AGENESIS IN DOMESTIC CATS: DIAGNOSTIC RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN HCV-UFPEL/AGENESIA EM FELINOS DOMESTICOS: ESTUDO RETROSPECTIVO DE DIAGNOSTICO NO HCV-UFPEL/AGENESIA EN GATOS DOMESTICOS: ESTUDIO RETROSPECTIVO DIAGNOSTICO EN EL HCV-UFPEL

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.