Skeleton Diseases in Cats

Skeleton diseases in cats can severely cripple yourthey are very uncommon. Siamese cats may be
pet, limit their muscular movements, inhibit theaffected by a genetic defect in their metabolism that
production of red blood cells, and also inhibit the abilitycan cause both a broad flat face and lameness in
of your cat to store fat. There are several causes oftheir hind legs.
this disease in your pet but by far and away theOsteomyelitis disorders are inflammations of the bone
largest group of causes will be from a nutritionalthat is caused by a bacterial infection, but some fungi
deficiency.can also cause infections.
Your cat's skeletal design is quite similar to that of aThese infections reach your cats bones by traveling
human but with two very distinctive differences;through the bloodstream or by spreading form
your cat's spine contains several more bones than anearby tissue that have become infected. Bacterial
human spine, primarily to support their tail, and theirinfections are also rare, but when they do occur they
vertebrae are not as tightly connected, which makesprimarily affect the legs and the spine of your pet.
it much more flexible than human vertebrae. TheyNutritional disorders are by far and away the biggest
also have no collarbone.threat for skeleton diseases in cats and the most
These features are what enable your cat to archcommon form is Rickets. Calcium, phosphorus, and
their back the way they do and to maneuver intoVitamin D are critical to your pet's skeleton as well as
very small spots by twisting their body in uniquetheir bones. Calcium and phosphorus must be in a
angles. It is made up of bones in the limbs, skull,balance in your cat's skeleton to function properly.
spine, ribs and the sternum. It also has bones thatCats are generally not deficient of phosphorus but
help to form certain organs, such as the ear.they are almost always deficient of calcium which is
These bones will vary in size depending on the breedessential in maintaining both the cortical bones as well
of your cat. But whatever the size of the cat is, theas the cancellous bones. It also plays an extremely
skeleton and the bones that make it up areimportant role in maintaining the muscle structure in
absolutely critical to the overall health of your cat.your cat.
These bones serve several important functions inVitamin D activates and controls both calcium and
their body.phosphorus in your pet. If the blood levels of these
They support the body and give it strength andminerals become too low, your cat's body produces a
durability, as well as servicing every level of theirhormone that causes both to be released from the
muscular actions. Bones also serve as a storage unitbones. When this happens, the bones become soft
for several important elements with the most criticaland as a result, your cat develops Rickets.
being calcium and phosphorus. In a healthy and wellRickets can cause lameness, primarily in your pets
nourished cat bones also store fat in their systemback legs, as well as deformed bones that can very
and they can pull from the bones in emergencyeasily become fractured. This disease is most
situations.common in younger cats that are fed an all meat
But perhaps the most important function of thediet. Calcium should be supplemented in 500mg doses
skeleton and bones is in production of red blood cellsfor every 1000 mg of meat that is fed.
as well as several different white blood cells. WithoutThe best form of Vitamin D supplement will be one
this function, your cat will not survive. There aredaily recommended dose of a liquid capsule or from
approximately 250 bones in the average cat.one teaspoon full of cod liver oil in your cat's food.
Each of these bones contains several layers of tissue.Cod liver oil is an excellent source of Vitamin D,
The outside of your cat's bones are covered with aespecially if your cat in an indoor cat, as exposure to
fiber like membrane that is very rich in small bloodsunlight is also a very good source of Vitamin D.
vessels called capillaries which nourish your pet'sIf your cat has any type of kidney disease, it will also
bones. The very firm dense outer layer of the boneaffect their skeleton as it depletes both the supply
is called the cortical bone which makes up over 80of phosphors and Vitamin D.
percent of your cats skeleton and handles most ofThere is one other potential nutritional disorder that
their weight.can affect your cat's skeleton. If you feed your pet
The inner part of the bone is called the cancellousa diet that is almost all liver and milk based this will
bone and has a very spongy like structure almostcause an excessive amount of Vitamin A to enter
resembling a honeycomb. It makes up the remaininginto your cat's skeleton and spread to their bones. An
20 percent and it is this bone mass that gives theexcessive of Vitamin A will have the exact same
skeleton its strength.result as a deficiency of
Your cat's bones also contain marrow, which is aVitamin D.
yellow color in the areas of your cat made of mostlySummary:
all fat, and red in the areas where their red and whiteSkeleton diseases in cats can also inhibit your pet's
blood cells are produced. These bones and theability to produce red blood cells which can lead to
skeleton operate at full capacity until they areanemia. Acute anemia can very quickly take your
attacked by a disease. There are three distinctivepets life. If you keep the proper ratio of Calcium to
types of diseases or disorders that will attack yourphosphorus in your cat to 1.2:1.0, and give them one
cat: Congenital, Osteomyelitis, and Nutritional.teaspoon of cod liver oil daily, it could prevent any
Types of Disease or Disorder:problems of your cat ever developing this type of
Congenital diseases or disorders can occur in cats butdisease.