Hindlimb Paralysis
There can be many causes of hindlimb paralysis in pets. The paralysis may be spontaneous and happen without incident, or traumatic such as a small jump or fall. Regardless of cause this is an emergency and your pet should be seen by a veterinarian right away.
In cats, hindlimb paralysis is commonly associated with those which have an underlying heart condition called cardiomyopathy. This condition can occur in cats as young as one year and up to any age. Cardiomyopathy affects the hearts ability to pump blood as efficiently as it used to, causing an increased risk of blood clots or thrombus. These clots can dislodge from the heart and obstruct blood supply to the back legs. This is called Saddle Thrombus or Aortic Thromboembolism. This is extremely painful to the cat and signs of thromboembolism include:
- Vocalization
- Dragging hind end
- Cold/blue tinged foot pads
- Extreme discomfort/pain
- Difficulty breathing or panting
Saddle thrombus to pet owners resembles a broken back. This is rarely the case unless there is any known trauma to have occurred such as the pet being hit by a car or attacked by another animal. Usually, saddle thrombus is the culprit. Chances of recovery from saddle thrombus is low even with treatment and is dependent on the severity of the case. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is usually fatal.
In dogs, hindlimb paralysis is commonly associated with those which have a condition called Intervertebral Disc Disease. This condition can occur in dogs of all ages and is predisposed to occur in overweight dogs, specifically those of the dachshund, corgi, poodle (miniature or toy), shih tzu, lhaso apsos, pekingese and beagle breeds although all breeds can be affected. Those breeds with longer bodies and shorter legs than other breeds tend to have more spinal pressure occurring during activities such as jumping on or off objects causing compression of the discs between the vertebrae. Age-related degeneration of the vertebrae is also a common cause of IVDD. Signs of IVDD include:
- Inability to use hindlimbs
- Arched back or extended neck depending on where on the spine the problem is occurring
- Inability to eat or drink
- Immobility
Depending on the severity of the condition of the pet, disc disease can often be treated with a variety of methods including medications, chiropractic medicine and even acupuncture.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
hi there, I have a yellow lab just over one year! On Sunday morning (one day ago) we noticed that she is unable to wag her tail and it cannot go back up. She shows signs of pain when trying to sit. She is still her normal self for the most part she is eating drinking going to the bathroom as normal, doesnt seem to be in distress… I’m wondering if you can help me, tell me if there is something I should be doing for her? she may have just pulled a muscle however im npt sure if this is the case so if this is a searous matter and need to bring her to her vet asap?? Please help!! Thank you for your time!
Leah Millar
Dear Leah,
I can offer you my thoughts on what I think is going on with your Lab’s tail. You will likely have to see a veterinarian however for an exam and some medication.
Lab’s have a condition called “Lab Tail”, appropriately named… This can occur for no particular reason but is sometimes caused by swimming in cold water or laying on a cold surface. It is a muscular problem that does cause their tail to go limp and be quite painful. My other thought is that your Lab could have an anal gland issue. Dogs have 2 glands on the inside of their anus that normally empty with bowel movements. Sometimes they get too full or infected and cause the dog much discomfort. Owners often report that the dog will tuck it’s tail between it’s legs and seem painful. Either way, your dog does require medication to manage both conditions and this needs to be prescribed by a veterinarian. Make an exam as soon as you can.
I hope this helps you and please feel free to ask and more questions if need be. I have answered you in your email as well.