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- Aug 21, 2013
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Background info: I am currently fostering a mother cat and her three kittens. I was present during the entire birthing process and when the second kitten came out, I noticed her placenta was already gone! I know momma cat did not eat it up immediately after her birth, because I actually had to assist in the delivery of this kitten. The only thing I can think of is that the placenta was delivered before the kitten and momma ate it then or that the placenta was detached internally and came out with the next kitten. The placenta was not retained, as I took the momma and the litter to the vet the day after delivery, because I was concerned about the lack of finding the placenta. The vet gave momma cat a shot of oxytocin, just in case, but nothing was produced. This was 9 weeks ago, so I am pretty sure that a retained placenta would have caused complications by now.
The kitten was born pretty much lifeless, but I was able to revive her with the "throw" and massage method. (Throwing her was not actually throwing, it is where you cup the kitten in your hands, belly down, and make a gentle, throwing motion to expel any membranes/fluid). She cried and was nursing within 10 minutes. The only thing notable about her younger weeks was that she always had her hind legs crossed. They were not twisted in any way, just crossed. I helped keep them uncrossed by adding a small, rolled up, piece of felt between them. This was necessary, due to her favorite teat being on the top row, and her mother only nursed laying on one side. Kind of hard to reach the top teat if your legs are crossed. Eventually, this sorted itself out.
Current issue: This same kitten, 9 weeks old now, walks odd. She has been to the vet, who thinks she has a mild case of hip dysplasia, but won't subject her to an x-ray until she is at least 16 weeks, because she is not having problems and because it may resolve on its own . And she doesn't. She can hop, jump, roll, do the cute sideways-stomp, and run. It is just that her gait is odd, almost like she is a bit bow-legged. And her hind end is more toward the ground than her front end, like an ever-slight crouch. She has no spinal issues or scoliosis, per vet.
Has anyone else seen anything similar? I am hesitant to adopt her out at 12 weeks with just a tentative diagnosis of very mild hip dysplasia. I know I can always make a re-visit to the vet (she will need her next round of vaccines at 12 weeks, so we will be going anyway) and request an x-ray then, but there is no guarantee that the x-ray will show such a mild case, and it doesn't seem to affect her at all. She just walks funny. I'm more worried about long-term implications.
I will post a picture or a video as soon as feasible.
Thanks in advance
The kitten was born pretty much lifeless, but I was able to revive her with the "throw" and massage method. (Throwing her was not actually throwing, it is where you cup the kitten in your hands, belly down, and make a gentle, throwing motion to expel any membranes/fluid). She cried and was nursing within 10 minutes. The only thing notable about her younger weeks was that she always had her hind legs crossed. They were not twisted in any way, just crossed. I helped keep them uncrossed by adding a small, rolled up, piece of felt between them. This was necessary, due to her favorite teat being on the top row, and her mother only nursed laying on one side. Kind of hard to reach the top teat if your legs are crossed. Eventually, this sorted itself out.
Current issue: This same kitten, 9 weeks old now, walks odd. She has been to the vet, who thinks she has a mild case of hip dysplasia, but won't subject her to an x-ray until she is at least 16 weeks, because she is not having problems and because it may resolve on its own . And she doesn't. She can hop, jump, roll, do the cute sideways-stomp, and run. It is just that her gait is odd, almost like she is a bit bow-legged. And her hind end is more toward the ground than her front end, like an ever-slight crouch. She has no spinal issues or scoliosis, per vet.
Has anyone else seen anything similar? I am hesitant to adopt her out at 12 weeks with just a tentative diagnosis of very mild hip dysplasia. I know I can always make a re-visit to the vet (she will need her next round of vaccines at 12 weeks, so we will be going anyway) and request an x-ray then, but there is no guarantee that the x-ray will show such a mild case, and it doesn't seem to affect her at all. She just walks funny. I'm more worried about long-term implications.
I will post a picture or a video as soon as feasible.
Thanks in advance