Why is my senior cat with liver disease suddenly walking unsteadily?

Hello. I am so sorry that your pet is so unwell. Depending on the cause of the liver disease ( lipidosis, inflammation, infection, or cancer ), prognosis is extremely varied. If he is showing neurologic issues, this could be an indication that you have developed a form of hepatic encephalitis as the result to toxin buildup in the blood stream. The liver's job is to remove toxins, such as ammonia, but if the liver function is depressed enough, a buildup will occur. In general, subcutaneous fluids should not cause overhydration, but with organ failure, this too is a possibility & now the problem becomes how to manage dehydration without doing more damage. This sounds like a very difficult & complex case, so hopefully you have a very good team of doctors working on the problem. The questions you have asked are all very good ones, but difficult to respond to without having your cat's complete history. Tomorrow, ask to have a consult, or sitdown with the attending veterinarian. Write down all your questions & thoughts and keep asking until you are satisfied with their answers. Hopefully they will be able to at least give you some guidance as to what the next steps are to help your kitty back to health. Good luck & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This does not sound normal and I recommend to have her examined today. A blind cat generally does not have trouble walking. Instead they tend to walk slowly and cautiously but they are not unbalanced. A sudden onset of neurological signs is always concerning and could indicate poisoning, a stroke from a blood clot or even potentially infectious diseases which can infect humans like Toxoplasmosis. I recommend to play it safe and have Kiki examined today. Especially with a concern for infectious disease for humans. I hope this helps.

I'm sorry to hear that this is going on with Virtue. My biggest concern would be that he has a developed a blood clot that has disturbed the blood flow to the back legs. This is unfortunately one of the common side effects of kidney disease and hypertension. I would recommend taking Virtue in to see your vet for a recheck as soon as possible. They will need to check his kidney values and see if they have worsened, check a blood pressure and may recommend starting Virtue on additional medication, such as aspirin, to help with the clots. There is a chance that this abnormal walking could be due to arthritis and aging. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Beast could be suffering from a metabolic disease like diabetes that can affect balance and neurologic function, for example. I recommend a full workup if this behavior continues, including blood work and potentially radiographs to look for signs of metabolic or neurologic disease, infection, or arthritis.

She may. have some arthritis pain that is causing this (and its more obvious when she's on an uneven surface such as the bed), or she maybe having some age related weakness, or possibly some issues with her back or spinal cord causing the stumbling. You can take her to your vet for an exam, pain medication may be helpful, or if your vet suspects more of a neurologic issue therapies such as acupuncture or laser may be recommended.

Unfortunately, if Lila is having trouble walking or seems in pain, she needs to be seen by a vet. Issues such as neurologic or muscular problems, cerebellar issues, illnesses, disease, nutritional issues, etc are all potential causes which is why a veterinary exam is so important in finding the cause and providing treatment. Keeping Lila calm, quiet, and eating, and limit activity may help until you can afford care. I am also including a link to a website that may help give you some ideas/options to make vet care more affordable: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care

Monkey Cat needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. Balance problems are never normal and can indicate many things including metabolic disease, drug exposure, an infection in the brain, cancer, low blood sugar, neuropathy and other causes are possible. A physical exam and bloodwork is needed to begin figuring out the cause and the best treatment. Other diagnostics may also be indicated. I hope it's nothing too serious and that she gets back to normal quickly.