Question on cat walking on hocks

Hey there everybody,

This is a follow-up post (
other thread) on my 13 year old kitty named Junebug, only this time I'm sure he is walking on his hocks. It's not very severe at this point, but his rear end creeps low to the ground and he likes to lean on his hocks whenever he can. I've noticed he has difficulty jumping up on my lap and on the bed. He can still do it, but he hesitates and sometimes misses.

I took him in and he got a urine test and an X-Ray. His urine levels looked great, so the vet didn't think he had renal failure (I also think this urine test ruled out diabetes... if anybody can confirm that, please do!). He had calcification in his spine, but the vet told me it was fairly common for older cats and wasn't too much to worry about. She thinks he was stiff from arthritis, mostly.

I'm not so sure I agree with that, since his legs seemed to have gotten weaker. I'm going to take him back to the vet, but I'm wondering if anybody has any ideas on what the problem could be. Maybe a blood clot is a possibility, but how would a vet test for that?

Also, I'm curious about hind-leg exercises and if they can help his weakness. I don't want to put him through any stress, but if they could help his condition I'd gladly put the effort in.

As always, thank you for the great advice! It warms my heart to hear from strangers you don't even know helping you out.

Hi!

Thank God, definitely not a blood clot, you can be absolutely sure of that. (A blood clot would cause paralysis in the rear legs.)

Sorry to have to say this but a urine test is not a reliable way to diagnose diabetes, you need to have bloodwork done.

Check out this info for ideas to follow up on:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/weak-back-rear-legs.htm

http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/cdifferential.html
(Cat walking on hock (heel) on one leg and Leg weakness and gait problems)

http://www.petdiabetes.org/legs.htm

I hope this helps.

You should have your vet run a complete blood panel to rule out things such as renal failure, liver failure and diabetes. If your vet didn't do bloodwork, there is absolutely no way for him to be able to rule out those diseases. Often cats with renal failure will exhibit rear leg weakness due to depleted potassium levels. Only bloodwork can tell you if this is the cause or not. Do not supplement potassium without proper bloodwork because too much potassium (as well as too little) can cause cardiac arrythmias or even cardiac arrest.

Good luck to you and Junebug!

Pookie & the girls

It sounds like tendon problems to me. Our 22 year old had this happen to her. she gradually had deterioration of her achilles tendon. As it weakened she ended up walking in her hocks.

I agree with what others have said, a UA and x-ray, probably isn't what is needed to diagnose what is wrong. That being said, I don't think his hind leg problem has anything to do with liver or kidney failure. Those are common concerns for any senior kitty.

Keeping my fingers crossed that you get some confirmed answers for you and Junebug soon. ( cute, cute name BTW!)