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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Mixbreeds
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ballygowan, Northern Ireland
Posts: 21
15-08-2012, 04:34 PM   #1

Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Hi there.

My 3 1/2 year old, neutered male, George, has been overgrooming his back legs over the past couple of weeks. He's long haired, but has a fine coat, and he's over-licking the back and sides of his thighs to the point of bald spots and thinning fur.

I took him to the vet last night, who remarked that he was somewhat underweight, although he eats well, and to keep an eye on the patches to see if they grow back in. He gave him a neck drop for worms and parasites and sent us on our way.

This afternoon though, I've noticed George was quite unsteady on his back legs, slipping twice as he walked around the kitchen work surface, and his back legs shook a little and seemed to buckle once.

I don't want to go rushing back to the vet crying wolf, but this does have me concerned as I hadn't noticed anything wrong with his gait before he was taken to the vet yesterday. This out of character clumsiness coupled with the overgrooming has me worried.

Any advice would be most appreciated.



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Shelley123's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Preston UK
Posts: 6,995
15-08-2012, 06:23 PM   #2

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Hello , welcome to Catsey.
Sorry to hear about George's problem.
I guess the vet was thinking of fleas and worms and has gone to rule these out with the neck drop.
If you notice he's still wobbly tomorrow I would check back with the vet, it does sound strange. Maybe you could video him walking as once at the vets he may not want to move around.
I once had a cat with a potassium deficiency which affected his legs.
Keep us posted



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Elaine's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 2 moggies
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 15,256
15-08-2012, 06:25 PM   #3

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


I'd give the vet a call tbh, maybe talk with him to see if he can shed a little more light into what might be causing it but I suspect he will want to see your cat again to make a proper diagnosis.
You have every reason to be worried and you are not crying wolf. I'd be worried too.



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Mixbreeds
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ballygowan, Northern Ireland
Posts: 21
15-08-2012, 08:39 PM   #4

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Thanks for the responses! I'm hoping it's maybe some lingering soreness from being poked and prodded at the vets rather than anything more sinister. However, I will be keeping a close eye on his, and if it persists tomorrow then another check over will be in order.

Will let you know how it goes!



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Shelley123's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Preston UK
Posts: 6,995
16-08-2012, 11:37 AM   #5

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Hope George is ok today



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Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: dsh
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 1,590
16-08-2012, 07:31 PM   #6

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Over grooming can also be a sign of allergies, and seeing that you say he is slim it might be worth looking into. I would go back to the vet anyway if he was wobbly.



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TiggerMoon's Avatar
Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: moggy's
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Bournemouth UK
Posts: 179
22-08-2012, 01:44 PM   #7

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Hi, just wondering how George is getting on. Did you find out the cause of his wobbly legs?



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Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Mixbreeds
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Ballygowan, Northern Ireland
Posts: 21
22-08-2012, 07:08 PM   #8

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Thankfully by the morning he was back to his normal self His legs are still patchy, but I'm keeping an eye on him, and hopefully the wobbly legs are gone for good!



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Shelley123's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Preston UK
Posts: 6,995
22-08-2012, 07:25 PM   #9

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Glad to hear George is ok



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Gaina's Avatar
Catsey Junior
 
Cats owned: Cross-breed (Maine Coon)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 165
26-08-2012, 09:17 PM   #10

Re: Overgrooming and wobbly back legs. Help?


Did the vet check his blood pressure? My cat (though a lot older than George at 14) has an over-active thyroid and at his latest check up my vet asked if he was steady on his feet as this can sometimes be a symptom of high blood pressure, which often goes in tandem with hyperthyroidism. As I say George is very young to be troubled with his thyroid but if he gets wobbly on his pins again, it might be worth getting his blood pressure checked.

Glad he's feeling better x



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