Yesterday, your furry pet was running after the ball cheerfully, but today cannot move on its own? This situation, unfortunately, is familiar to many pet owners. But why are the hind legs taken away from the cat? The reasons may be different. The most common and will be described later.
Signs
How to understand that the hind legs are taken away from the cat? One of the most visible signs is a wobbling gait. The cat begins to move much less, does not jump, does not play. The animal mainly lies, prefers rest to any movement. If the hind legs fail completely, the pet does not rest on them at all, moves with the help of the front ones. The cat just drags its hind limbs.
The best thing you can do if you notice that your cat's hind legs are being taken away is to immediately show the animal to the veterinarian. Only an experienced specialist can determine the cause of the disease and prescribe adequate treatment. You can not start independent therapy without establishing an accurate diagnosis. This can be fatal. In cases where it is not possible to quickly visit the veterinary clinic, you need to get advice online or by phone. Of course, without passing the necessary tests, the diagnosis can only be approximate. But still, it's better than nothing.
Diagnostics
If the hind legs are taken away from the cat, the reason may lie in a wide variety of ailments. To make a final diagnosis, a veterinarian will conduct a series of studies:
- Neurological examination.
- X-ray examination of the spine.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
- Bacteriological examination (performed when the doctor suspects the presence of infection).
- Laboratory tests of blood and urine of an animal.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and spine.
- Checking the sensitivity of the paws (tactile and painful).
Injuries and injuries
If your cat is stuck in the window and his hind legs are pulled away, then the most obvious reason in this case may be injury. The same thing can happen to the animal after the traditional “March” adventures. Moreover, the injury may not occur immediately. Sometimes between the cause and effect several weeks, or even months, pass.
If the hind legs are taken away from the cat after the fall, the cause may be a compression fracture of the spine. The same thing happens as a result of fights with dogs or yard relatives. The reason here is very simple. The vertebrae of the animal in the center have a small hole and, being composed together, form the spinal canal. This is where one of the most important organs of the animal - the spinal cord - is located. There are also small openings at the junction of the vertebrae. The roots of the spinal cord pass through them. They are responsible for the innervation of the internal organs of the animal, its limbs and other parts of the body. Displacement and fissure of the vertebrae lead to a violation of the integrity of these roots or their complete rupture. As a result, the innervation of organs ceases. This becomes the reason that the hind legs are taken away from the cat. Most often, significant limb weakness is observed, and in especially advanced cases, complete paralysis can occur.
Injuries and injuries sustained during a fight are no less dangerous. Even if the spine itself was not injured, deep wounds may remain on the animal’s body, in which the propagation of pathogenic microflora can begin over time. There is suppuration and inflammation of the affected area. If the animal does not receive timely medical assistance, then pus from a wound located near the spine can destroy the roots or penetrate the spinal canal. The result will be deplorable - weakness of the extremities, myelitis, inflammation of the spinal membranes, sepsis and death of the animal. If this problem is ignored, then after a while you will notice that the hind legs are being taken away from the cat.
In most cases, the injuries described above require immediate surgery. At home, you can cope only with the most minor lesions. If the animal fell from a great height, as a result of which its hind legs were lifted, then the doctor will most likely prescribe such drugs:
- "Traumeel C" + "Target T".
- "Maralgin."
- Metipred.
- "Milgama."
You can also add foot massage, acupuncture, myostimulation. To alleviate the condition, the doctor may prescribe a laxative. If the animal cannot defecate on its own, the urine will have to be pumped out with a syringe or with a catheter.
Myelitis, hernia, or intervertebral disc displacement
Incorrectly healed injuries can result in herniated discs. If the hind legs are taken away from the cat, this may be the reason. Most often, such a disease affects animals of advanced age. Cats of some breeds having a short tail also suffer from hernias. Their changes are seen in the sacral spine.
If you can’t understand why the cat’s hind legs were taken away, remember whether the animal suffered from helminthic invasion, whether it had poisoning or purulent inflammation during pregnancy. Did this happen? Then it is likely that the pet begins myelitis or inflammation of the spinal cord. The cat becomes very aggressive, it rises in temperature, problems with the intestines begin, urinary retention, semi-coma, severe pain are observed. A furry pet often bites its paws and licks them.
In myelitis, it is very important to control the formation of pressure sores. The cat needs to do paw massage and, if necessary, help empty the intestines.
Renal failure, vitamin deficiency
So, you noticed that the hind legs were taken away from the cat. What to do in this case? One of the most harmless reasons for this condition is vitamin deficiency. Often they suffer from young animals or nursing females. Sometimes the cause of vitamin deficiency is the presence of helminths. In the presence of parasites, nutrients simply do not have time to be absorbed into the blood in sufficient quantities. Vitamin deficiency and disturbance of the intestinal flora are also possible after an infectious disease transmitted by an animal, prolonged use of antibiotics, or for some other reason. This problem is almost always solved, you just need to review the pet’s diet and ensure a sufficient supply of vitamins.
If the hind legs of the cat are taken away, the veterinarian should determine the reasons and treatment. For example, renal failure may be one option. In this case, the animal is shown a special diet with a low protein content, B vitamins and steroid preparations. The main symptoms are:
- poor appetite;
- complete rejection of food;
- apathy;
- vomiting
- diarrhea;
- lethargy;
- decreased urination intensity or its complete absence;
- fever.
Thromboembolism
This is another problem that can be evidenced by the fact that the cat's hind legs were taken away. From fright and pain, the animal screams and does not allow to touch a sick limb, aggressively reacts even to its beloved owner. Over time, the paws become colder and completely paralyzed. The reason is the clogging of the vessel with a thrombus, torn off from the place of formation. Such a disease very often results in the death of the animal, although an experienced doctor can compete for the life of a furry patient. Treatment consists in the appointment of anticoagulants, physiotherapy.
Paresis
If the hind paw of the cat is taken away after the injection, then one of the probable reasons may be the inept actions of the veterinarian or the person who performed the manipulation. Sciatic nerve may be damaged or muscle may be injured.
Another reason may be the injection itself, or rather, the introduction of the animal "No-shp". This drug is not always suitable for cats. In some cases, it can cause paresis of the limbs.
Cardiomyopathy, stroke
An increase in the volume of the heart or a thickening of its walls (cardiomyopathy) dramatically leads to paralysis of the limbs. But this still happens. The reason is the lack of oxygen entering the muscles. The accompanying symptoms of the disease are shortness of breath, drowsiness of the animal, cough, lethargy. Since cats cannot have heart surgery, treatment will be conservative. Often, veterinarians prescribe "Diltiazem" or "Atenolol", the animal is recommended complete rest.
Sometimes the cause of limb paralysis is a stroke. Often it happens in old or sedentary animals. Treatment is only possible with the assistance of an experienced veterinarian. He will prescribe antipsychotics, painkillers and drugs for convulsions.
Dysplasia
Symptoms of this disease are not too noticeable at first. The cat's legs are as if braided, it moves uncertainly, often stumbles, is lame. Over time, the animal begins to crawl. At the same time, the paws clearly hurt, the animal hisses and shows aggression when trying to feel the limbs. The cause of hip dysplasia is a sedentary lifestyle, a lack of vitamins and too much protein in the diet.
Treatment can be extremely dramatic. The animal needs joint replacement surgery. Delay the inevitable will help the use of corticosteroids. If the disease was detected at an early stage, then most often you can do without a scalpel. The limbs of the animal are fixed to reduce the load and anti-inflammatory injections are prescribed, as well as top dressing with glucosamine and chondroetin.
Arthrosis, arthritis
Such pathologies are also very common. The disease, as in the previous case, is characterized by the presence of degenerative inflammatory processes in the joints. As a result of the destruction of the synovial cartilage of the articular bags, the surfaces of the bones begin to "rub" against each other. Such a situation is accompanied by such severe pain that the animal tries not to move again. In most cases, such pathologies are characteristic of older cats.
Therapy for arthritis is usually symptomatic. A fluffy patient is prescribed corticosteroids in combination with antimicrobials. To reduce pain, sedatives are administered. In especially advanced cases, an operation is prescribed.
Tick bites
Multiple bites of these insects are very dangerous for representatives of the feline. Encephalitis, tularemia, or other dangerous diseases can result from encountering an ixodid tick. If the cat has hind legs, it is likely that it has tick-borne paralysis. Such a disease often occurs when several parasites attack the animal at once. At first, the pet can be very agitated and even aggressive. Then this state is replaced by apathy. It is at this stage that limb paralysis is possible, and if treatment is not started in time, the animal may die.
Alimentary hyperparathyroidism
This disease is characterized by metabolic disorders due to an unbalanced diet. In the animal’s body, there is an increased phosphorus content and a lack of vitamin D, as a result of which the parathyroid gland works with disorders and releases too large doses of parathyroid hormone. Symptoms of hypeparathyroidism can be as follows:
- severe pain;
- bone deformation;
- lameness;
- hind limb cramps;
- pathological fractures.
The main treatment is to establish a properly balanced diet and limit the motor activity of the animal. Over time, the situation improves and the numbness of the paws goes away.
Physical education and massage for Murzik
After the veterinarian determines the exact cause of the disease and prescribes adequate treatment, the owner can help the animal recover from the disease faster and stand on its paws. In some cases, massage and special exercises contribute to a speedy recovery.
Swimming gives good results. True, it will only be possible to apply the method if the cat is not afraid of water. A pet immersed in the bath involuntarily begins to sort through its paws, while it must be maintained under the stomach.
Effective are also exercises on the ball. The cat should be placed on it so that the drooping paws touch the floor. The ball is carefully rolled, which forces the fluffy patient to slowly sort out the limbs.
If the animal refuses active procedures, you can simply gently massage the legs several times a day. The duration of the session should be at least 10 minutes. Good help and forced movements of the paws, their flexion and extension. Such gymnastics can be performed only if the animal does not have pronounced pain sensations.
To stimulate the cat to move, you can use a kind of walker. They are made from a long towel passed under the belly of a furry friend.
Even if the cat was unable to stand on its paws, this is not a reason to euthanize it. Today, there are many devices that allow partially paralyzed animals to move independently. Over time, the cat gets used to such a wheelchair and begins to move around the house quickly enough without the help of the owner.