitties (and doggies) certainly lucked out finding a home with you, Rick. I'm sure it wasn't cheap and you make no mention of the cost anywhere. Kudos to you.

About $3,000 . . . . . it wasn't a factor in the decision. We're fortunate that way.

As you know,any kitty/dog having had such an experience,deserves a pic on the Forum

The picture posting icon isn't appearing for me in this thread!!

Skyler in a pot at this link:

http://www.goldentales.ca/08090087_edited-1.jpg

I have some post-operation pics but my download port on my camera is on the fritz so I have to go get a CD.

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

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