What is Nerve Disorder?
Nerve disorders are disruptions in the function of a feline’s nervous system that can lead to physical and cognitive disorders in cats and can display themselves in different ways. This disruption can manifest itself via malfunctioning motor skills, delayed cognitive ability, and diminished reflexes.
The feline nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, transmits electric signals that are essential for the animal to function efficiently in its environment.
Nerve Disorder Average Cost
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Symptoms of Nerve Disorder in Cats
Since the feline's nervous system controls all of its coordinated, conscious, automatic, and digestive responses, the symptoms presented by nerve disorders are varied and may include all of or some of the following:
- Leg paralysis or weakness
- Slow or no reflexes
- Loss of muscle tone/muscle atrophy
- Muscle tremors
Nerve disorders can also affect a feline's sensory capabilities. Symptoms of this would include:
- Poor spatial orientation
- Frequent loss of consciousness
Disorders resulting from a failing autonomic nervous system would present symptoms such as:
- Dry nose and mouth
- Low tear production
- Lower than normal heart rate
- Poor or no anal reflex
Nerve disorders caused by an underactive thyroid gland may present symptoms including:
- Facial paralysis
- Dizziness
- Paralysis of the voice box, throat, and esophagus
While there are other symptoms that might be an indication of a feline nerve disorder, the above-mentioned are some of the most common and would merit a visit to the veterinarian for a complete checkup.
Causes of Nerve Disorder in Cats
As uniquely designed as the feline nervous system is, there are factors that can lead to disorders. Four common factors are congenital abnormalities, trauma, tumors, and ear infections.
Congenital Abnormalities
Most common among these is hydrocephalus, also referred to as water on the brain. Spinal fluid will pool in certain parts of the brain, leading to abnormal physical appearance, abnormal behaviors, as well as seizures. A second congenital abnormality is malformation of nerves and spinal cord segments. This can lead to fecal and urinary incontinence.
Trauma
If the feline is struck by an automobile or receives trauma, the spinal cord can be damaged and nerves can be torn. Signs of this type of trauma will include paralysis, urination and defecation issues, as well as a limp tail.
Tumors
Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common forms of cancer that affects a feline's nervous system. This will cause tumors on the brain, spinal cord, and other organs. The prognosis varies based on the type of the tumor, its location, and the health of the cat.
Ear Infections
Whether the infection affects the inner ear or the middle ear, it can lead to a ruptured eardrum, spreading infection through the blood.
Diagnosis of Nerve Disorder in Cats
The first step your veterinarian will take is to get an accurate medical history of your feline, as well as do a general physical exam. They will perform a neurological exam designed to examine the cranial nerves and then will also examine your cat's reflexes and entire body.
During the examination of the cranial nerves, the veterinarian may test the mental activity, coordination, and reflexes of the head.
During the evaluation of your feline's gait, they will watch your cat as it runs, moves from side to side, and turns. Weakness, paralysis, stumbling, and loss of coordination will be monitored.
When examining the neck and front legs, the veterinarian may lift the cat's back legs to evaluate its ability to support its weight on the front legs. They may also position the front legs in an abnormal stance to determine how quickly the cat can correct its stance.
During the evaluation of the hind limbs and tail, the veterinarian will check abnormal posture, loss of feeling, hypersensitivity, as well as muscle loss around the torso and hind legs.
Additional tests may include analyzing the cerebrospinal fluid, blood tests, CT scan, and x-rays.
Treatment of Nerve Disorder in Cats
Once a diagnosis has been made, the appropriate therapy can be considered. Most care is given on an outpatient basis. Pharmaceutical options may include:
- Anticonvulsants
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Medication to relieve muscle spasms
Medication may be provided intravenously or orally, depending on the type of injury.
Felines that have brain tumors or head injuries may require cranial surgery. Medications may be used to reduce swelling in these instances.
Nursing care may be provided for paraplegic or quadriplegic animals. This would include manual feeding and manual flexing and massaging of the joints.
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Recovery of Nerve Disorder in Cats
It is important to understand that while veterinarians will do everything in their power to help a cat suffering with a nerve disorder to return to a full quality of life, there are some instances in which nerves will continue to deteriorate and the cat’s disease will worsen. Your veterinarian will determine what follow-up care you will need to provide on a case-by-case basis.
It is important that felines diagnosed with congenital nerve disorders not breed. It is advisable to neuter or spay a cat with these types of conditions to prevent accidental breeding.
Nerve Disorder Average Cost
From 302 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,100
Top
Nerve Disorder Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Cat
One Eyed Jack
3 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Dehydration
We came home to my cat having some seizures. We rushed him to the ER vet and they sedated him and followed up with our regular vet. He swishes his tail, flexes his toes, he can lift his head and look around. He is eating & drinking some on his own, some out of a syringe. The first few days we were struggling to keep his temp level but, its leveled off now. He is peeing and pooping. He cannot stand thou & is super wobbly. Hes on subcutaneous fluids 2x daily and clindamycin. The vet said shes never seen anything like it. I know its hard to diagnose or treat without an examination but do you have any suggestions about what it could be that we could look into. Two heads are better than one. Thanks much!
July 27, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Possible causes for seizures include a systemic problem with Jack's body, a brain disease or parasite, toxins, or epilepsy. With the signs that you are describing, I would consider a toxin or a parasite for him, and you can ask your veterinarian if he is being treated for those things.
July 28, 2018
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Domestic shorthaired
Sonny
5 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My cat had gotten a string wrapped around the tip of his penis. They did the PU surgery. When the vet removed the catheter from him last Tuesday he had peed on his own. Upon us bringing him home he didnt pee at home. The vets are worried that he has nerve damage to his bladder or uthetra. Could he eventually recover from the nerve damage and could the string have caused the nerve damage? Why didnt he pee for us and he peed for the vet? Could it be stress related at home
June 25, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are various reasons why Sonny may not be urinating; he may have a fear of pain if the last urination was painful, there may be some nerve damage or it may be behavioural. Without knowing more it is difficult to say, however if Sonny isn’t attempting to urinate at all you should return to your Veterinarian for an examination and to empty the bladder as further treatment may be needed. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
June 26, 2018
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Persian
Ellie
6 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Paralysis
My 6month female kitten had fall from roof. After that she is not moving her hind limbs and tail. Her sensory system is intact. Her patellar reflexes and pain reflexes are ok. She is passing stool and urine normally and eating well. During physio she flexes her hind legs forcefully and some times streches her legs. During dragging her lower body she flexes he legs as walking. X ray spine shows contusion but no fracture. Vet has given her steroids and NSAID. Its already 2 weeks. Her legs are getting thinner. Now vet has advised vit B,E citacholine,and mecobalamin. What else need to do? If there is no fracture how does nerve injury occur? How long will it take to recover? When should we expect her to walk again.
May 30, 2018
1 Recommendations
It isn’t possible to put a time frame on recovery and there may be still inflammation of the nerves regardless of whether there was a fracture or not; each case of traumatic injury is different and it is not possible to generalise especially after such a fall off a house, some cats may recover and others unfortunately don’t. You should continue with the anti inflammatory therapy and with the physiotherapy, two weeks is a short period of time and any recovery would be much longer. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
May 31, 2018
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Cat
Rocky
8 Weeks
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Paralysis
My husband brought home a week old kitten barley breathing ,,, i nursed it back to heath and he is now a beautiful handsome 8 week old boy who is a fighter , so it was fitting to name him Rocky ! He has never walked and lays his back end to one side ,, he def has movement in both legs ( one being better than the other ) when he eats sometimes he will stand up wabily. He had only tried to walk once and it was very shaky.... he’s def better than weeks ago but he doesn’t have bowel control and needs me to stimulate him to pee and poo still and has blood in his urine ,, he plays and eats and is very happy ,,, my Vet has his on antibiotics that i have to keep him on for the infection for his urine .. he said he has nerve damage and we won’t know if the nerves will heal,, have u had this issue before and is there some other treatment that can be done ?
May 8, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Every situation with nerve damage is different, and your vetererinarian would have been able to assess Rocky's particular nerve responses. he may benefit from physical therapy to keep his muscles strong, but whether his nerve function will return will just be a wait and see situation.
May 8, 2018
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Bombay
Trouble
8 Years
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Over Grooming
Over Grooming Scratching Meowing
Hey..so my cat has been over grooming and taking a lot of his fur from his tummy and legs and his ears also have some skabbing as well as a dry nose. He also will do loud meows at night sometimes but he chills out if I come see him. Also if I pet him he loves it but he starts to overgroom again and it gets me worried to pet him.
April 18, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Cats can be affected by parasites, stress, infection or fungal problems. Without seeing him, I cannot comment on what might be causing his over grooming, and it would be best to have him examined by a veterinarian to have him evaluated and determine what might be happening, and what treatment he may need.
April 18, 2018
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mixed
Bongo
5 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
In Severe Pain
My Bongo was limping and figured he hurt his foot. He never improved and was losing tons of weight. I took him to the vet thinking he had a dislocated elbow or broken bone. It turns out he has fluid in the shoulder from bites. My cat Simba was trying to have sex with him and this is a normal thing for cats to do. Well the vet says Bongo has gangrene and nerve damage due to he holds his foot under. He says they will try to drain the fluid, treat the infection and if he is not better he wants to amputate the entire leg. Now I have a cat Baby that had fluid 16 years ago and survived fine. Is this normal?
Nerve Disorder Average Cost
From 302 quotes ranging from $500 - $3,000
Average Cost
$1,100
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
