Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Orthopedic/Arthritis: Problems associated with joints, bone, and connective tissue, and CH (cerebellar hypoplasia), or brain damage.
blue bends
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Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Hello Everyone,

I just adopted a 10 week old kitten with Radial Hypoplasia. (I also adopted his sibling who does not have RH- all limbs are intact.)
Anyway my RH kitty is great and healthy in many ways...can use the litter box (I cut an opening to make it easier for him to get in and out), healthy appetite, plays with his brother etc.
His fur is getting worn from his elbows and I'm assuming he'll start to get calluses.
I would love to try and bandage and wrap them to try and straighten them out some since his bones are still growing but I can't find a 'how to' or more practical advice on this. I also am wondering about the success rate on doing this and how severe the angle of the 'bends' were in other kittens.
If anyone could give me some advice I would be so grateful!

Thank you,

-holly
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CarolC
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by CarolC »

:welcome:

I sent a message to an expert on this subject, letting her know about your question.
It would probably help if you could post a photo of your kitten, so she will have something to look at when she checks the board. :wub:
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Thank you so much Carol, that is very kind of you. I am new to this board, still trying to figure out how to post pictures. I think I see how to now. I will post one momentarily...thanks again!
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BendyMom
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by BendyMom »

here is a link to a bunch of picts I took of Bendlet and BowTie, they both came with bendy legs. BowTie still has one floppy foot, he doesn't have tendon connections so has "drop foot" making it floppy. the other legs all straightened out fine.

http://bendykitty.fototime.com/Bendlet%20and%20BowTie

And, of course, there is my one and only Bendy Cute Kitty
http://www.alittletlc.com/Bendypage.html

the key to keeping the braces on was to make "stirrups" you cut 2 long thin pieces of first aid tape, and put them on either side of the leg, wrap the soft gauze over them leaving the ends sticking out past their toes. Then, take those loose ends and fold them up against the gauze, you'll twist them to have the stick side by the guaze. This prevents the braces fro slipping. The strap over the shoulders is another big help. that is just two pieces of wide first aide tape stuck together, one longer than the other so it has stcky tabs on teh ends to attach to teh braces, which are then wrapped with another round of tape to hold the tabs in place.

welcome to the wonderful word of bendiness!
http://www.alittletlc.com

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Bendy Kitty
forever in my heart
always missed
i am not the same without you.
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Here's the little guy.
Curly2.jpg
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Curly3.jpg
This one shows the angles a bit more.
He actually is learning to move around pretty well. He can even get a bit of speed going. He also wrestles with his brother, he hops and pounces. The rest of the time he scurries on his elbows.
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Thanks Bendymom!

You don't happen to have any visuals of the wrapping and stirrups procedure do you?
I am definitely going to try this, I am just a more visual person; instructions make more sense to me with pictures. ;)
Thank you so much, this is all so helpful!
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Sorry Bendymom, I see there are some pictures in the links! I will look at them carefully.
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BendyMom
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by BendyMom »

no, unfortunately I do not have any videos, just the picts online.
Wow, your baby has very very bendy legs! You might need to use soemthing for a splint. I went to a craft store and got these little popsicle stick things, that I then had to cut in half for BowTie's and Bendlet's legs. I put a popsicle stick on either side and used two pieces of tape, one top one bottom to secure, then did the stirrups.

If you use first aid tape it will come off much easier than say, sports tape. if you find that it is sticking too much, a litle bit of rubbing alcohol helps to melt the adhesive. I have only had to do that when someone wrapped their lil legs with sports tape.

what a sweetie!
Even if you can't get the legs to correct, you could still make little wraps to protect his legs.

you ARE goign to continue to post picts of thsi lil sweetie as he grows, right?
http://www.alittletlc.com

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Bendy Kitty
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always missed
i am not the same without you.
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

I absolutely will! He is growing so fast and is really such a great kitten with a wonderful spirit. He's a real trooper.
Yeah, I was wondering if his bends are more severe than the people who had luck in correcting their kittens. I'm assuming your little guy's forearms were a little less at an angle?
I really appreciate these responses, it helps so much to speak with others who have been through this and have had some success. I will do anything I can for this little one, if I can somehow make his mobility easier, great! If not I know he will be just fine. He is smart and has a strong will. He is already figuring ways around his differences. Thanks again everyone!
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BendyMom
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by BendyMom »

my guys were not so bent, but it all depends on how flexible it is. theyounger you start bracing, the better your chances.
When I first insisted on bracing Bendy the vet thought I was nuts and said to put him down, I never went back to her. Don't be afraid to advocate for your special kitty, sometimes vets need a kick in the pants. They can learn too! I think a good vet would like a challenge, but then..silly me.
I look forward to seeing your lil guy grow! :)
smoochies on that belly!

in my sig you can see what became Bendy Cute Kitty's most famous pict.
http://www.alittletlc.com

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Bendy Kitty
forever in my heart
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i am not the same without you.
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Bendymom how old was Bendy when you started bracing him?
I live in Brooklyn NY and I just went to a vet that my friend recommended who I think is great. He is super supportive, a huge advocate for all animals and open to all alternatives. However he admitted he doesn't have a lot of experience with RH. He suggested I go for a consultation with an orthopedic vet. I know this is good pragmatic advice but living in a huge city the thought of going to a giant hospital with possible xrays and talk of surgery etc. I know this is just me projecting my fear on the situation but I'd so much rather try a more non-invasive approach first.
I love that pic of Bendy, he looked a lot like a friend of mine's guy who just passed away last November, RIP to Bendy and Vladimir. xx
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BendyMom
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by BendyMom »

Bendy was about six weeks old, maybe five weeks.
honeslty i wouldn't bother with an ortho vet. they can talk to you about very expensive surgery to correct his legs. They can take expensive scans to help with the surgery plans. Think of it this way, if you try bracing and it works.. YAY, if you try bracing and it isn't working at all, you can still go the surgery route.
i know my hind end twisty kids coudl have surgery (if i had tons of money) but i look at them and they are happy and mobile and enjoying life and playing and zooming, surgery is always risky, always, and the recovery is going to be long and painful. i never take anesthesia for granted, i have seen it go wrong in various ways. anesthesia for necessary procedures, no problem, but when i see something that is what i consider nonnecessary....that is different. If his legs aren't painful and you can manage things with bracing or protective wraps, then i don't think a specialist is needed.
my vet did call an ortho vet to look at bendy, somehow managed to do that at very little extra cost. he looked at bendy's legs, his x-rays, his braces and said "keep doing what you are doing."

I'm glad you have a supportive vet. that makes a huge difference! i did find one fortunately :)
i changed bendy's braces every one to two days, massagign his little toes when I did so and lettign him walk a little so i coudl see how he was coming along. once i braced him too tight and his toes got HUGE and i felt awful. so you keep an eye on things like that. I was told 'don't skimp on teh padding' and i woudln't have that problem. they were right. maybe you and your vet can work on bracing designs together? my (good) vet came up with bendy's design and they worked so it is the one i have stuck with. In this kind of thing i go for the conservative route first and see if it works, I am leary of running up lots of bills with fancy tests my end question is "and how will this affect treatment? What will we actually DO differently based on the result?" information is interesting and all but not when it racks up bills and didn't actually change how you were going to treat your furbaby.

hope my rambling answered your question :)
http://www.alittletlc.com

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Bendy Kitty
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i am not the same without you.
blue bends
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by blue bends »

Bendymom,
Any and all advice is so helpful.
And yes, my apprehension of racking up bills for no results is huge. I will bite the bullet and do it because I took on the responsibility of this guy but in this city even a quick consultation is close to $200 and I can't imagine what things will be beyond that.
Curly came my way because a friend rescued a pregnant homeless mother. He had to go away for a few days so I took care of them especially since Curly couldn't nurse properly at first and had to be assisted. I of course then got attached to the family and visited all of them often. When it was time to get the family adopted I couldn't bear to think of Curly alone in a cage in a shelter. I asked the shelter if they could make sure he was adopted with a sibling and understandably they couldn't guarantee it, so I took him in with the sibling best suited for him and I'm so glad I did. The two of them are so great together and his brother really looks out for him and helps him along.
My apprehension now is that, although this vet is supportive, his knowledge of RH is limited which is why he sent me to consult with an orthopedic vet. I understand x-rays will be very useful but beyond that I agree with you about surgery etc. Curly is getting along just fine now, mobile for his condition but the reason I want to try this now of course is I worry about other health issues for his back and elbows as he grows into an adult cat. There is one other vet here in Brooklyn that other friends recommended. I may go see him as well since he may have seen this condition more often. Both these vets help rescued animals so hopefully the chances of one of them coming across this condition are good.
If you wouldn't mind, could you make a comprehensive list of all the materials you used? You spoke of making sure you got the right padding, etc, I am still confused of all the proper materials. I know vet wrap is needed but if you could list all the other materials and brands that you found to be the best that would be incredibly useful.
Thank you in advance!
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BendyMom
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Re: Kitten w/ Radial Hypoplasia: Advice for wrapping limbs?

Post by BendyMom »

your main issues from 'differently mobile' animals is arthritis.
i have two cats who drag their hindlimbs for the mostpart, so they walk on the front legs (and i had one with no hind legs who put all her weight on her forelimbs). I have had some who had short legs in front and much taller legs in back giving them a very slanted appearance, and there is BowTie here now with his floppy foot and his front legs are also way short.
watching their weight to limit wear and tear is a big issue, extra weight on those joints is goign to be a problem. I have arthritis myself, in all my joints, so I am acutely aware of how painful it can be. I a also aware of the benefit of medicines for it.

If YOU feel that it is the righ tthing to see a specialist, then do it. You need to do what feels right for you and makes you comfortable caring for Curly (love the name, now i want to say CurlyFries). The specialists here, at least, always insist that they 'need' this that and the other thing.

None of my vets had any experience with the conditions I brought them. They learned with me, the oen who has been with me longest would do research on her own, reviewed material I would send her that I found, and went to a few conferences about different issues. She told me once I"m her continuing education program. So while NOW it may seem I know what I'm talking about, it was learning the hard way for me and the vets.
a lot I learned here from different people. MessyBeast.com has a lot of interesting information but they don't cite sources for their info. I am very big on being able to document where info comes from, especially if I am taking that info to my vet. Remember anyone can make a website and we have all seen some amazing claims (like one person who claimed a vitamin supplement could cure a brain development problem, not help but cure). So read read read, but keep a close eye on where things come from. I like science and data and research behind any drugs I try, I will try some natural stuff if I cna find enough data supporting it but something I keep in mind is, if it hasn't been tested and no one has actually assessed the side effects and interactions with other things, then I am essentially experimenting on my cat. Anecdotes are helpful for many things (like how to brace) when when it comes to surgery outcomes, anesthesia risks, and medications I want documentable facts. not everyone here agrees with me, I'm just letting you know my angle.
More is certainly known bout these conditions now then when I first had my Bendy boy, the main advances seem to be surgical correction. There is a cat on Facebook called LittleBear Reformed Legs who had the surgery done, if you want an angle on that experience. I know LIttleBear came through with shining colors.

Don't know how much I"ll be around today, I"m juggling 5 pet stting jobs and my usual stuff for the next few days!
oh, and cooking a friend Tday dinner, she found a home for my eyeless bengal - a fantastic home - so this is my way to say thank you. :)
http://www.alittletlc.com

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Bendy Kitty
forever in my heart
always missed
i am not the same without you.
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