Fridgey the Bengal Cat Receives First Feline Hip Replacement Surgery at Purdue VTH

Fridgey the cat pictured using the aquatic treadmill with Jessica Bowditch

As busy as it is beautiful, the Bengal cat is an energetic domestic breed that tends to have a lot in common with its cousins in the wild – high jumping, climbing and even a love for water. So, imagine the pain and disappointment when Fridgey, a two-year-old Bengal cat, started to have problems with his hips.

That’s when Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital came in to help. The hospital’s orthopedic surgery team began treating the cat in 2017, initially performing a commonly done surgery on his left hip called a femoral head ostectomy (FHO), which involves removing part of the femur bone.

When Fridgey later began to have issues on his right side, his owner, Tyler Goldsberry of Schererville, Ind., again brought him to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.  This time, the surgery team led by Dr. Mark Rochat, clinical professor of small animal orthopedic surgery, and Dr. Sarah Malek, assistant professor of small animal orthopedic surgery, proceeded to perform a procedure commonly used in human medicine, but never before used on a feline patient at Purdue – total hip replacement surgery.

“The technology has been around for years; it’s just that the availability of the systems and training for the people performing the procedures weren’t as commonplace in the past,” Dr. Malek said. “Now it’s much more commercially available and technically feasible.”

Dr. Malek said the first human hip replacement actually was inspired by a procedure originally performed in dogs, and it has taken some time for the process to work its way from people back to small animals.  She also explained that total hip replacement surgery better addresses quality of life issues than the FHO procedure, which has been done for decades in dogs and cats to treat hip dysplasia, severe fractures, and arthritis.

Fridgey’s successful hip-replacement surgery was performed in March 2018, and while he’s not yet ready to take any giant leaps, he’s resting and continuing with physical therapy sessions, which he began with the hospital’s physical rehabilitation service immediately after surgery.

Just like human patients, animals benefit from physical therapy to increase their endurance and stamina following a surgical procedure.  “For people, physical therapy isn’t something that’s ‘recommended’ after a procedure; it’s required,” said Jessica Bowditch, RVT, CCRP, rehabilitation and neurology technician at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “I think it’s great that animals are now getting that same quality of care.”

Technicians in the rehabilitation service set up physical therapy schedules with the pet owners, then use everything from an aquatic treadmill to balance boards, wheeled carts and a slalom course of orange cones to help a wide array of animal patients regain full strength and range of motion.

“We’ve been able to get a goat and a 4-H calf walking again.  We’ve also helped rabbits, tons of dogs, and of course, a few cats,” said Jessica. “We’re up for doing rehab on any sort of animal.”

Click here to a view a Purdue NOW video of Fridgey with his treatment team as he undergoes physical therapy post-surgery at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Writer(s): Tim Doty | doty2@purdue.edu; Lauren Bruce | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we’re sending a big “High Five” to Emma Wood, who is a Medical Oncology Client Liaison and the Client Liaison Team Lead for the Purdue Small Animal Reception Team, for the supportive energy she brings to her work every day.

In Memory: Former Veterinary Medical Library Staff Member Tonya Mull 

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is saddened to learn that Tonya R. Mull of Lafayette, Indiana, who served as a longtime Purdue Libraries staff member, including multiple years as a staff member in the Veterinary Medical Library, passed away October 18 at Franciscan Health Lafayette East.  She was 59.

PVM Symposium Offers MOAAR Education on Medicine of Aquatics, Amphibians and Reptiles

Veterinary professionals and students gathered recently at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine to take advantage of a special opportunity to enhance their knowledge and expertise about the care and treatment of aquatic, amphibian, and reptilian species. The fifth biennial Medicine of Aquatics, Amphibians, and Reptiles (MOAAR) Symposium was held October 18–19, at Lynn Hall on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, bringing together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and experts dedicated to the care of exotic species.

Local Veterinary Celebration Highlights Global Veterinary Education

Going global is a popular ambition in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as evidenced by the turnout for the college’s annual Global Engagement Fair last Friday, October 17. Held in the Veterinary Medical Library in Lynn Hall, the festive event featured international cuisine and displays about various study abroad opportunities available to Purdue DVM and Veterinary Technology students.