Leg weakness most commonly arises from nerve compression in the lower back. Hence, pain in the lower back region should not be ignored, especially if it is longstanding. The shooting pain, which travels from the lower back to the knee or the ankle, is because of the irritation of the nerves caused by compression.
Heart disease is a serious medical condition in dogs, cats and humans. Cats do not normally develop arteriosclerosis or coronary artery disease, which are both common diseases in humans. In general terms, heart disease can be divided into two categories, congenital and adult onset forms.
Congenital heart disease is the most common serious birth defect and over the last generation, the outlook for children with congenital heart defects has changed dramatically. With advances in treatment for congenital heart disease, some form of therapy is available for nearly all types of congenital heart disease.