Through their diagnostic efforts, veterinarians uncover the root cause of the cat’s paralysis, enabling it to regain the use of its legs.
When her cat suddenly lost the use of his back legs, Rachel Davis thought he had been in an accident and would never walk again. But the cause was completely different and the feline could be treated.
Drake is an 8 year old cat. One day he started walking, dragging his hind legs along the ground, completely paralyzed. His owner, Rachel Davis , was very concerned. Drake still had many years ahead of him, and she feared he would have limited mobility for the rest of his life. She took him to the first veterinarian, who was unable to determine the cause of the paralysis. But a specialist finally discovered something that changed everything…
A blood clot blocking an artery
The first veterinarian sent Drake to an animal cardiologist at the Dick White Referrals clinic (England) . There, the feline underwent numerous examinations, until something was detected: a blood clot.
The cat was actually suffering from a heart muscle disease, as CambridgeshireLive explains . His heart had therefore produced a blood clot, which had circulated in the feline’s body until it got stuck in an artery irrigating the hindquarters. With blood circulation cut off at this level, the cat was paralyzed.
After 3 days of hospitalization and treatment, Drake miraculously regained the use of his hind legs. It was a huge relief for his mistress.
Anne Kurosawa , head of the clinic’s cardiology department, explained that it is a common mistake to believe it was an accident, without thinking that the problem could be internal to the cat.
“ It’s very common in cases like Drake’s for people to think they were hit by a car because they are dragging one or both legs. Especially with cats that go outside. Their owners might think something happened to them ,” she said.