Paralysis in cats Symptoms include sudden loss of use of the hind legs, reduced or no eating, rapid breathing, and urine leakage or failure to urinate. These symptoms can occur in cats of all ages, but are more common in young cats with no history of accidents or poisoning.
Causes of loss of use of the hind legs or paralysis It is caused by a blood clot blocking the large artery, causing a lack of blood flow to both hind legs. The most common cause is an abnormal enlargement of the heart muscle, causing blood to flow in the left atrium for a long time, causing a blood clot.
There are two types of feline cardiomyopathy.
- Primary type These include dilated cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, angina pectoris, right ventricular arrhythmias, and unspecified forms. Strains that are at risk for dilated cardiomyopathy include: Maine Coon, Bengal, Persian, American Shorthair, British Shorthair
- Secondary type These include systemic hypertension, hyperthyroidism, taurine deficiency, and pituitary gland hypertrophy.
Diagnosis A veterinarian will need to perform a series of physical examinations.
- Physical examination There is usually no pulse in both hind legs, the tips of both hind feet are cold, and there is no reaction in the two hind legs.
- Blood test Such as blood test, virus test, liver test, kidney test, thyroid hormone test, and hormone test that indicates heart disease.
- Diagnostic radiology To see if there is an enlarged heart or fluid in the chest. Other causes of a cat not having a hind leg include a fractured spine, a tumor or cancer in the abdomen.
- Cardiac ultrasound Or echocardiogram to look at the heart wall, heart contractions, and blood flow in the heart chambers.
- Abdominal ultrasound To look for blood clots in the aorta or to examine organs and lymph nodes in the abdomen.
Treatment
The veterinarian will prescribe blood clot-dissolving drugs, anti-thrombotic drugs, and pain relievers, as well as fluids, oxygen, and other medications depending on the symptoms and cause.
Protection It can be done, such as feeding cat food that contains taurine, which is important for cat heart muscles.
In summary, cats with heart disease and this condition often die from blood clots blocking blood vessels throughout the body, causing organs to lose blood and die, along with heart failure, because this condition can occur suddenly. Therefore, if you find a cat with these symptoms, you should take it to a veterinarian for a timely examination and treatment, which will increase the chances of a response to treatment.
By Veterinarian Piyoros Phothiphongthorn
Physician at the Neurology and Brain Center, Taling Chan Animal Hospital
English