Arthritis In Cats Back Legs

Feline arthritis can be caused by injury infection an autoimmune disorder or degenerative problems involving the joints.

Arthritis in cats back legs.

Arthritis is one of the most common ailments seen in middle aged to older pets. Even younger cats under the right circumstances can suffer from arthritic changes. Cats with arthritis may be painful when handled. Arthritic cats may have difficulty accessing the litter box and may urinate or defecate outside of the litter box.

If a cat seems stiff or painful has swollen joints loses muscle mass or has a hard time moving around it might have arthritis. Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted. Many drugs are just not safe for use in cats. So if your cat is slowly becoming weaker on its back legs the problem should be investigated.

Cats can develop arthritis for a variety of reasons including aging obesity trauma and occasionally genetic or heritable conditions. Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs for a couple of reasons. Cats can hide their pain or show very subtle vague signs of pain. However some culprits such as brain tumors and kidney disease can be fatal if untreated.

This instinct makes it difficult for owners to know their cats is affected and whether treatment is necessary. The pain resulting from arthritis may cause a decreased appetite for some cats. And cats have peculiar problems when it comes to using anti inflammatories the mainstay of treating arthritis. How to spot arthritis in cats.

Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints. This is a painful condition that occur as a result of joint inflammation. By lorie huston dvm. Cats tend to hide signs of pain quite effectively which makes sense if you consider their ancestry.

Keeping a cat in good shape through proper diet can help relieve the symptoms. Here are some possible signs of arthritis pain in cats. Signs of arthritis in cats. Gradual onset hind leg problems in cats are often caused by milder illnesses such as arthritis.

Being less active may not roll on back or stretch as previously did a change in the. A sick animal in the wild is vulnerable to predators so any sign of weakness must be hidden. Some cats with arthritis will stop grooming themselves resulting in an unkempt haircoat. Arthritis may be the underlying cause for wobbly hind legs in older cats.