Pet of the month for April goes to this stunning girl, Cassie!
Cassie came to visit us at the clinic as she limping on and off, she had previously been seen at WAVES emergency who diagnosed her with a luxating Patella of her left hind leg.
Dr Raj assessed Cassie and confirmed that her left patella was easily falling out of the kneecap. She was sent home with some pain meds and for the owner to consider her going under for x-rays and a patella reconstruction.
The following week her owner did just that, she was put under a full general anaesthetic to have x-rays to see what her stifles and hips look like, as well as to get a better feel of her patella without her being awake.
Patella repairs (specifically for luxating patella’s) are relatively uncommon in cats compared to dogs, as feline patellar luxation is rare. These cases are generally developmental or inherited. Unfortunately, the x-rays also showed that Cassie has bilateral hip dysplasia- often genetic, malformation of both hip joints where a shallow socket (acetabulum) causes chronic instability, pain, and arthritis. We will need to monitor this going forward to make sure we keep her comfortable.
Dr Raj took her into surgery after the x-rays were completed to surgically repair her luxating patella, this involves creating a deeper groove for it to sit in and tightening of the muscles. Everything went very well and she woke up smoothly. She is one week post op now and is recovering at home so well.
Cassie is so lucky to have the wonderful human family she does, who made sure she got the best treatment.