My cat has a ruptured disc and is paralyzed. Can he walk again?

Poor cat! If there is no deep pain present in the back legs then chances are kidding you won't regain function unfortunately. We use the pain is an indicator whether the pet will walk again. However if deep pain is present (kitty moves twitches or flinches when you pinch the back toes), then there is a chance that Katie can regain function of the limbs. However you won't know the extent of the injury without an x-ray. And without an x-ray he won't really know what treatment kitty needs. I unfortunately don't see a good solution here without proper diagnostics. Kittie may be a lost cause at this point without proper medical care for such a traumatic injury like this which undoubtedly involves the spinal cord and/or pelvis. I would highly consider Humane euthanasia for this kittie because the outcome looks bleak.

You can keep him clean and comfortable and see if the control of his rear legs will return. He may be permanently paralyzed though. I like to support these animals, putting something underneath their stomach if needed, to get them standing with their rear legs underneath in a normal position. If he gets stronger when you have him standing he may improve. Usually they will start to move their legs in a few weeks if they are going to improve. If he remains paralyzed you can purchase or make a cart or wheelchair for him so he can walk around on his own. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for this kitten.

If Amy has prolapsed discs in the areas where she has collapsed spaces on x-ray then she might improve with time, but surgery is much more successful. Sometimes an x-ray can show collapsed intervertebral spaces but there is not spinal cord compression in these areas, which is why a CT scan is a much better way to diagnosed a prolapsed disc and spinal cord compression. There are other neurologic diseases that could cause similar signs as well. The results of Amy's neurologic exam might also help determine her prognosis so you may want to ask your veterinarian what they think the chances of recovery are without surgery. You should be sure to keep a close eye on her urination and defecation as well since sometimes animals with paralysis will have difficulty voiding.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he has already lost the ability to use his legs, he is not going to recover without surgery. If he is able to use his legs, there is a very small chance that he could recover with medical therapy but that is based on other physical examination parameters. I recommend that you consider proceeding with surgery if it has been recommended by your veterinarian. Best of luck!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Oh dear, I am sorry to hear about the slipped disc. Once a patient becomes non ambulatory (unable to move legs), surgery is recommended. However, the success of the surgery and overall prognosis depends on how quickly surgery is performed. Usually, most pets that are taken to surgery within the first 24 hours after becoming non ambulatory will regain the ability to walk and urinate normally again. Pets taken to surgery after that 24 hour period do not have quite the same outcome, unfortunately. If Luna is not able to walk and has lost all sensation to her legs, there is about a 10% chance of regaining normal bladder and motor function. Sometimes pain medications and additional therapies such as cold laser therapy, acupuncture, water therapy, etc can be tried but with varying success rates. I hope this helps and I wish you and Luna the best!

Often young kittens recover well from injuries given enough time. I would let him do what he wants as long as he’s getting around now. I expect him to improve and not become worse or paralyzed. He may never be perfect but if he’s able to walk and run an isn’t painful then he can live a normal life. Having an exam would be good when you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your kitten.

Hi there and thanks for posting. Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear Kitty was lost for a few days. That had to be very stressful. Also, I am sorry to hear she came back with a few medical issues. It is hard to say what exactly is going on with Kitty without examining Kitty first, but from your description it seems like Kitty may have injured her pelvis, spine, or rear limbs that may be causing her to not urinate properly or defecate as it may be painful for her or she has some neurological deficits disabling her to have control of her bladder. She could also have a urinary tract infection causing the straining to urinate as well. I would recommend visiting a veterinarian clinic soon so she can get some x-rays and a neurological exam in addition to a regular physical exam. They may take a urine sample to check for an infection. I hope this helps and best of luck to you and Kitty.