Arthritis In Cats Back Legs
Being less active may not roll on back or stretch as previously did a change in the.
Arthritis in cats back legs. Signs of arthritis in cats. So if your cat is slowly becoming weaker on its back legs the problem should be investigated. Cats with arthritis may be painful when handled. Cats can develop arthritis for a variety of reasons including aging obesity trauma and occasionally genetic or heritable conditions.
Here are some possible signs of arthritis pain in cats. This instinct makes it difficult for owners to know their cats is affected and whether treatment is necessary. Feline arthritis can be caused by injury infection an autoimmune disorder or degenerative problems involving the joints. And cats have peculiar problems when it comes to using anti inflammatories the mainstay of treating arthritis.
If a cat seems stiff or painful has swollen joints loses muscle mass or has a hard time moving around it might have arthritis. How to spot arthritis in cats. Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted. Keeping a cat in good shape through proper diet can help relieve the symptoms.
Even younger cats under the right circumstances can suffer from arthritic changes. Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints. Gradual onset hind leg problems in cats are often caused by milder illnesses such as arthritis. Any joint in the body can be affected and back legs joints are no exception.
Arthritis causes changes within the affected joints that are painful for the affected pet. Cats tend to hide signs of pain quite effectively which makes sense if you consider their ancestry. By lorie huston dvm. Arthritis is one of the most common ailments seen in middle aged to older pets.
Cats can hide their pain or show very subtle vague signs of pain. Arthritis may be the underlying cause for wobbly hind legs in older cats. Arthritic cats may have difficulty accessing the litter box and may urinate or defecate outside of the litter box. However some culprits such as brain tumors and kidney disease can be fatal if untreated.
Some cats with arthritis will stop grooming themselves resulting in an unkempt haircoat. The pain resulting from arthritis may cause a decreased appetite for some cats. Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs for a couple of reasons. This is a painful condition that occur as a result of joint inflammation.