Sudden lameness in a cat for no apparent reason. The cat limps on the hind leg without visible damage and shakes the paw or pulls it back

Sometimes the owner is faced with the fact that his beloved cat is lame on his hind leg. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, and it is important to determine exactly what caused the lameness. A sick animal tries not to load the paw, almost does not step on it and falls heavily at the moment of walking. The cat stops running, climbing trees, jumping on cabinets because it experiences pain and discomfort when moving and loading on the affected limb. It is necessary that the treatment is carried out correctly and the disease does not become chronic. If, in addition to lameness, the owner notices that bald spots form between the hind legs, contacting the veterinarian should be urgent. In some cases, lameness is an indicator of an emergency.

Reasons why a cat is lame

There are many reasons why a cat does not step on its hind paw, as well as its front paw. Often the owner can immediately understand what happened, but there are also situations when an adult pet or kitten simply returns from a walk, limping heavily and meowing plaintively. In this case, the first thing to do is to carefully examine the paw on which the animal cannot stand normally.

Sometimes the case is quite simple, and the owner can independently provide assistance, thanks to which the cat does not lame already on the same day. This is possible with mild physical injuries. Complex injuries are more often characterized by the fact that both hind legs are immediately affected and lameness persists for a month or more. In such a situation, treatment should be started as soon as possible.

The following reasons may cause the problem:

The bite of a stinging insect - the bites of wasps and bees are painful, and therefore, if a cat steps on an insect, lameness is guaranteed for 2-4 days, even after the owner removes the bee sting or treats the wasp sting. The left or right limb may be affected. If the bite was 7-9 days ago, and the cat is still lame, a visit to the veterinarian is required;
Injury to the interarticular region - often occurs during a fight between cats, if teeth are used; as well as when actively climbing trees that have sharp thorns or knots. On them, a cat, if inattentive, or greatly carried away by tracking down birds, can run into. The injury most often affects the hind legs, since the animal usually still sees the place on which the front paw is placed;
Dislocation - appears with unsuccessful jumps and falls, in which there is an unnatural movement of the head of the bone in the joint, due to which it comes out of it. The paw completely loses mobility and hangs helplessly. Acute pain at the time of injury can cause the animal to go into shock. In this case, the cat may limp on the hind right paw or left. Even with treatment, the cat limps for a long time;
Ligament sprain is the most common limb injury in cats, in which there is a slight tear of part of the ligament fibers, which causes pain in the paw and its swelling. The cat limps quite strongly, but at the same time his general condition does not suffer. The animal remains cheerful and does not lose its appetite. Lameness usually goes away within a few days even without treatment. With a strong sprain, to accelerate the recovery of the ligaments, a course of therapy with Traumatin, which is administered in the form of injections, is indicated. The animal limps for a long time and strongly;
A bruise is traumatic in nature. If the injury is not severe, then the cat is lame slightly and not for long. With a severe bruise, the cat seriously falls on the hind leg, which looks swollen. The pet is limping so that it cannot be overlooked. If you move the wool apart, then a pronounced hematoma will be clearly visible;
Fracture is the most severe injury in which the integrity of the bone is broken. The cat is not just lame, but almost unable to stand on its paw. Occurs with strong blows or pinching of the paw. In rare cases, physiological fractures are possible, which occur due to the fact that the bones lose their natural strength. Such fractures appear even with a slight impact on the bone. The cat is lame and cannot stand on its paw;
Spinal injury in the lumbar region - with such damage, a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses occurs, due to which the movement of the hind legs is difficult and limited. In severe cases, complete paralysis of the hind limbs occurs. With an injury without paralysis, lameness is observed immediately on 2 hind legs and can be very specific;
Arthritis or arthrosis of the hip joint - the disease can be unilateral or bilateral. The animal limps with him, also wobbling his pelvis. It occurs most often in older cats, but can also affect younger cats if they have a serious injury in the pelvic area. With this phenomenon, lameness increases gradually, worsening the quality of life of the cat. Treatment is aimed primarily at slowing down the progression of the pathological process. A complete cure is not possible.

It is not always possible for the owner to accurately name the cause that caused the lameness, and therefore a consultation with a veterinarian may be required.

Prevention

You can prevent lameness in your cat by minimizing the chance of injury. The main preventive measures, thanks to which the cat does not lame, are:

control of what is happening with the animal while walking down the street;
reliable closing of windows to protect the pet from falling out;
full feeding - proper nutrition provides the animal with sufficient bone strength and tendon elasticity;
attention when closing the doors, so as not to slam the cat.

If the cat is lame, it is necessary to understand what happened to him.

VETERINARY CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY. Administration

Cats, unlike dogs, are much more plastic and graceful creatures. And therefore, even inattentive owners notice violations in their “gait” much faster. Lameness is especially visible in cats. There can be many reasons for this phenomenon. We will try to consider those that are most common.

This disease for cats is considered not the most characteristic, but ... Yes, in the case of outbred "Murki" everything is exactly like that. They practically do not suffer from this pathology, the cases are extremely rare. That's just with thoroughbred cats in recent years, things are much sadder. The problem is selection. More precisely, in poorly conducted selection: a lot of animals get into breeding, which should not be allowed there, as a result of which the breed is gaining a lot of “bad” genes. The characteristics of the pathology are as follows:

How easy it is to understand are amazed forelimbs(as a rule, the pathology is well manifested only on one paw).

The disease is hereditary. If you do not know the breeder, and among your acquaintances there are also no people who bought kittens from him, it is better not to risk it. Animals must be purchased only from trusted individuals who will not allow sick pets to be bred.

Diagnosed "elbow" dysplasia at the age of two or three years, or even earlier.

The severity of symptoms varies greatly from cat to cat. Your pet may be lucky, and then only intermittent lameness will bother him, or he may not be lucky, and then he will not be able to fully move from without surgery.

Therapy (complete) - exclusively surgical. Anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, etc. are prescribed only in mild cases, when the compensatory reserves of the body have not yet been exhausted. When the cat already noticeably falls on the sore paw, drug treatment will not give a special effect.

Arthritis and arthrosis

Arthrytis () in Greek means "articular inflammation." This is one of the most common pathologies affecting older cats everywhere. Arthritis that affects one joint is called in veterinary medicine monoarthritis, disease of two or three joints - oligoarthritis. If not one or two, but all joints of the limbs suffer, then the name of the diagnosis changes - polyarthritis. What is it? This is the name of an inflammatory-degenerative disease, in general terms, characterized by the same pathological changes in the joints.

But its essence does not change. The joints do not hurt so much without movement, without a load on them, more strongly - with a load and outdoor games. In this case, the cat becomes very weak, completely or partially refuses to eat, an increase in body temperature is possible. Arthritis affects not only the joints, but also the internal organs. Among the main causes leading to the development of the disease, veterinarians distinguish the following factors:

Heredity, about which we have already written a lot above.

"Recumbent" lifestyle that is, the pathology very often affects castrates who are prone to low activity and rapid weight gain. If a "well-fed" cat begins to constantly fall on its front paw, it should be taken to the doctor immediately.

Unbalanced nutrition. It is typical for pets whose owners "do not bother" with the selection of the correct, complete diet.

We can also mention our ecology, which adversely affects the health of not only a person, but also his pets.

Various infections.

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Predisposing factors and how to deal with them

Currently, not everything is known about the causes of arthritis. It has a lot of varieties, among which it should be noted: osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Each type has its own characteristics, but at the same time, they also have a lot in common: pain on movement, severe lameness, inflammation. The latter (in especially advanced cases) can lead to the development of sepsis and the complete destruction of the joints.

There is also "professional" arthritis. This type of pathology is characterized by the fact that pathological changes in the joints occur as a result of long-term, repetitive loads on the limbs. For example, chronic arthritis can occur (due to the specifics of the "profession") in circus cats. But this, of course, is a real exotic. Much more often, the causes of arthritis and the lameness caused by it are much more commonplace.

Often the disease is provoked cold infection, severe bruises and bites in the joints, constant contact with toxic substances. Sometimes the disease of the joints is promoted exclusively by a fish or “dry” (that is, the cat is fed only dry food) diet. Rare cases of psychosomatic arthritis have been described that appear in especially sensitive pets against the background of serious ones (after sterilization, for example).

How does the disease manifest itself? The cat begins to limp heavily, every movement causes her severe pain. The joints can noticeably swell; when they are probed, it is easy to notice an increase in local body temperature. As a rule, animals react aggressively to attempts to probe them: they meow hoarsely, try to scratch the owner and run away.

Prevention and therapy

Proper nutrition plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of all forms of arthritis. This pathology, first of all, is the deposition of calcium in cartilage and joints. It happens in the end excessive consumption of canned food, cereals and bakery products. In a word, this is another reason to completely reconsider the diet of your "fluffy". The success of the treatment and prevention of arthritis is largely dependent on a balanced diet. Boiled and pureed vegetables should be included in the daily diet (especially for older cats), but fatty meat, canned food and "handouts" from the human table should be completely excluded.

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The main emphasis in nutrition should be on reducing the calorie content of the animal's diet and eliminating excess calcium from it and other elements potentially capable of accumulating in the joints in the form of salts. It is better not to prevent the disease than to fight it later. This is clear to all breeders. We also recall that arthritis today is largely considered an inherited pathology - choose carefully where to buy kittens.

Concerning treatment. In mild cases, the cat is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs. corticosteroids and painkillers drugs. With an infectious etiology (at least suspected of it), the pet is also prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics and other antimicrobials. Finally, in the most severe cases, they resort to surgical intervention, including the complete replacement of the affected joint with a synthetic implant.

If arthritis has affected your pet, you should immediately contact your veterinarian to conduct a complete medical examination and make an accurate diagnosis. Sick cats are shown massage (but not in all forms of arthritis), physiotherapy.

It is advisable to consult a specialist regarding the preparation of the maximum balanced diet for your pet. If all this is done in time, the cat will be able to get rid of this serious illness and live a full, active life, again delighting its owner.

Dislocation of the patella, Patella

We note right away that in cats this pathology, leading to severe lameness, quite rare, but the cases are not isolated. The following characteristics of the disease can be given:

It strikes, as you might guess, exclusively hind limbs.

Lameness appears suddenly and spontaneously: the cat begins to fall sharply on its hind paw, while meowing and hissing frightenedly from surprise and pain.

Patella luxation is generally considered to be a genetic disease, but cases have been described in which severe trauma to the extremities contributed to its development.

Unlike dogs, in which small breeds are susceptible to this pathology, among cats, patella is most often diagnosed in "giants", as well as cats of ordinary breeds, beyond measure.

Treatment depends on the stage of the disease (there are four in total). On the first two, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids can be successfully dispensed with, while on the third and fourth, the animal's only chance for a full life is a professionally performed surgical intervention.

Cats are distinguished by their activity, because of which sometimes they themselves suffer. Their too increased mobility can cause injuries of various origins. If you notice that your cat is limping on its front paw, then you need to contact the veterinarian and conduct an examination.

Cat lameness can be caused by many causes and cause severe discomfort and pain to the animal. The disease can be permanent or appear intermittently, for example, only in the morning or in the evening. Causes of lameness in a cat associated with injury are as follows:

dislocation of the paw during games;
splinter in the ball of the fingers;
sprain;
fracture;
claw damage.

Also, an animal can limp due to a specific disease:

osteochondrosis. Occurs mainly in older cats. When this occurs, the roots of the spinal cord are pinched. Affecting the cervical region, pinching leads to lameness of one front paw or both at once. The older the pet, the more pronounced osteochondrosis will be;
elbow dysplasia. Mainly affects purebred cats. The disease manifests itself from youth and only intensifies with age. In this case, the lameness affects either one of the front legs, or both at once;
arthritis or arthrosis. They occur in older cats and lead to inflammation of the joints. With this disease, the cat limps on the front or on the back paw. The animal begins to limp gradually. Older animals and overweight cats can get sick with osteoarthritis;
osteomyelitis. It is characterized by partial destruction of bone tissue. The disease can affect any of the four limbs. It mainly affects cats up to two years of age. Osteomyelitis is characteristic of Persians and related breeds;
infections such as calicivirus. In addition to limping, the animal has nasal discharge, mouth ulcers, and fever.

It is possible that your pet does not step on the front paw due to damage to the claws. This happens as a result of a fall from a great height or an impact. The claw can break if someone steps on the paw. This causes the animal great discomfort and pain.

There is another reason for lameness associated with the nature of the animal. For example, if you accidentally stepped on his paw and crushed it with a door, the animal will begin to defiantly limp, expressing its resentment. The main thing is not to pay attention to it, and after a couple of hours your pet will get tired of playing and stop simulating.

If you notice that the cat is really suffering, immediately take him to the veterinarian to rule out the possibility of complications.

Symptoms of lameness

An animal can limp with varying degrees of severity. Some tuck their paw slightly when walking, others cannot step on it at all. Observe your pet, conduct a visual inspection and run to the doctor if you notice at least one of the following signs:

the cat cannot walk at all or moves with difficulty;
after touching the paw, the cat pulls it away and begins to whine;
refuses to go outside, especially if you have to go down or up the stairs;
the animal does not stand on its paw;
with a fungal infection, a trace of dermatophytes is visible on the paws.

In addition to physical signs, the cat may lose its appetite, become more tired, lethargic, or irritable. If you forcibly examine the painful limb, the cat may hiss and even bite you.

Diagnosis of feline lameness

What to do if a cat has a lameness on the front or back paw? First, do not delay visiting the veterinary clinic or office. If the cause is an infectious disease, then delay in treatment can cost not only the health of the animal, but also life. During the visit, the veterinarian will perform the following diagnostic measures:

look at the patient's medical history (if any). Will conduct a survey of the owner, find out if the animal has recently had injuries, find out if there are accompanying symptoms, in addition to lameness;
visual inspection of a lame cat. It is necessary to understand how serious lameness is, the location of the most painful part of the limb, the presence of abnormal places in the structure of the joints. The doctor will look at how the animal moves, runs, stands;
neurological examination. It is carried out to exclude damage to the central nervous system, muscles, brain or spinal cord, because lameness is not always caused by orthopedic problems;
radiograph. It will help to see the presence of cracks, tumors, growths and other problems inside the limb.

It may also be necessary to take samples of synovial fluid, general blood and biopsy, urine. With the introduction of the dye, studies of the spinal canal are carried out - myelography. In the same way, contrast radiography or arthrography (injection of dye into the joint) is done. Ultrasound, MRI and CT may be prescribed.

Treatment of lameness in cats

When you have decided on the causes of lameness on the front paw, it's time to start treatment. It can be simple and done at home with medication, such as a minor sprain or dislocation. More serious illnesses are treated in a hospital, surgical intervention is possible.

Medical therapy

In the case when lameness is associated with a splinter or other foreign body in the paw, treatment consists in treating the wound with a simple antiseptic. But first, the splinter is pulled out so that swelling and inflammation do not go. As a rule, complications do not occur, the wound heals within 2-3 days. With painful sensations, lameness will also disappear. Fractures are not uncommon in active cats. If the animal has broken its paw, it should be tried to immobilize it before arriving at the clinic. In the hospital, the cat will be examined and a fixing bandage or cast will be applied.

Treatment of degenerative changes in the limbs and arthritis in cats is carried out with drugs that restore cartilage elasticity, for example, Ketofen. It is prescribed both in tablet form (1 tablet once a day) and in the form of injections (1% solution). Medicines can only be prescribed by a veterinarian, after the necessary diagnostic measures have been taken. If pathological changes in the joints are caused by excess weight and impaired metabolism, the animal is prescribed a diet to reduce body weight.

There are cases. When it is impossible to determine the exact cause of lameness. In this case, the animal is prescribed to minimize physical activity and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Painful sensations are stopped by No-shpa, Papaverine, etc.

If lameness is caused by an infectious disease, then first of all eliminate the root cause. Diseases like calcivirosis are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics in combination with immunostimulants, anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins. This is necessary to protect the already weakened by the disease organism of the animal. The doctor may prescribe a weekly course of Flemoxin at a dosage of 12.5 -22 mg per kilogram of weight.

Surgical intervention

The duration and intensity of treatment depend on the type of disease and its neglect. For example, osteomyelitis disappears with age, but osteochondrosis, arthritis and arthrosis can become chronic. In this case, constant blunting of painful outbreaks with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs will be required.

When lameness becomes severe, surgery is required. Depending on the situation, the doctor may decide to replace the affected joint with a prosthesis.

With a dislocation of the patella, if timely treatment is not carried out and the disease goes into stages 3 and 4, an operation is prescribed. The same applies to osteochondrosis. At the beginning of the development of the disease, medications are prescribed. If the lameness does not go away, but only progresses, surgery will be prescribed to eliminate the pinched nerve.

Prevention of lameness

Some cats, due to their natural predisposition, may suffer from lameness. To avoid its appearance or at least reduce the intensity of manifestations, the correct maintenance of the cat can: protect it from injury, adjust the diet by adding more foods with calcium and vitamins.

If you want to know if a kitten will limp in the future, study its pedigree. Perhaps this is due to heredity and does not pose a danger to the health and life of the animal.

Cats that have crossed the border of old age, as a rule, do not move much and therefore begin to limp due to atrophy of the limbs. Play with them more often, provoking active actions.

To prevent splinters from getting into the paws, do not be lazy to clean the room as thoroughly as possible, checking that there are no objects potentially dangerous for the animal lying on the floor.

Lameness in cats is not uncommon. If, apart from her, your pet is not worried about anything else, then it is quite possible that in a couple of days the situation will return to normal. If you see that the cat has become restless, has been limping for a long time, then professional help is required.