Common Complications in Felines With Spine Injuries

While cats can suffer from many serious health problems, one of the scariest can be an injury to the spine. Damages from spinal injuries can result in paralysis or death. Depending on the nature of the injury, medications can be given or in more serious cases surgery can be performed to treat these injuries. In some cases the injury might not be curable. It is important to know what complications to watch out for.

  1. Unseen Complications

    • Sometimes a spinal cord injury results in problems that you are not able to see. For example, a buildup of certain chemicals in an injured spinal cord can make the spinal injury worse. Hemorrhage or bleeding within the spinal cord is also common and can exacerbate the injury.

    Abnormal Walking

    • If your cat is having difficulty standing and/or walking, it's important to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. If left untreated these symptoms may be irreversible.

    Pain

    • Your cat may experience pain when touched. Medications are available for animals suffering from spinal pain, but your veterinarian will need to perform a neurological examination first.

    Lethargy

    • Your cat may be tired, slow and inactive.

    Bowel and Bladder Problems

    • This complication includes incontinence as well as the inability to pass urine or feces. If a cat is unable to empty its bladder, sometimes the owner may need to help the cat by pressing on its bladder, depending on the extent of the injury. Not all cats recover from this condition.