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Things You Should Know About Canine and Feline Arthritis

Arthritis

is an infamous problem among dogs. Many vets and dog owners struggle for years, trying to control the lameness, soreness, and reduced activity level associated with canine osteoarthritis. But in recent years veterinarians have made significant strides towards understanding more about osteoarthritis in cats – mainly from the standpoint of simply recognizing that it does happen and that it can cause significant pain and discomfort in our feline friends.

Because cats are so good at hiding their medical problems from us, it’s important that cat owners understand how to recognize potential problems before they become serious. Read on to learn about the symptoms associated with arthritis, and some strategies for successfully dealing with this problem.

Just how big of a problem is this?

One study looked at the x-rays of 100 cats that were randomly selected and between ages 6 months and 20 years. The study found signs of osteoarthritis in 91% of cats in their front and rear leg joints. It found evidence of arthritis in the spine of 55% of these cats. The study also found that the incidence of arthritis increased dramatically as cats aged.

What’s even more interesting is that arthritis is often what we consider an “incidental” finding on the x-rays of cats, meaning that the vets weren’t even taking the x-rays because they suspected a problem in that location. That fact alone should really drive home the point that many, many cats are living with this problem, and very few of them are telling us about it.

Most of the time when people say “arthritis”, they mean “osteoarthritis”. But there are other types, and it’s worth a couple of minutes of our time to understand exactly what we mean when we diagnose the problem.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in both dogs and cats. It occurs when the cartilage that covers the surface of joints wears away, eventually causing bone to contact bone and exposing the exquisitely sensitive pain receptors in these areas. The body tries really hard to fix the problem by creating new cartilage, but unfortunately cartilage doesn’t regenerate very well, and the “new” surface is often bumpy and uneven.

Why does the cartilage gets worn in the first place? Most of the time it’s due to either previous joint damage, such as might occur if a cat is hit by a car or falls from a high place, or due to a birth defect that resulted in improper formation of the joint. We’re really just starting to understand that hip dysplasia, previously thought to be almost exclusively a problem of large dogs, is pretty common in our feline friends as well.

Other types of arthritis include septic arthritis, due to infection in the bloodstream, and immune-mediated arthritis, such as what we see in people who have rheumatoid arthritis. Both of these kinds of arthritis do occur in cats, but much less often than osteoarthritis.

My cat doesn’t have arthritis. I’ve never even seen him limping.

Another fascinating finding about feline arthritis is that cats with the disease typically don’t look anything like dogs with the disease. We’re used to seeing “gimpy” old dogs, that hobble around due to osteoarthritis, so it makes sense that we’d expect the same from cats. However, we’re commonly reminded in vet school that cats aren’t small dogs, and this is just one of the many ways that they’re different. Cats with arthritis typically don’t display signs of lameness.

So how are you supposed to get the hint that your cat might have osteoarthritis? The signs are subtle, but if you pay attention you’ll see changes in your cat that will prompt you to go to the vet, who can do a thorough orthopedic exam and hopefully zero in on areas of pain. Signs of arthritis in cats include sudden aggression towards people or other animals in the house (especially in cats that used to be happy and peaceful), difficulty jumping, loss of interest in surroundings, decreased activity levels, avoiding the litter box (even when previously trained well), vocalizing, and decreased grooming (especially overgrown claws).

The most interesting symptom to me in this list is the development of litter box problems. Failure to use the litter box is the number one reason that cats are relinquished to shelters in the U.S. How truly sad to think that many of these cats might really be painful, and have problems getting into and out of the box, or with squatting. This is one of the reasons that fixing litter box problems always starts with a complete medical workup.

But my cat’s not old!

Unfortunately, arthritis is a disease that can happen to young cats as well as old cats. This is especially true in cats that have previously experienced trauma. Even if the injury was repaired, the potential for in congruencies in a previously normal joint is there. When the joint isn’t properly fitted together, there’s room for laxity, and this laxity creates the cartilage erosion that leads to osteoarthritis.

Can’t I just give my cat some aspirin?

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No, please don’t! We counsel owners frequently about whether to treat cats at home for pain. While it can be dangerous to use over-the-counter human pain relievers in dogs, it’s absolutely critical that drugs like aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil NOT be given to cats. Aspirin and Advil (and other drugs like them such as Motrin) create severe gastrointestinal problems as well as kidney failure. Tylenol produces a severe and life-threatening problem called Heinz body anemia in cats.

Unfortunately, cats do not do well with most of the pain relievers that we easily use to treat arthritis in dogs. However, with close observation, they can tolerate some drugs well and provide significant relief and improvement in clinical signs. The opioid drug buprenorphine can be administered orally to cats and has excellent analgesic effects. The downside is that it tends to be expensive with prolonged use and can cause constipation. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that has long been used in humans and may provide more cost-effective relief for cats. And gabapentin helps many cats feel better. VetExpert Arthrovet Capsules and Canina Petvital Arthro Tablets are very effective for cats and dogs. You can buy these drugs from the Homelabvet Online Store.

Currently, Metacam appears to be the only veterinary drug that is both effective and generally safe for long-term use in cats for inflammatory pain associated with arthritis. Because it can also cause gastrointestinal problems as well as kidney failure, cats taking this drug should be closely monitored with repeated lab tests to look for signs that the drug may be causing side effects.

What else can I do to help relieve pain associated with arthritis?

Start by changing your environment. Place food and water where you do not need to jump. Use ramps and stairs to help cats climb and get off furniture. Create trash bins you don’t have to jump into by purchasing plastic storage bins and cutting out a “door” on the side. Groom your cat regularly, especially in areas that are difficult for a cat with arthritis to reach. And make sure your cat has a warm and comfortable sleeping environment.

Supplements such as fish oil and glucosamine can also help. It is important to use products that are reliably manufactured and formulated for cats. There are also several high-quality diets available for cats with osteoarthritis. And since obesity exacerbates the clinical signs of arthritis, losing weight on your cat is likely to significantly improve well-being.