Agenesis in domestic cats

Diagnostic retrospective study in hcv-ufpel

Abstract

The hemimelia or agenesis is an anomaly characterized by partial or complete absence of one
or more bones, and is considered a rare occurrence in feline veterinary clinic. In this sense,
the study aims to report the occurrence of hemimelia in cats treated at the Veterinary Clinical
Hospital (HCV-UFPel) in the last ten years. The present study includes nine cats, belonging to
three different litters, which were referred to clinical and radiological service between the
years 2003 and 2013. The animals had deformities at the end of the forelimbs, and these
malformations were observed from birth. Radiographic examination revealed total or partial
absence of radius with varying degrees of curvature of the ulna. Among available treatment
options, owners opted out of surgical procedures, performing thus conservative therapy
administration. With the obtained results, it was concluded that feline bone agenesis is not so
rare in our region. In addition, early diagnosis, owner guidance and appropriate therapeutic
institution can improve the prognosis and life quality of affected animals.