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Musculoskeletal System
Musculoskeletal
Although dogs and cats walk on four legs, their anatomy is very similar to people. The musculoskeletal system allows your pet to move around in their environment. Abnormalities of this system are often associated with injury.
- Cranial cruciate ligament rupture and fractures represent the majority of musculoskeletal problems.
- Congenital defects commonly affect bone and/or cartilage development, such as elbow and hip dysplasias and patella luxation.
- Infectious diseases of the skeletal system include tick borne diseases such as: Borreliosis (Lyme’s disease), other Rickettsial infections, and systemic fungal infections (e.g.: Blastomycosis).
- Osteoarthritis develops in unstable joints over time.
- Metabolic and nutritional disorders, such as kidney failure, can weaken bones.
- Cancers commonly affecting the bone include: osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and metastatic disease (spread of cancer).
Musculoskeletal abnormalities are more common in dogs than cats. Surgical intervention may be needed in some cases of musculoskeletal disease. Recovery from musculoskeletal disease or injury often requires a combination of pain management, exercise restriction, rehabilitatitive care, weight management, and nutritional supplements.
Elbow
Elbow
Cats bear 60% of their body weight in their front limbs, thus elbow health is essential. Injuries to the elbow joint often result in arthritis in your cat’s later years. Cats are masters at hiding pain; they may not show obvious symptoms. Some cats will sleep more often (appear to be lazy), show reluctance to jump up and down, or excessively groom the affected limb. A healthy body weight is the best insurance to minimize joint inflammation in your pet’s later years. Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, physical therapy, and/or surgery may be recommended by your veterinarian to keep your cat’s elbow joints strong and mobile.
Femur
Femur
The femur bone spans the distance between the hip and stifle (knee) joints. Large muscle groups attach to the femur to allow flexion and extension of the rear limb. The top of the femur forms the ball in the ball and socket hip joint, while the bottom of the femur articulates with the tibia in the knee joint. Problems associated with the femur occur from developmental abnormalities (e.g.: hip dysplasia), fractures, dislocation of the femur from the hip joint, bone infections (e.g.: Blastomycosis), and tumors (e.g.: osteosarcoma). Pets with mild femur pain may favor the affected leg, be slow to rise, and become exercise intolerant. Significant femur pain (e.g.: traumatic or pathologic fracture) appears as swelling and non-weight bearing lameness on the affected limb.
Fracture
Fractures in dogs and cats often result from trauma such as being hit by a car. Bones may also fracture due to disease (e.g.: infection, cancer). The most common bones to fracture from trauma are the pelvis and the long bones of the limbs: humerus, femur. Pets with fractures favor the limb and may not bear weight on it. Fractures are suspected when there is loss of weight bearing, swelling, bruising, and pain. Diagnosis of a fracture requires a physical examination and x-rays of the affected area. Due to limb shape and patient size/tolerance, most fractures in dogs and cats are repaired surgically, not with cast placement. Surgical repair of fractures involves the use of screws, pins, and/or plates to return the bone to it normal position, allow healing, and return to function. Complications of surgical repair are uncommon and often relate to a patient that is too active during the healing process. Post operative care requires rest to allow the bone to heal properly; excessive activity delays healing. Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up visits to take x-rays and monitor the progress of the healing process. Once the fracture has healed, your pet’s activity level can be gradually increased back to normal.
Hips
Hips
The pelvis is composed of 4 bones (ilium, ischium, pubis, and sacrum) that form a box to connect the spine to both of the hind limbs at the hip joints. The pelvic box surrounds and protects portions of the intestinal, urinary, and reproductive tracts. Common problems with the pelvis include fractures from trauma and arthritis. Due to the box-like nature of the pelvis, fractures tend to be multiple and concomitant injury to the internal organs may occur. Cats with hip pain may rise more slowly or limp; many cats will appear lazy, preferring to sleep. A healthy body weight is the best insurance to minimize joint inflammation in your cat’s later years. Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, physical therapy, and/or surgery may be recommended by your veterinarian to keep the hip joints strong and mobile.
Knee
Knee
Your cat loves to chase balls around and play…healthy stifle (knee) joints help ensure that these fun activities can continue throughout your cat’s life. Stifle injuries, such as cranial cruciate ligament tears, occur more commonly in overweight cats during play activity. Cats with stifle pain either hold up the affected leg or they may partially bear weight on it. A healthy body weight is the best insurance to minimize joint inflammation in your cat’s later years. Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, physical therapy, and/or surgery may be recommended to keep the stifle joints strong and mobile so your cat can keep chasing balls into the golden years.
Shoulder
Shoulder
Cats bear 60% of their body weight in their front limbs; thus, shoulder health is essential. The shoulder connects the front limbs to the trunk and provides support for the front half of the body. Disruption of the normal gliding of the shoulder joint results in pain. Without intervention, arthritis settles in the joint. Shoulder pain may not be obvious in stoic cats; other cats may limp on the affected leg. A healthy body weight is the best insurance to minimize joint inflammation in your cat’s shoulders. Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, physical therapy and/or surgery may be recommended by your veterinarian to keep the shoulder joints strong and mobile.
Skull
Skull
The skull, containing numerous fused bones, gives shape to your dog’s head, facilitates jaw movement, and envelops the fragile brain to offer protection from trauma. Skull injuries commonly occur from head trauma resulting in fractures, brain injury, and bleeding.
Periodontal Disease
Does your cat have bad breath? The odor that you smell is caused by an infection in your cat’s mouth. The most common cause of infection in your cat’s mouth is periodontal disease, which affects the majority of cat’s over 2 years of age. Of the cats affected by periodontal disease, half of them will develop painful resorptive lesions. Resorptive lesions cause destruction of the tooth below the gum line, hidden from view. Cats with periodontal disease may not show obvious signs of discomfort; they hide their pain well. Some cats may have foul smelling breath, chatter their teeth, and/or drop their food. Diagnosis of periodontal disease is made by close inspection of the oral cavity. Treatment of this progressive disease requires general anesthesia to clean and treat diseased teeth. After cleaning, all of the teeth need to be x-rayed so that hidden, painful resorptive lesions are not missed. Most teeth affected by resorption need to be extracted to remove the source of pain. Left untreated, periodontal disease causes chronic pain and infection. The oral infection can spread beyond the oral cavity to involve distant organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart. Cats need their teeth cleaned regularly just as people do. Home dental care and regular cleanings help maintain oral health.
Resorptive Lesions
Does your cat have bad breath? The odor that you smell is caused by an infection in your cat’s mouth. The most common cause of infection in your cat’s mouth is periodontal disease, which affects the majority of cat’s over 2 years of age. Of the cats affected by periodontal disease, half of them will develop painful resorptive lesions. Resorptive lesions cause destruction of the tooth below the gum line, hidden from view. Cats with periodontal disease may not show obvious signs of discomfort; they hide their pain well. Some cats may have foul smelling breath, chatter their teeth, and/or drop their food. Diagnosis of periodontal disease is made by close inspection of the oral cavity. Treatment of this progressive disease requires general anesthesia to clean and treat diseased teeth. After cleaning, all of the teeth need to be x-rayed so that hidden, painful resorptive lesions are not missed. Most teeth affected by resorption need to be extracted to remove the source of pain. Left untreated, periodontal disease causes chronic pain and infection. The oral infection can spread beyond the oral cavity to involve distant organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart. Cats need their teeth cleaned regularly just as people do. Home dental care and regular cleanings help maintain oral health.
Vertebrae
Vertebrae
Just as the skull protects the brain, the bony spine protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord passes through multiple vertebrae to provide a neurologic highway that connects the brain to the rest of the body. Muscles intimately attach to the spine and allow movement and activity. Disorders of the spinal column may interfere with the bony structures of the spinal column (e.g.: arthritis), the muscles that attach to it (e.g.: trauma), or the nerves that pass through (e.g.: intervertebral disc disease or a “slipped disc”). Symptoms of spinal injury include: pain along the spine, weakness, inability to walk or stand, and restlessness. Spinal injury requires immediate veterinary attention.
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