My cat is sick: walking sideways, balance issues, and crunching food.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you describe can be caused by an irregularity in the spine - this may cause the bones to compress the actual spinal cord, damaging the nerves that are responsible for controlling the back legs and tail. A veterinary neurologist would be able to further diagnose the condition and propose a treatment plan, your original vet may be able to recommend one. I would be happy to take a look at x-rays or bloodwork and answer any questions you may have about them!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, I am quite concerned she may be dehydrated and may have some systemic disease or infection going on. I would have a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions / concerns and I would be happy to help further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Sissy! I would have Sissy seen today by a Vet. It sounds like she may be having a Vestibular event. The Vestibular system controls balance. Symptoms can show up suddenly and the dog or cat walks drunk, sometimes has a head tilt and their eyes move abnormally (nystagmus). the most common reason is an ear infection or polyp. Other causes are toxin ingestion, brain tumor, trauma, other cancer, Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Sissy should be examined for an ear infection, if present be prescribed ear drop and an oral antibiotic. It can take a few weeks for them to return to normal. In dogs if they have a head tilt it can be permanent. I hope this helps and good luck!

Poor Zoey! Unfortunately, the video will not load on the Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach forum, but I can get a sense for her abnormal gait from your description and the pictures. My first concern would be that Zoey may have cerebellar hypoplasia, but meningitis, toxoplasmosis, congenital lysosomal storage diseases, FIP, FIV, FeLV or spinal cord lesions are all possible. If it has not yet been done, ask your vet about performing a blood test for FIV and FeLV (feline leukemia). Otherwise, hopefully they are able to obtain further insight from a veterinary neurologist or internal medicine specialist. I hope that all goes well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The loss of balance can be caused by ear infections, tumors, or toxin ingestion. In very rare occasions, antibiotics can cause neurologic damage and this may be an indication of this. These episodes may also be seizures. I recommend having your cat examined by a veterinarian who can perform a neurological exam to see what is causing these episodes. You should try to take photos or a video when this happens to help your vet make a diagnosis. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Your kitty needs to be seen by a vet. These are concerning symptoms in an older cat. They can become dehydrated very easily. Not eating can be caused by numerous things including things with the gi tract itself and diseases of any other organ system (kidneys, liver, etc). Your vet can perform an exam and then likely will recommend starting with bloodwork +/- xrays. This is the best plan to figure out what is going on and to get your kitty feeling better. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. With your description, I would suspect the lip smacking is from nausea due to a systemic disease or infection. The abnormal walking could be something we call a diabetic neuropathy if this is diabetes. I would recommend that you have him examined by a veterinarian and have his blood tested to see if there are any changes they may help explain why he is having these symptoms. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.