What is Wobblers Syndrome?
Animals diagnosed with Wobblers Syndrome may trip, lose coordination and stability in their legs, and drag the knuckles of their paws along the ground when walking. Those severely affected by Wobblers Syndrome may not be able to stand up.
Cervical spondylomyelopathy, also known as Wobblers Syndrome, is a neurological disorder that weakens or affects the stability of the cervical vertebrae in the neck. In some cases, the instability may cause the vertebrae to shift and compress the spinal cord. This syndrome is most often diagnosed in large dogs, but can occur in cats, though very rarely. Wobblers Syndrome is a progressive disease, meaning that it will get worse as time goes on, and may cause paralysis if left untreated. It is important to take your cat to the vet immediately if you suspect they are suffering from Wobblers Syndrome.
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Symptoms of Wobblers Syndrome in Cats
Wobblers Syndrome can be very painful for your cat. Seek immediate veterinary attention as soon as you notice any of the following symptoms to minimize your cat’s pain and discomfort:
- Lameness
- Tripping over their feet
- Signs of pain
- Reluctance to raise their head
- Inability to balance
- Loss of coordination, particularly in the hind legs
Causes of Wobblers Syndrome in Cats
The cause of Wobblers Syndrome, particularly in cats, is unknown. Current veterinary literature suggests that Wobblers Syndrome may be a congenital disorder, meaning it is inherited at birth. However, Wobblers Syndrome may also be a spontaneous occurrence in older dogs. Dobermans and Great Danes have a higher predisposition for developing the disorder. Due to the rarity of the disease in cats, no breed, sex, or age predispositions for Wobblers Syndrome have been identified in current veterinary literature.
Diagnosis of Wobblers Syndrome in Cats
Your vet will need to know your cat’s medical history, the extent and duration of symptoms, and any medications your cat is taking. The vet will perform a thorough physical and neurological examination and take a standard x-ray of the neck. A myelography may also be required in order to see the extent of spinal cord compression. This procedure will require your cat to be anesthetized. The vet will inject a contrast dye into the neck, which will highlight compression of the spinal cord on the x-ray. CT scans and MRIs may also be helpful in visualizing spinal cord compression.
Treatment of Wobblers Syndrome in Cats
Conservative treatment for Wobblers Syndrome typically involves anti-inflammatory medications combined with crate rest. Allowing your cat to engage in activity may exacerbate the condition or cause relapse. Conservative treatment for Wobblers Syndrome often lasts several months, and sometimes for the remainder of a cat’s life.
Surgery may be required to correct Wobblers Syndrome. This is the preferred treatment method for vets because it provides the greatest chance of long-term success. The primary objective of surgery is to eliminate spinal cord compression. Due to the rarity of the condition in cats, the specific surgical procedure for Wobblers Syndrome in cats has not been outlined in veterinary literature. Your vet will advise you on a surgical procedure based on your cat’s specific needs.
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Recovery of Wobblers Syndrome in Cats
Recovery and prognosis may vary depending on the severity of the condition and the success of treatment. However, the prognosis is generally fair provided that the syndrome is caught early and treated appropriately. Always follow your vet’s post-treatment and/or post-operative instructions carefully. Always administer any medications exactly as directed for the full duration of the recovery period even if symptoms start to improve. Never administer any over-the-counter pain or anti-inflammatory medications made exclusively for human use.
The recovery period following surgery will last for several weeks. If your cat has had surgery, ensure they have a warm place to rest on the return home. Do not allow them to irritate the surgery site. Do not place a collar on your cat during the recovery period as this may cause them pain. You should restrict their outdoor activity until the recovery period has concluded.
Your vet will schedule follow-up appointments as needed to monitor healing. During these appointments, your vet will take x-rays and perform neurological examinations to measure healing and recovery.
Wobblers Syndrome Average Cost
From 228 quotes ranging from $2,000 - $8,000
Average Cost
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Wobblers Syndrome Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Tuxedo cat
Baseball
13 Years
6 found this helpful
6 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Poor Appetite
Lameness
Irritation
Tapping Tail
No Motor Movement In Right Side
Occasional Meow Of Pain
Cannot Walk Or Lift His Head
I believe my cat may have something related to Wobblers. Is there any type of disease or issue that is closely like Wobblers, but in cats? Is there an impinged nerve in his neck that is causing issues? Or something in his neck or spine causing pressure?
Aug. 21, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
6 Recommendations
Cats can have neurologic disease similar to Wobbler's, yes, as that just happens to be a disease that has a name but can occur in other species. From what you are describing, it would be best to have Baseball seen by a veterinarian, as he may be having significant pain and/or nerve dysfunction, and may need treatment.
Aug. 21, 2018
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Domestic house cat
Na
4 Months
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Trips And Falls Over Himself
We have a kitten who is about 4 months old whose recently started wobbling. Cant walk in a straight line, trips over himself, falls over... little things that have just gotten progressively worse. The remaining 3 of his litter are perfectly fine.
Aug. 15, 2018
2 Recommendations
Without an examination it is difficulty to say what the specific cause is; spinal issues, neurological issues, congenital disorders (cerebellar hypoplasia) among other causes may lead to similar symptoms of incoordination. This would be something to be seen by your Veterinarian to narrow in on a cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 16, 2018
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Cat
Cletus
7 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Cant Move Legs
My cat is almost a year old and can not walk that well. He has all the symptoms of the wobbler disease but he also shakes all the time. Is it to late for help with him? I don't want him to suffer.
March 17, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Without examining Cletus, i can't say what might be going on with him, but he is very young. He should be seen by a veteirnarian to assess what might be happening, and if there is any treatment that might be available for him.
March 17, 2018
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Unknown
Thunder
5 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lack Of Movement
Hi- my cat Thunder is just over 5 years old and over the past few weeks he has lost the ability to walk almost completely. It derives from his left side and it seems to have started with his front left paw. It started as wobbly walking and quickly progressed into him not using his left side to the point where earlier this week he would drag himself with his right paws if he needed to move. As of Monday, he no longer tries to move himself out of where he's sitting, not even to go to the cat box. Although he can't currently walk, he still shows his personality and is very loving and happy while we care for him but you can see he's scared and confused. He is my little "bubble boy" who has an auto immune disease that causes legions on his body to appear and his vet originally thought that his medicine had caused lethargic symptoms, but after his last visit he believes it may be neurological. Do you think this may be wobblers syndrome?
Feb. 21, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Cats don't typically get Wobbler's syndrome, per se, although they can get spinal tumors and lesions that affect their neurologic status. Without an MRI, your veterinarian won't be able to diagnose what is going on with him for sure, but with his physical exam, he will be able to localize the problem and recommend any other treatments or specialty referrals that might be necessary. I hope that he does okay.
Feb. 21, 2018
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Domestic longhaired cat
Raider
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
As Described Above.
My cat started with his tail being limp and can't move it. Then he started limping on one leg. I took him to the vet and they said he had neurological problems. Now he does not bnb have strength in his back legs. He still eats well and uses his cat box. The vet said he will not get better. This started around Thanksgiving.
Wobblers Syndrome Average Cost
From 228 quotes ranging from $2,000 - $8,000
Average Cost
$4,000
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