Weakness in a cat's back legs is a clear sign that something is wrong. There are many reasons why this weakness can occur in the hind legs of animals and is often accompanied by other symptoms.
If you've come this far in your search for information, it's because you're concerned about your pet's health.
If so, we invite you to read the information we have compiled for you about hind leg failure in cats. In any case, always remember that a specialist’s opinion is necessary in this case. If you are concerned about your cat's health, we recommend that you take her to a veterinarian.
Causes of hind leg failure
A cat with pain or numbness in its limbs is a lethargic, weak animal with no appetite that spends the entire day lying down. The impairment can range from simple pain that limits freedom of movement to complete paralysis, tremors and seizures.
Since this symptom can be multifactorial, we decided to list for you the main reasons why cats' hind legs fail.
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Although being run over, getting into a fight, or falling can cause immobility, there are medical conditions that are more difficult to diagnose and have a less optimistic prognosis. These diseases include the following:
- Constipation:
Constipation, which is more common in cats with kidney disease, affects not only the digestive system, but also the lower back. This is why the hind legs lose strength and mobility.
If this situation persists for several days and is accompanied by vomiting and loss of appetite, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible to have your cat examined. Keep in mind that if the problem is chronic constipation, it can cause permanent damage to the liver, intestines and kidneys. In these cases, it is an issue that should not be taken lightly.
- Hip dysplasia:
This is one of the main reasons why dogs drag their paws. However, it is not such a common condition in cats.
In felines, hip dysplasia tends to run in families and is related to race.
It affects the hip bones from a very early age due to the fact that a defect occurs in the joint of the hip joint, which increases over the years due to wear and tear of the bones and friction.
Due to the fact that the hip and pelvic bones do not develop properly, cats experience constant pain, limited movement and eventually lead to osteoarthritis.
You should know that once your veterinarian diagnoses you with this condition, the problem will not go away because hip dysplasia is a degenerative and irreversible process that will deteriorate your cat's health over time.
This pathology is more common in large cats, such as the Norwegian Forest Cat or Maine Coon, with females being most affected.
- Thrombosis:
Thrombosis is a blood clot stuck somewhere in the body. In cats, the hips and paws are affected because blood does not flow normally to these areas and therefore their mobility is reduced.
In cats, the disease is known as stool thrombus, feline aortic thromboembolism. This condition is not as common in dogs as it is in cats.
Thrombus in the stool disease is characterized by damage to both one and both hind limbs. The paws become cold and the nerves and muscles become stiff and inflamed due to lack of oxygenation. Unfortunately, this is a life-threatening anomaly.
Renal failure is the main, but not the only cause of thrombosis. If you have questions, consult your veterinarian.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:
This is coronary heart disease, characterized by thickening of the walls of the heart.
This condition causes blood to not reach certain parts of the body, such as the hind legs and tail, because they are further away from the heart.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can eventually lead to paralysis of the limbs, either completely or partially, due to lack of blood supply.
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- Spinal injuries:
Damage to the spinal cord can paralyze any animal. Cats are very flexible, in fact, they do not have collarbones, they fit into any hole, no matter how small it is. Consequently, injuries are very common among cats.
A veterinarian diagnoses the disease using an X-ray or MRI. Depending on your specific situation, your doctor can decide whether to proceed with surgery, medications, or rehabilitation.
- Feline panleukopenia:
This is a very dangerous viral disease that is spread through urine, feces and fleas and spreads between unvaccinated cats.
This disease leaves the animal with effects that make it difficult for them to move, they cannot stand up completely, they lift their legs to be able to move, and they easily lose their balance.
Although in this case the hind legs do not completely fail, it does affect mobility.
- Diabetes:
Increased blood glucose levels and decreased potassium levels cause certain neurological disorders that most often affect the extremities.
Other possible diseases:
Other reasons why a cat’s back legs fail:
- Cancer
- Leukemia
- Feline immunodeficiency virus
- Osteoporosis
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Osteoarthritis
Signs of limb failure
Symptoms to pay close attention to:
- Complete or partial impairment of motor function. The cat stops moving quickly, drags its limbs, and moves by crawling.
- Changes in gait. “Wobbling” of a small kitten is a normal phenomenon; a similar situation with an adult animal should alert the owner.
- Amyotrophy . Muscles lose elasticity.
- Pain on palpation of the hind limbs. The animal screams in pain if the back of its body is touched.
- Lack of sensitivity. The animal stops feeling heat and cold with its paws.
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What to do
It must be emphasized that when cats' back legs begin to fail, it means that something is happening to their body, and it can be quite serious.
Causes can range from simple constipation to cancer and fracture. Whatever the origin of the disease, only a veterinarian can make the correct diagnosis and possible treatment.
You can examine their feet, toes, pads, and nails for damage. While you are investigating the cause of the disease, keep an eye on where it lies to prevent it from getting worse. Make sure there are no dangerous items or toxic substances in the environment that could worsen the condition.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, your role will be to give him enough attention and care so that he recovers as quickly as possible.
Treatment
When the pet is brought to the veterinary clinic, the doctor:
- conducts an initial examination, determines the degree of sensitivity of the paws;
- prescribes an x-ray examination;
- conducts ultrasound of internal organs;
- takes the animal's blood and urine for analysis.
Treatment is prescribed after diagnosing the disease; therapy includes: medication, physiotherapy, paw massage, and in rare cases, surgery.
Poisoning
Poisoning often causes paralysis of the hind legs . Killer toxins, passing through the bloodstream, gradually destroy the animal’s body. In addition to paralyzed limbs, the cat experiences vomiting, weakness, and convulsions.
At home, you can alleviate the animal's suffering. To do this, you need to dilute activated carbon (1 t.) with water and give the cat a drink, you can also give 2 tbsp. spoons of enterosgel. Then contact a veterinarian who, under medical conditions, will rinse the stomach and put on IVs.
Physiotherapy for cats with leg paralysis
The recovery period after paralysis drags on for a long time; in this case, the animal owner cannot do without physiotherapy.
Veterinarians advise performing a daily set of exercises to help restore neurological functions.
- Passive movements. Place the cat on its back and move the paralyzed legs alternately in a circular motion for at least five minutes. The exercise is similar to riding a bicycle.
- Stimulating massage. Stretch your paw pads and limbs daily.
- Scratching. Scratch the paralyzed animal in different places; even with little progress, the cat will try to scratch with its hind paw.
- Using an inflatable ball. Place the cat on its stomach on the ball, so that its paws lightly touch the floor. Roll the ball while holding your pet back and forth.
- Using support. Pass a wide strip of fabric under your pet's belly and try to walk with the animal, holding the ends of the fabric.
- Moving limbs. Take the cat by the hind legs and slowly move them, imitating walking.
- Swimming. Make the cat swim in the bath every day, holding the animal so that it does not choke.
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The cat is limping on its hind leg without visible damage and shaking its paw or pulling it back
Treatment of open and multiple fractures
In difficult cases, the veterinarian will have to collect the crushed bone, fix it and create conditions for restoration. There are two main treatment methods:
- Fusion using a metal rod inserted into the core of the damaged bone. After the bones have healed, the rods are removed and a plaster cast is applied on top. Under it, the final restoration of the limb occurs.
- Application of plates fixing the combined fragments of the damaged bone.
In some cases, the paws are fixed using metal knitting needles.
Herniated disc
Herniated discs rarely occur in cats. But in such cases, the animal’s paws are also paralyzed. In the early stages of the disease, the cat will feel pain when moving. To get rid of this problem, hemilaminectomy is usually performed; the risk of such an intervention is very high, since it is performed very close to the spinal cord.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis is a blood clot that has descended from the heart to the sella and divided into two arteries. The paws can be paralyzed either partially or completely, it all depends on where he stops. If you regularly bring your cat to a specialist for examination, then the problem with blood clots can be identified in the early stages. Then they can be destroyed by using heparin-based drugs.
During diagnosis, the cat needs to have an x-ray, ultrasound, and ECG. If the blood clot has hardened, an operation is performed during which it will be removed. Most likely, the animal will need to be given blood thinners for the rest of its life.
Hind limb injuries
Very often, cats get into car accidents, the consequence of such injuries can be a pelvic fracture. In such cases, it is almost impossible to restore the cat’s health at home. The animal must be anesthetized and anti-shock therapy administered by infusion, and this can only be done in a clinic. Depending on the severity of the injury, your cat may need to undergo surgery to realign the injured limbs.
Symptoms
Paralysis of the limbs does not always occur immediately. It is possible to notice signs of the disease before the critical moment. Symptoms of loss of limb control:
- The cat walks, stepping carefully on its feet, trying to maintain balance.
- Not every step of an animal is successful; its paws do not always leave the surface of the ground.
- The cat seems to be sneaking while walking.
- The hind limbs cannot support the weight of the body and move slightly apart.
- The animal crouches on its hind legs.
- Swelling of the pelvic region of the body appears.
- Movements are difficult for the cat; the pet rests more often.
