Wobbly on back legs

[Pinkcat1771]

My 13 year old Persian cat suddenly started looking wobbly on his back legs yesterday. He seems to walk fine then just suddenly his back legs give way then he carries on ok. He was still wobbly this morning so I took him to my vet. He is absolutely fine in himself apart from this, there are no other symptoms. He was really thorough and checked him over, he did full set of bloods and xrayed him. The X-ray showed nothing wrong with his heart or spine. Bloods all came back good apart from slightly high WBC count which he is going to check again in two weeks. His thyroid was ok, kidneys and liver all came back ok too so he really doesn't know what is causing it unless it is a tumour. If his WBC count has gone up in two weeks he said that could be the cause. He doesn't think it was a blood clot/stroke as his heart is fine. Has anybody else seen anything similar? Just got to monitor him now and see how he goes, unless he gets any worse he's not back to the vets for two weeks. He is eating and drinking as normal and seems his usual self but wobbly on his back legs sometimes. Thanks for any input anyone can offer for a worried Mummy! PS he's an indoor cat so we know it's not trauma related.

[Crewella]

I wish I could offer something useful, but I've not seen this either. At least he's had a thorough check-up and seems in good health overall - all you can do is see how he does. I really hope he improves.

[Pinkcat1771]

Thanks, I'm so worried. Got to try and video him walking at home for the vet today as Sod's law he walked fine and didn't wobble at all there. This morning he is wobbly behind still but he's asleep on my lap at mo!

[meriad]

hi there - are you on FB? I'm member of a group (Rushden Persian Rescue) and have posted on there to see if anyone is a CC member and can maybe offer more advice - one person has replied that they have an older Persian that is quite wobbly but it's just age related and they give her EaseFlex to help her.

Maybe if you are on FB then have a look for that group and ask to join and see if anyone there has any more ideas. Reason being that Persians (and a lot of pure breeds for that matter) due to their overbreeding have hereditary issues and they would potentially know more.

Please do let us know how you get on and fusses to your boy

[Pinkcat1771]

Thanks, I will take a look on FB. He was fine Tuesday night when we went to bed but not right on Weds am so it's almost like it happened overnight. It's not got worse but no better with, he still wobbles behind every so often. Although my vet is brilliant and gave him a thorough MOT I'm really concerned he had a mini stroke that night. I just can't see why else it would come on so suddenly. Anyway thank you for your help. Fingers crossed he will start to improve. He's happy in himself and eating and drinking as normal which is good. So awful seeing our little babies not right though.

[lilynmitz]

Lily was a bit wobbly on her back legs in old age due to arthritis and general muscle weakness, but when it suddenly got much worse it was due to heart problems. It sounds like you've given him a really thorough MOT, but my vet says the results are how the cat is on THAT day, and THAT moment, and things can change even during the course of the day. If it persists, I'd take him back for a review.

[greenkitty]

I think you're right to be concerned, this isn't normal and the fact it came on overnight to me, suggests something is wrong. It could be kidneys, heart, diabetes, a stroke so many possibilities. If he's still wobbly I would take him back or go elsewhere for a second opinion. Hope he's ok.

[Pinkcat1771]

Thank you, yep my concern is that it just came on overnight. He has also been constipated since it happened, the vet gave him an enema which cleared him out on Thursday but since then he's only passed very small dry balls. I'm going to get some lactulose but don't want him on this long term. I'm also going to try and cut back on his dry food and give him more wet food. If anyone knows of anything else I can try to help please let me know.

The vet tested for pretty much everything but I have read online that there can be some neurological conditions which can cause the back end to be wobbly and constipation. Going to ask vet when I pop in for lactulose as still very concerned. If it was a mini stroke I don't want to do nothing in case he has a bigger one but I'm sure if it was he'd be much worse than he is. I've also read about vestibular disease which can come on very quick but goes in a few days, they also have other symptoms though which he hasn't had.

He's still a bit wobbly every so often behind this morning but better than yesterday. He's really happy in himself though.

[MarkB]

My old boy Lazarus had Megacolon. He was always wobbly on his legs when he was backed up. Some older cats are prone to getting constipated. You can always add some Psyllium husk to wet food or feed a food with psyllium in to bulk up the poos. I used to give him Royal Canin fibre response. A small amount each day kept him going most of the time. I occasionally had to give him a laxative.

A food that is easily available is Royal Canin Intense hairball. It doesn't have as much psyllium in as the fibre response, but may be enough to help http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/st ... tAodJ0cAqw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Pinkcat1771]

Thanks MarkB I've had him on the Hairball but not Intense Hairball so will give those a try as well. I picked up some lactulose from the vets so he's had 2ml and will give him another 2ml later. Hoping that will clear him through! Then will just try to change his diet to help longer term. He's sunning himself on the patio right now so seems happy enough )

[Pinkcat1771]

MarkB I just ordered some of the Royal Canin Fibre Response from Amazon you recommended. It gets some great reviews on there so thanks for that. I think I'll use that instead of the Hairball and give him plenty of wet food too.

[MarkB]

I had great results with it. Even my vet was surprised. When I adopted him from CP (after fostering him) he had to have several manual evacuations under GA. Once he started on the Fibre Response, he only had to be cleared out once in 4 years - and even then, no GA needed. Even though he had Megacolon, I found that he didn't need a lot of the Fibre Response for it to work. He probably only ate around 20g a day, if that. I used to mix it up with his favourite dry, which was JWB senior fish, although unlike most prescription foods, it seems to be really palatable. The other cats used to help themselves to it

Upping the wet food is a good idea too - psyllium soaks up a lot of water.

[greenkitty]

Adding some warm water to the wet food will help too.

[Pinkcat1771]

That's great news, hopefully Dempsey will like it too. I've also started adding a little water to his wet food. He seems a lot better tonight, the 'Wobbles' have definitely got better! I'm keeping everything crossed that tomorrow he's even less wobbly!

[Crewella]

I'm glad to hear he's better, you sound less worried, too.

[lilynmitz]

Sounds positive, I hope it works for him.

[Pinkcat1771]

Yes I definitely feel happier today seeing him improve, it's so hard seeing them poorly isn't it! This site is great and everyone has been very nice with their suggestions and help. Im embarrassed to say I only just found it but as a cat mad person I will be using it more in future. Will keep you posted on Dempseys progress over the next few days. Thanks everyone x

[Pinkcat1771]

Dempsey update! He's still wobbly behind, that seems to have stayed the same last couple of days but it's not all the time so very strange. Still no action in the toilet dept either, not that he's standing in there trying to go but he hasn't been since the vet gave him his enema on Thursday. I'm giving him 2ml of lactulose twice a day plus more wet food and less dry until the royal Canin fibre diet is delivered.
I'm sure there's a connection with the Wobblies and constipation but the vet didn't think so when I asked him last week, seems coincidence they both came on at same time. He's still his normal happy self so hopefully we will see some improvement with both symptoms soon. I don't know what else to do at the moment really.

[nannymcfee]

I am wondering if when he is constipated, that this presses on the sciatic nerve , and can cause wobbling,

after an enema, he could go a few days before going to toilet....

[Pinkcat1771]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I think you could be right. Hopefully in a few days if we can get the constipation problem solved we will be able to see if the wobbliness improves.

[Pinkcat1771]

Woohoo, Dempsey had a poo!! Sorry to bore you with this but it was a great relief to him and me! Haha! Anyway he's still a little wobbly but definitely slightly better and I'm hoping now things are moving in the loo dept that will help! MarkB The Fibre Response arrived today and he loves it, eaten a big handful already so thanks for that. I will keep him on that for now. Thanks again for all your tips and thoughts, much appreciated. Fingers crossed the wobbliness will go now.

[meriad]

Yay! And trust me, I think most of us on her totally understand your joy at the sight of a poo

Go Dempsey

[MarkB]

Great news

One thing I would say is don't let him eat too much of it as it really does bulk up. The other thing I used to do is if Laz didn't go for a couple of days or more (unusual) and I gave him a lazative, I stopped giving him the fibre response until we had normal service, as I didn't want to add to the bul if nothing was coming out. I spoke to my vet about it and he said it was probably a good idea.

Be prepared for wondering if a dog has snuck in and used Dempsey's tray tomorrow!

[Lilith]

Yay! And trust me, I think most of us on her totally understand your joy at the sight of a poo

Go Dempsey

LOL!

I once actually posted a pic of a royal python's royal effort on a snake forum! Well, it was in response to someone who wanted to know what snake mess looked like - wise person - I never considered the matter myself when I started with snakes. I soon learned!

Back on topic, yeah, I'm in the same situation with my Mouse, also aged 13. I FEEL for her - those wizened goat droppings - must be like giving birth to Stonehenge!

I've started her on some stuff called Katalax which is a blend of liquid paraffin, fish oil and yeast, looks like Marmite and costs around £16 for 200g with postage - I only bought it because administration is simple - you put 1" on your finger and wipe it round the cat's lips once or twice a day - after 24 hours the result was wondrous.

I've also learned a lot from this thread - have ordered some Fibre Response for her.

Pinkcat - I used to have an elderly lad (though he was arthritic too) who used to get extra doddery if he was a bit constipated, although he was never bad enough for intervention; he always went every day; just sometimes he was extra solid.

Just out of interest, is your lad named Dempsey for the fierce ginger tom in Paul Gallico's 'Jennie'? Marvellous book, cried buckets over it when I was a kid.

All the very very best with Dempsey

[Crewella]

Hurrah - that is good news. Don't worry, we definitely do understand .... and I have to confess I once posted a picture of poo on this forum.

I hope the diet helps too. xx

[Pinkcat1771]

Thanks everyone, I thought you'd all understand! My husband thinks I'm just mad!

Ok MarkB I will definitely watch he doesn't OD on his new yummy biscuits.

We named him Dempsey after 'Dempsey & Makepeace'!

Anyway thanks again all, fingers crossed he will be ok now, he certainly looks far more stable today.

[Walesgang]

Hurrah - that is good news. Don't worry, we definitely do understand .... and I have to confess I once posted a picture of poo on this forum.

I hope the diet helps too. xx

I recall that photo! Not sure what that says about me!

Interestingly, my boy has just gone into the Royal Canin fibre biscuits. We use them to replace his old biscuits with wet food. So far, so good

[Cussypat1974]

Pooh is one of the MOST important indicators of health, and we should all keep an eye on it!

Just to add, as regards the possibility of a blood clot having caused these signs....cats can have heart disease which are impossible to detect. They do not always ðevelop audible murmurs, and heart disease can go completely undiagnosed. This is not a reflection on your vet at all, sometimes there just aren't any signs before the disease has progressed.

Heart issues can in turn lead to blood clots. Small ones can cause mild or temporary problems, big ones kill. The clot usually lodges in the aorta, where it splits to supply the two back legs with nutrients and oxygen. This is called a saddle thrombus and a large one will result in severe pain and paralysis. Sometimes the clot can be dissolved with drugs, but the risks are high and the cat is is severe pain. Most people euthanise, as if one saddle thrombus happens, another is very likely to follow.

An echocardiograph could give more information than any x-ray, but is obviously a specialist procedure and very costly. It is not something I have ever done with my own cats. To illustrate how hard it can be to diagnose these things, my Momo recently was euthanised after a saddle thrombus. She had been back and forth to the vet for months, been investigated for all sorts of things, and it was only when she presented with the thrombus that the root of her problems was discovered. My vet is VERY thorough and I trust her (I have worked with her) but there is no way to predict some things.....

Here is a link that explains FATE (Feline Aortic Thromboembolism) quite well.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... ID=3001644" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Of course, it may not be what is affecting your cat, but given the age and signs, it might be worth a thought.

[Pinkcat1771]

Thanks cussypat1974 I'm so sorry to hear you lost your cat to this. I've read a lot about it on the net and my vet also talked about this. I'm hoping as he has fully recovered it was just caused by constipation but I agree I need to bear the saddle thrombus in mind. My vet said normally with this condition their back legs will be cold and the paw pads turn blue. Did you see this?
Interestingly the vet did find a slight heart murmur which he's never heard on him before but I've been told a lot of cats have a slight murmur. He seems totally back to normal today and no wobbliness at all so keeping my fingers crossed he will be alright.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a detailed post, I really appreciate it.

[MarkB]

Great that the wobbles have gone - long may it continue.