What are Ligament and Tendon Conditions?
Though ligament and tendon conditions are fairly common in cats, they require prompt care in order for full mobility to be restored.
The ligaments in a cat are a tough band that is composed of a white, slightly elastic, fibrous tissue that binds the ends of bones together. Ligaments prevent excessive movements that could cause dislocation or bone breakage. They are found throughout the cat's body where two bones meet. Tendons are composed of a fibrous tissue that connects the muscles to the bones. When conditions arise with the ligaments or tendons, the cat's mobility will suffer.
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Symptoms of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats
Depending on the location of the ligament or tendon that is affected and the condition that occurred, symptoms may vary slightly. These symptoms include:
- Subtle lameness that worsens over time
- Inability or unwillingness to exercise
- Resting foreleg on floor rather than in an upright position
- Pain or tenderness in paws, forelegs or hind legs
- Swelling in joints
- Swelling around muscles
- Grating sounds when joints are moved
- Walking with heel placed on ground
- Non-weight bearing lameness
Types
There are several types of conditions that can affect the ligaments and tendons in cats. Some of these types include:
- Cranial cruciate ligament tear: a tearing of the ligament in the knee joint
- Palmar carpal ligament breakdown: tearing or wearing down of the ligaments in the wrist
- Bicipital tenosynovitis: inflammation of the tendon in the shoulder joint
- Brachii muscle rupture: rupture of the tendon in the upper limb
- Supraspinatus avulsion: rupture of the tendon that connects shoulder to upper limb
- Luxating patella: a condition in which the kneecap moves due to weakening or overextension of the ligaments and tendons
Causes of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats
Most ligament and tendon problems occur due to a vehicular accident, trauma received from another animal, or injury from jumping from too high of a location. Vehicular accidents can cause fractures in the bones and hyperextend the tendons. A dog or other animal who attacks a cat may bite, causing the tendons or ligaments to become injured. When a cat lands on the ground incorrectly after jumping, the ligaments and tendons are at risk of tearing, rupturing or breaking down over time. Cats can also injure their tendons or ligaments slowly over time as a result of repetitive straining, overexertion, or fatigue.
Diagnosis of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats
The veterinarian will need to know how long symptoms the have been present, any recent trauma or injuries that could have caused the ligament or tendon condition, and a complete list of symptoms. The veterinarian will gently examine the cat, feeling for signs of swelling and tenderness.
Radiography is the best way to determine what condition is affecting the cat. Radiography may include X-rays, which can eliminate fractured bones as the source of the problem; ultrasounds, which can identify swelling and tears in the ligaments and tendons; and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can look for muscle injuries and tendon or ligament rupturing.
If the exact cause of the symptoms cannot be determined through radiography, the veterinarian may use an arthroscope to explore the affected ligaments and tendons. The arthroscope is a small endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. The veterinarian will use the arthroscope to explore the injured area and diagnose the problem. Samples of fluid or tissue may be removed using the arthroscope and sent to an outside lab for further analysis.
Treatment of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats
Surgery
Depending on the severity of the injury, surgery may need to occur. The cat will be placed under general anesthesia and a small incision will be made in the skin by the affected tendon or ligament. The veterinarian will then repair the problem and use sutures to close the incision.
Splint or Cast
The veterinarian may need the ligaments or tendons to remain immobile while they heal on their own. In these cases, a splint or cast will be placed on the cat in order to prevent mobility and re-injury from occurring.
Physical Therapy
The veterinarian may recommend physical therapy in order to strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. During physical therapy, the cat will be put through a series of range-of-motion exercises and receive massages in order to promote healing.
Weight Reduction
The veterinarian may place the cat on a special diet in order for its weight to be reduced. Cats who are overweight place more pressure on their joints and tendons, which can cause injuries to occur.
Ice Packing
Cryotherapy, the placing of ice on the injured tendons or ligaments, may be recommended after surgery or splinting. Cryotherapy normally occurs for five to 10 minutes every eight hours over the course of several days. This procedure reduces swelling and decreases pain.
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Recovery of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats
With proper rehabilitation and prompt care, most cats recover fully from their ligament or tendon condition. Recommendations for physical therapy will need to be followed in order for the cat to recover properly. If surgery occurred, the cat will need to wear an Elizabethan collar in order to prevent biting of the sutures. Follow-up appointments with the veterinarian to monitor progress and healing are recommended.
Ligament and Tendon Conditions Average Cost
From 458 quotes ranging from $200 - $5,000
Average Cost
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Top
Ligament and Tendon Conditions Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
short hair
Kit Kat
2 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Leg Swelling
Leg Swelling On Bottom Half Look
Leg Swelled On Bottom Half. In Pain
my cat seems to have a leg injury. where the bottom part of his back foot is swollen and it’s been about three days.i don’t know what could be wrong. it looks twisted when you look at it. he also seems to be loosing weight a lot this summer as well.
June 27, 2018
1 Recommendations
Without examining KitKat it is difficult to determine the severity of the injury, however if you’re seeing a deviation of the leg you should consider visiting your Veterinarian as this may indicate dislocation or another severe injury. For the meantime, keep KitKat rested and restrict movement (like a cat carrier or crate) to prevent any further injury. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 28, 2018
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DOMESTIC
Snowy
12 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Limping
My cat has ruptured all the main ligaments round his knee of his hind leg,will a specialist be better to deal with this or could my local vet operate,I just want to minimise the risk of him loosing his leg as this is a possibility,just want the best outcome for him with minimal stress
June 20, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
I'm not sure the cause of this injury or the extent, but typically for advanced orthopedic treatments, it is best to see an orthopedic specialist. I hope that everything goes well for Snowy.
June 20, 2018
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tabby
Buddy
10 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
My vet X-rayed my cat's front paw as he was limping and putting very little weight on it. The Xrays appeared clear. After an examination of his entire leg, he has determined that he may have a torn ligament or tendon in the "wrist" joint. How long does it typically take for these to heal? Is there any exercises I can do to help? Would a splint help? I've read mixed reviews on this.
June 17, 2018
2 Recommendations
No splint and no exercise, it is best to allow strict rest for best results; however it depends on the severity of the injury and other factors. Healing time may be weeks to months (around two months), but vary from case to case; keep Buddy rested and prevent running, jumping and playing during this time. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 17, 2018
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British Shorthair
Misty
2 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
I noticed that my cat Misty was limping almost two months ago. I took her to the vet the first day the limping started and the vet was not able to diagnose a problem. Misty allowed the vet to manipulate her leg in different directions and to apply pressure to paws and other areas and there was no obvious injury or swelling. She is able to weight bear on it but with an obvious limp. She was prescribed Metacam and I was told to return if it did not get better in the next week. There was no improvement so we returned where, again, the vet was unable to diagnose a problem but suggested it could be a degenerative bone condition so suggested an xray. The xray was done but did not shown any problems. It was then suggested that it could be a ligament damage and we were told this could take up to 8 weeks to heal. However, the vet also suggested getting a CT scan done. We decided to wait a couple more weeks to allow the full 8 weeks and there has been no improvement. Misty has been on Metacam for approximately 6 weeks although has now run out. I would like to know if this lameness could be due to ligament damage, and if so, if a CT scan is the best thing to do next, or if there are any other ways of identifying the problem. I also wonder if you could give any suggestion as to the treatment that will be needed.
June 6, 2018
1 Recommendations
Ligament injury is a possibility and wouldn’t show up on an x-ray but would do so on a CT scan, if there has been no improvement with the long course of Metacam (meloxicam) then it may be that a CT scan may be the next diagnostic step. As far as treatment, it is difficult to recommend anything apart from anti inflammatories like Metacam since we don’t know what the specific cause of the limping is. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 7, 2018
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domestic short hair
Eva
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Limping
The hind leg of my friend's cat, Eva, was injured by a reclining chair last night. The emergency clinic took care of the broken skin, diagnosed a torn ligament, and prescribed a NSAID. The cat will be seen by her usual vet tomorrow. I have read that enforced cage rest for 4-6 weeks may allow healing and if not, surgery can be done. Is self healing possible? Could a delay in surgical intervention cause further injury/ deterioration?
June 4, 2018
0 Recommendations
In all cases of injuries like this, rest is best; however (depending on the specific ligament) if the ligament is still intact but has a partial tear, then rest is best but if the ligament is totally torn then surgery most likely would be required. You should follow the instructions of the Veterinarian, keep movement restricted and monitor for improvement. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 5, 2018
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Persian
Milly
5 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Limping
Pain When Pushed
I took my cat to the vet and after xray they put an splint on her hind leg, but after we returned she woke up with a severe pain in her wrist. I never saw a cat hurting like that, so i took off her splint and now she's sleeping. Should I take her to the vet again for a new splint or not?
Ligament and Tendon Conditions Average Cost
From 458 quotes ranging from $200 - $5,000
Average Cost
$550
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
