Accepted Answer

Hello again, Sonia,

I've already sent you a complete answer, which I hope you were able to view; if not, I'm copying it for you, here:

With dislocations such as this, if the hip can be relocated into place, within 3 days, under anesthesia, this is most desirable. Here is more information re: dislocated hip in cats and treatments, from: http://www.mypetspages.com/petinfo/feline/care%20of%20cats%20post%20hip%20dis.php

"Examination by your veterinary surgeon will reveal discomfort or pain on manipulation of the hip joint. In addition to this there may be a grinding sensation felt by your veterinarian when the hip is moved. A comparison of the lengths of both hind limbs will reveal that the affected limb is apparently shorter. The diagnosis will be confirmed when an X-ray is taken, this will establish that the hip is indeed dislocated and which direction it is dislocated in. An X-ray will also reveal if a fracture has occurred in this area that may make replacement of the hip joint more difficult. It must be borne in mind that your cat may have more serious life threatening injuries that will have to be treated before your veterinarian will even consider dealing with the dislocated hip.

What is the best treatment for a dislocated hip?

In most cases of hip dislocation it is desirable to replace the ball in the socket. The only time when it may be reasonable not to do this is if your cat has some other illness or there are factors which make it a very poor anesthetic risk. In these cases, where the hip is left dislocated, a "false joint" will form which has some useful function to the cat. In many cases of hip dislocation it is possible to replace the ball in the socket by manipulation under anesthesia (closed reduction), this is more likely to be the case if very little time has passed since the hip became dislocated (i.e. less than 3 days). If this is possible your cat may be put in a special bandage to prevent the hip from redislocating, this bandage will remain in place for 4-14 days. Some cats will not tolerate this bandage very well. A close eye must be kept on this bandage to ensure that it is not too tight and is not causing damage to the cat's leg.

In some cases of hip dislocation it will either not be possible to replace the ball in the socket or the ball will keep slipping out of the socket. In these cases an operation is indicated to firmly secure the ball in the socket. Most of these procedures involve the use of stainless steel pins and/or suture material. Some of these procedures will necessitate the removal of some or all of the pins at a later date. The actual choice of which procedure is performed is often related to the preference of your veterinary surgeon.

If it has been possible to manipulate the ball back into the socket your cat will, in most cases, be prescribed a short course of painkillers to be administered by mouth. In addition to this, your cat will have to be confined indoors. This will usually involve either confining your cat to one room in the house or in some cases confining your cat to a very small enclosed area such as a large cage. Your cat will have to be confined in this way for around 3-4 weeks before it is safe to let your cat venture outdoors again. As stated, your cat may have a bandage on the affected leg which should be carefully inspected daily to make sure that there are no problems with it.

In cases that have had an operation, painkillers and antibiotics will normally be given. It will again be necessary to confine your cat as directed by your veterinary surgeon. This will again be for a period of 3-4 weeks. At this point it may be necessary to have a second operation to remove any pins that have been used in the repair."

Since it's been so many days, surgery may be the only way to relocate the hip, and ensure that it heals properly, so your cat can walk as normally as possible. If you are not happy with your vet's diagnosis/treatment of this situation, I would strongly encourage you to have your cat evaluated by another well-recommended local (feline only, if possible) vet, and/or a veterinary orthopedic specialist.

I hope all will be well with your cat.

Cher

Edited by Jessesmom on 5/6/2008 at 2:36 PM

Expert:	Jessesmom
Pos. Feedback:	99.7 %
Accepts:
Answered:	5/6/2008

Feline Specialist Health/Behavior

Feline Healthcare and Behavior Specialist 40+ years Experience