In cats, changes in affected joints are usually subtle. Decreased range of joint motion, commonly seen in dogs, is uncommon in cats. Veterinarians that suspect osteoarthritis may treat their cat patients for osteoarthritis to see if they show any improvement. As a result, a cat owner’s observations about his cat's decreased activity becomes very important if the veterinarian suspects the cat may have osteoarthritis. 3 Cats are notorious for cowering on the exam table and not moving. Your veterinarian may have a hard time deciding whether your cat is pulling its foot away because of pain or simply because it doesn’t want to be touched. They also generally dislike being physically handled during examinations. Cats, unlike most dogs, can tolerate bone and joint problems due to their small size and natural agility.
2 Osteoarthritis continues to get worse over time however, it can be managed so that the progress of the disease is slowed down, helping the joint to work as well as possible for as long as possible.ĭiagnosing osteoarthritis in cats is difficult even for experienced veterinarians. 1 Eventually, the bones in the joint rub against each other, causing pain, decreased joint movement, and sometimes the formation of bone spurs or other changes in and around the joint. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints in which the normal cartilage cushion in the joints breaks down. Fortunately, veterinarians are now more aware of this problem in older cats and are helping them live less painful lives. Until recently, however, it was less commonly diagnosed in cats.
Osteoarthritis is a commonly recognized disease in dogs. With longer lives, however, come chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis. Thanks to the marvels of modern veterinary medicine, our pets are living much longer lives.
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