8 reasons why a cat is limping on its hind leg

When faced with arthritis or arthrosis, cats begin to experience severe pain and stiffness when moving, lifting and jumping even to low heights. These diseases cannot be neglected - they can lead to irreversible consequences. What are the symptoms of arthritis and arthrosis in cats? What is the treatment? Find answers to these and other questions below.

Read in this article:

What is this? At-risk groups

Causes of arthritis and arthrosis

Symptoms of joint damage

Diagnosis of the condition

Treatment of arthritis and arthrosis

Treatment of lameness in cats

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

Drug therapy

In the case where lameness is associated with a splinter or other foreign body getting into the paw, treatment consists of treating the wound with a simple antiseptic. But first the splinter is pulled out so that swelling and inflammation do not occur. As a rule, no complications arise, the wound heals within 2-3 days. Along with painful sensations, lameness will disappear. Fractures are not uncommon in active cats. If the animal breaks its paw, you should try to immobilize it before arriving at the clinic. At the hospital, the cat will be examined and a bandage or cast will be applied.

Treatment of degenerative changes in the limbs and arthritis in cats is carried out with the help of drugs that restore the elasticity of cartilage, 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 carrying out the necessary diagnostic measures. 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 is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs. Painful sensations are relieved by No-shpa, Papaverine, etc.

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

Front paw fracture in a kitten

Surgical intervention

The duration and intensity of treatment depend on the type of disease and its advanced stage. For example, osteomyelitis disappears with age, but osteochondrosis, arthritis and arthrosis can become chronic. In this case, constant dulling of painful outbreaks with anti-inflammatory and painkillers 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.

If the kneecap is dislocated, if timely treatment is not carried out and the disease progresses to stages 3 and 4, surgery 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.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of arthritis in sick cats should be comprehensive and include several areas. The main goal is to stabilize the condition and improve the quality of life of patients. The disease, unfortunately, has no cure, but with good supportive therapy and proper care, remissions will be quite long, and motor activity will be restored almost completely. The following types of therapy are used:

surgical intervention;
drug therapy;
special care;
rehabilitation measures to maintain a stable condition of the joints;
therapeutic nutrition and weight correction;
physiotherapy.

Surgery

It is justified as an emergency measure in the later stages of the disease, in the presence of severe concomitant diseases (joint instability, severe joint dysplasia). In these cases, it is not possible to alleviate the animal’s condition in any way, relieve severe pain and improve the quality of life using conservative methods.

Special care

It consists of creating comfortable living conditions that make life easier and reduce joint pain:

first of all, this is the creation of a warm, safe place to sleep, away from drafts;
to make jumping easier, intermediate supports are placed under the elevations;
purchase litter trays with a low side;
place inclined surfaces where there are steps;
comb the fur and trim the claws to make grooming easier for the cat.

Drug therapy and pain relief

Drug therapy consists of prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have significant side effects, so before starting treatment, they determine whether there are severe pathologies of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Usually the minimum effective dose of drugs is used. Meloxicam is the most suitable drug for cats. The course of its administration can be unlimited in time.

Glucocorticosteroids are not used in the treatment of arthritis, since their systemic side effects may exceed the effect.

Assistive therapy and rehabilitation

As an adjuvant therapy, it is common to use supplements based on chondroitin and glucosamine. They help restore worn cartilage, slowing down its destruction.

In addition, cold and warm compresses can be used on the sore joint:

a cold compress is used in the acute phase with severe inflammation;
a warm compress is applied after the inflammation is relieved to stabilize the condition.

In case of purulent inflammation, the use of warm compresses is strictly prohibited.

Medical nutrition

There are specialized foods for cats diagnosed with this disease. They are a therapeutic diet with a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin and glucosamine, which restore articular cartilage. Such foods have a limited fat content, which allows you to adjust the animal’s weight, avoiding obesity.

A sick cat is strictly contraindicated from table food that includes too fatty foods with an unlimited amount of salt and seasonings. Natural nutrition should consist of lean meat, dairy products, and a small amount of fish.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Among the methods of physiotherapy for cats, massage procedures are recommended. The massage should be very light, but persistent, making blood circulation more active. It is necessary to carry out circular massage movements, slowly moving along the limb to the sore joint.

In some cases, acupuncture may be used. It helps relieve spasms and relieve pain. Should only be carried out by competent specialists with experience in using this method in veterinary medicine. The downside is that it can only be used if the animal is at rest. It seems possible to do this only under the influence of sedatives or anesthesia.

Diseases of the joints and bones

Diseases that affect a cat's joints are often age-related and occur after 6-8 years of life. Some pathologies are congenital and develop gradually; more than a month may pass before the first symptoms appear. Viral diseases and various infections often serve as the impetus for the development of inflammation of joint tissues. If a cat has lameness, the following diseases are possible:

Hip dysplasia. A genetic abnormality that an animal suffers from birth or has a predisposition to develop. It progresses even at a young age. Lameness in an animal is most noticeable after sleep or rest. When a pet “develops” its limbs after a long period of rest, the symptom is not very pronounced or becomes almost invisible.
Arthritis and arthrosis. These diseases in most cases occur in older cats and are the most common pathologies affecting the joints. Changes in tissues in both diseases are largely similar, as are the symptoms of their manifestation. The animal tries to move as little as possible - this way the pain practically goes away. The cat refuses to eat and becomes weaker, and sometimes there is a rise in body temperature. Swelling occurs in the joint area, the animal reacts aggressively to palpation, and a local increase in body temperature is felt.
Patella or luxating kneecap. The pathology is rare and is caused by genetic abnormalities or severe trauma. The disease manifests itself abruptly: the animal suddenly begins to limp, it experiences severe pain, to which the cat reacts by meowing and hissing. Treatment is required as soon as possible, since with further development of the disease, surgical intervention will become necessary.
Osteomyelitis. The disease most often occurs in cats at a young age during the period of active growth. It is characterized by the process of degeneration of bone tissue and its partial destruction, affecting both one limb and several at once. The disease causes severe pain, so the pet does not allow the affected paws to be touched.
Osteochondrosis. A disease of the spine, as a result of which the spinal roots are pinched or pinched, causing the cat to lame in various limbs. A failure in the formation of cartilage tissue leads to the abrasion of the cartilage layer between the vertebrae, which causes severe pain when moving. A cat sometimes not only limps on its hind leg, but also pulls it back.
Osteosarcoma. A malignant formation that occurs in bone tissue. Most often it affects animals over the age of 6 years.

All these diseases are serious and require timely treatment under the supervision of a specialist. Typically therapy consists of painkillers and corticosteroids. In severe cases, surgery is required. If you suspect that your cat is limping due to any of the listed joint diseases, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic. At home, you can only waste time without proper treatment.

Forms of the disease

According to the duration and severity of the course, acute, subacute or chronic forms of the disease are distinguished.

In acute cases, inflammation is accompanied by the formation of serous exudate. The process can be complicated by the loss of fibrinous sediment or purulent inflammation spreading to adjacent tissues and muscles.

Chronic arthritis, occurring for quite a long time with periodic relapses, leads to the growth of the lining of the inner surface of the joints and granulation of the cartilaginous surface. This is fraught with the development of deformities and contractures of the joints.

Prevention of lameness

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

If you want to know whether 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, move little and therefore begin to limp due to atrophy of the limbs. Play with them more often, provoking them to take active actions.

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

Lameness in cats is not that uncommon. If nothing else bothers your pet except it, 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 and has been limping for a long time, then professional help is required.

First aid for a cat

If your cat hurts its paw, self-treatment at home is possible. You can help your cat in the following ways:

if possible, calm down (if the pet does not show aggression, pick it up, caress it, pat it on the back);
Apply cold to the bruised site for 1 minute, then, after a 30 second break, apply again for 1 minute, etc. Repeat the manipulation for 15 minutes.

In case of a fracture, it is necessary to immobilize the paw and, if possible, fix it. It is advisable to transport your pet to the veterinary clinic while still, so as not to further damage the limb.

The veterinarian at the clinic will take an x-ray and all the necessary manipulations to help the cat.

No matter how much pain a cat may feel due to an injury, it is strictly forbidden to give painkillers from a human first aid kit yourself.

The article provides general information on this issue, as well as how the problem is solved in different cases. Only after examining a four-legged patient from a veterinarian can you get accurate advice on how and what to do for treatment.

Why does a cat limp on its front leg and what to do?

Lameness in cats is quite common and there can be many reasons for this: trauma, dislocation, fracture, sprain. Inspect the paw and, if no injuries are found, take it to the veterinarian. If there is a wound, treat it with an antiseptic and bandage the paw. Until your pet's complete recovery, his paw should not strain.

Why does a cat limp on his hind leg after castration, an injection without visible damage, how to help

During surgery or an injection, the doctor could have touched a nerve, which is why the cat is limping. This can continue for three to five days, without outside intervention. If the lameness does not disappear, then consult a veterinarian for examination.

The cat is limping and doesn’t eat anything.

The only reason a cat doesn't eat is because her paw hurts. She may have a dislocation or even a fracture. Take him to the doctor. If this is a sprain, and the cat still does not want to eat, then force feed it through a syringe, because it will not have the strength to fully recover.

The kitten injured its paw, but won’t let it be examined only because it hurts and is afraid that you will make it even more painful. He thinks right! You can only expect an examination from the owner, and the veterinarian must treat lameness and the injury itself.

The kitten has a limping paw and a swollen paw, what to do and how to fix it

Examine the paw. Treat and bandage the wound, but not too much. In this condition, take him to the doctor, as the kitten could have broken a paw or torn ligaments.

Achilles tendon rupture in dogs and cats

Rupture of the Achilles tendon (Rupturatendinis achillis) can occur as a result of an accidental cut or chopped-torn wound (wild boar tusk), as well as from a strong blow with the hoof of an elk or other domestic ungulates, when hit by moving vehicles, etc.

Clinical signs of a complete rupture of this tendon are characterized by flexion of the limb at the metatarsal joint and support of the entire plantar surface of the metatarsus on the ground. The movement is difficult and occurs on three limbs; with each attempt to lean on it, the affected limb bends sharply at the tarsal joint. The dog's croup is drooping, and a wound or depression forms in the area of the Achilles tendon (with a closed injury).

In case of incomplete rupture, flexion of the joint during support occurs gradually (slowly), as if the limb cannot withstand the weight of the body. In subsequent days, due to contraction of the calf muscle, an incomplete tear may become complete.

The forecast is cautious. Cases of spontaneous restoration of the anatomical continuity of a damaged joint due to the formation of a connective tissue scar have been described. However, complete restoration of limb function may not occur due to incorrect (at a considerable distance) connection with a scar. Various complications are also possible in cases of the development of purulent infection with tendon wounds (tendon necrosis, tenosynovitis).

Causes of lameness in cats

Lameness may be temporary or permanent. A cat may limp only in the morning, or after a walk when it is tired. Sometimes this phenomenon disappears on its own, in other cases serious treatment may be required, including surgery.

Causes of lameness can be:

Injuries.
This is the most common cause of lameness in cats. A bruise received from a fall or a splinter caught in the paw pad cause pain, and the cat will try not to step on the damaged paw. This cause of lameness is usually immediately visible: the paw swells, the cat often licks it and holds it suspended.
Long claws.
A claw embedded in the soft tissue of the paw certainly causes severe pain.
Infectious diseases.
A slight limp or severe lameness can be one of the symptoms of diseases such as chlamydia, calcivirosis, mycoplasmosis. With these diseases, the joints become inflamed and the cat experiences pain.
Lack of microelements.
With a lack of calcium and vitamins A, C, B6 in the diet, bones become more fragile and ligaments less strong, which causes discomfort in the cat when walking.
Hip dysplasia (hip dysplasia)
is a hereditary bone abnormality, most often diagnosed in cats of large breeds - Persian, British, Maine Coons.

Osteochondrosis.
A typical disease of old cats, osteochondrosis causes pain due to pinching of the nerve roots of the spine. In such cases, the cat may periodically limp on one or both legs (usually the hind legs).
Arthritis, arthrosis, osteomyelitis.
These are diseases that cause inflammatory and degenerative processes in the joints. Lameness is one of their symptoms. Atritis and arthrosis most often affect older cats, osteomyelitis affects individuals under 2 years of age, and Persian cats are at risk for this disease.
Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection
. Often, a cat limps for some time after an injection into a muscle - the administration of a drug or a vaccine. The pain syndrome may persist for several days.
Cancerous bone tumor.
This disease is accompanied by pain in the later stages, when only surgical treatment or symptomatic therapy is possible.

Types of disease and its causes

Arthritis has several varieties, depending on the nature of the damage to the joint and the causes that cause it. Based on the nature of the lesion, two groups of arthritis are distinguished:

inflammatory;
degenerative.

Inflammatory arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis is based on inflammation of the synovial membrane (the inner lining of the joint surface). There are several varieties depending on the reasons:

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common. First of all, connective tissues are always affected. It is necessary to carefully examine the cat in order to establish the cause of the disease and choose the right treatment. It is assumed that the causes are hereditary autoimmune disorders and severe viral infections (mycoplasmosis, herpes, retroviral infections).
Infectious arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. The infection can enter the joint from the outside, or it can enter along with the bloodstream. The disease is usually accompanied by a general reaction of the body: fever, intoxication, severe pain.
Reactive arthritis is a secondary joint disorder that develops after a primary infection affecting the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary or respiratory system. It is believed that its cause is a non-standard immune response of the body to the introduction of infection. Reactive arthritis is usually an uncomplicated inflammation without a purulent component.
Metabolic arthritis is caused by metabolic disorders, which are caused by poor diet. These are calcium-phosphorus deficiency, heterochromatosis and some other abnormalities.

Degenerative arthritis

Degenerative arthritis develops as a result of damage to the surface of the articular cartilage. Their list looks like this:

Traumatic arthritis is inflammation of a joint caused by injury. This can be sprained ligaments, bruises and other closed injuries, causing hemorrhage into the joint capsule and aseptic inflammation.
Osteoarthritis occurs in older adults and affects worn-out joints. The process involves joint bones and cartilage tissue. Overgrown bone tissue injures the joint, which loses its mobility and elasticity. A characteristic symptom of this form of arthritis is crepitus (crunching) of the joint when moving.
Functional arthritis is a type of traumatic arthritis. It occurs as a result of injury from a strong blow with the paws. When a cat falls from a height onto its paws, the destructive load falls on the knees, causing dysfunction of the knee joint. The long-term consequence is functional arthritis.

First aid for a cat

If your cat hurts its paw, self-treatment at home is possible. You can help your cat in the following ways:

if possible, calm down
(if the pet does not show aggression, pick it up, caress it, pat it on the back);
Apply cold
to the bruised site , then, after a 30 second break, apply again for 1 minute, etc. Repeat the manipulation for 15 minutes.

The veterinarian at the clinic will take an x-ray and all the necessary manipulations to help the cat.

No matter how much pain a cat may feel due to an injury, it is strictly forbidden to give painkillers from a human first aid kit yourself.

These medications are not intended for use on animals and may cause irreparable harm to health.

Diagnosis of the condition

If you notice one or more symptoms in your cat, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. The sooner you start treatment, the faster your pet will return to a healthy life. Diagnosis of the condition begins with an initial examination.

The specialist pays attention to the condition of the animal’s coat and the position of the hind limbs. A diagnosis can only be made after the veterinarian observes the cat in motion. Additionally, joints are palpated to identify:

swelling,
soreness,
deformation.

The most common diagnostic method is radiographic examination. The resulting images will show changes in the articular tissue, indicating degenerative changes.

Prevention of lameness

If you want to know whether 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, move little and therefore begin to limp due to atrophy of the limbs. Play with them more often, provoking them to take active actions.

Cats, unlike dogs, are much more flexible and graceful creatures. And therefore, even inattentive owners notice irregularities 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 occur most often.

Symptoms of the disease

In diagnosing arthritis, the owner's observation plays a major role. Therefore, every owner should know what symptoms may indicate that their pet is sick. Some features of the animal’s behavior should alert the attentive owner:

the cat has difficulty going up and down stairs, avoids jumping on the bed, sleeps more on the floor, does not use a scratching post;
there is a clear decrease in playfulness;
defecates not in the tray, but next to it;
became lethargic, avoids communication with people and other animals, stopped purring;
appetite is significantly reduced;
cares for the coat less carefully, neglecting those areas that are difficult for her to reach due to pain;
protects joints, meows or hisses when stroking them;
there is a stiff or stilted gait, lameness;
weight loss may occur.

The owner should take into account some physiological features, which are also signs of arthritis:

The cat’s claws are too long because she doesn’t grind them down;
increase in size, crepitus of diseased joints;
increase in local temperature in the area of inflammation.

Diagnosis of the disease

The veterinarian makes a diagnosis based on the owner’s story about the animal’s unusual behavior. It is difficult to conduct an orthopedic examination of a cat in a clinical setting because it is stressed and constrained. Subsequently, the joints are palpated. It makes it possible to determine their condition and degree of deformation. If arthritis is suspected, several more diagnostic procedures are prescribed to help clarify the picture of the disease:

X-rays are prescribed to identify bone growths, thickening of soft tissues, and narrowing of the joint space;
bacteriological examination of synovial fluid is carried out if infectious arthritis is suspected;
A biochemical analysis of blood and urine is prescribed to exclude concomitant diseases.