Why is my cat's hind legs failing?

If your cat's hind legs fail, take him to the vet

Why are my cat's hind legs failing? The truth is that even wondering that is very worrying, because it means that something is wrong with your best furry friend and that he needs help as soon as possible.

With this in mind, we are going to tell you what the possible causes and their treatment are so that, in this way, you know how to help your cat.

What are the causes?

If your cat walks weird, you should worry

Seeing your cat with walking problems is not pleasant at all. When he reaches this situation, he spends much of the day lying in a corner, listless. To help you get better, the first thing to do is find out the cause of your condition:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

It occurs when the heart muscle thickens, thus generating cardiovascular problems. So when various parts of the body, including the hind legs and tail, stop receiving enough blood, they begin to weaken.

Diabetes

If the cat has a high blood sugar level, the potassium level drops because it urinates more frequently. These potassium drops cause neuropathies that can lead to walking problems.

Hip dysplasia

Although it is more common in dogs, hip dysplasia can also be suffered by cats; although in felines it is usually hereditary. It occurs when the bones of the hip and femur do not develop properly, causing them pain, lame hind legs, trouble running or jumping, and crunching.

Chronic constipation

Chronic constipation caused mainly by renal insufficiency can lead to symptoms such as wobbling of the hind legs and difficulty walking well. In addition, others tend to occur such as loss of appetite and / or weight and vomiting.

Thrombosis

It is a blood clot that has stayed in some part of the body. If it occurs on the rear, the blood will not reach its feet well, so that they will become cold and with little mobility.

Other causes

We have seen the most common, but there are others that we cannot forget:

  • Cancer
  • Accident fractures
  • Leukemia
  • FIV, or feline immunodeficiency virus
  • FIP, or feline infectious peritonitis

What to do to help you?

Of course, take him to the vet. Once there, he will give you a physical exam, and may order an X-ray or other imaging tests to find out exactly what is wrong with you.

Then, he will proceed to give you medications that will relieve (or cure, depending on the case) the symptoms. If what you have is a fracture, you could choose to have surgery to fix it, and bandage the leg.

And also at home you have to give him a lot of love, ensure that he eats and drinks well, and that he feels comfortable.

Why does my cat walk weird

Cats can suffer from diseases

Perhaps you have noticed that your cat walks strangely, perhaps it is not that his back legs are failing, but that when you see him walking you are realizing that there is something wrong.

Now, We are going to talk to you about some of the most common diseases that can affect cat walking. They are diseases that you can notice with the naked eye, perhaps his back legs fail, he staggers, it is difficult for him to get up ...

If this happens you will have to take your cat to the vet, but it is also important that you know what may be happening to him.

Ataxia: the stagger syndrome

If this happens to your cat, you may take him to the vet worried that the feline seems to be dizzy. Ataxia is a disease that affects the coordination of normal movements of the cat. It is not really a disease but it is a symptom of some damage or malformation in the brain that is directly related to movement. It can be congenital.

It is therefore a disorder of the nervous system and cats have an alteration in muscle coordination, especially in the extremities. There are different types of ataxia:

  • Cerebellar ataxia. The cat has a complication in the cerebellum (area where balance and coordination of movements is controlled).
  • Vestibular ataxia. There are problems in the inner ear or in the nerves that go from the ear to the brain. Cats can tilt their heads and move their eyes strangely. They can move in circles or to the side. They can even feel meters and vomit.
  • Sensory ataxia. It occurs when there are problems in the brain, spinal cord and / or peripheral nerves that are responsible for connecting the extremities with the brain. The cat can walk with its legs widely spread.

Claudication: Lameness or limping

It is an abnormality when walking in cats and also manifests itself when a cat cannot jump to high points. The most common conditions are those that we discuss below.

  • Foot pad injuries. You may have injuries to the pads.
  • Bone injuries. It can be caused by a calcification problem.
  • Joint injuries. They are usually inflammatory.
  • Muscle variations or alterations.
  • Nutritional alterations as excess vitamin A

What to do if my cat walks weird?

Take your cat to the vet

Next we are going to comment on some points that you can do if your cat walks strangely and you do not know what may be happening to him.

  • Consult the vet. The first thing to do is talk to your vet and explain what is happening to your feline.
  • Watch for any symptoms. Observe your cat's posture, gait, or gait to detect that there are no abnormalities.
  • Nail control. Avoid injury to the pads as your nails may grow poorly and dig into the pad.
  • Avoid foot pad injuries. It is important that you take care of your cat and prevent them from suffering trauma to their pads. In addition to avoiding accidents of any kind. The cat is better to go outside the home as little as possible.

Either way, whether you think your cat is walking strangely or has hind leg problems, you need to consult your vet so that they can do a health evaluation as soon as possible. They will give you a close examination of what is happening to you.

In some cases, early detection is essential to avoid neurological and vascular problems of any kind, or even skeletal problems.


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