Osteoarthritis in Cats

Slingerland LI, Hazewinkel HA, Meij BP, et al. Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats. Vet J 2010.

A growing awareness of osteoarthritis (OA) - also called degenerative joint disease - in cats has led to investigation of the clinical signs, radiographic findings, and treatments. Cats are well known for their ability to compensate for orthopedic diseases and clinical signs of arthritis are more difficult to detect in this species and are different than those seen in dogs. OA has an important impact on mobility, activity and well-being. This study evaluated 100 cats over the age of 6 years. Each cat had a physical examination and had radiographs taken of the front and hind limbs. Owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their cat's behavior. OA was most common in the shoulders, elbows, hips and tarsal joints. The majority of cats (61%) had OA in at least one joint, and 48% had OA in more than one joint. Factors related to the presence of OA included advancing age, decreased mobility and grooming, and increased inappropriate elimination. This study supports findings of other studies in the last 10 years and reinforces the fact that OA is very common in middle-aged and older cats, and is associated with behavior changes. [SL]

Related articles:
Lascelles B. Feline degenerative joint disease. Vet Surg 2010;39:2-13.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Slingerland LI, Hazewinkel HA, Meij BP, et al. Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats. Vet J 2010.

A growing awareness of osteoarthritis (OA) - also called degenerative joint disease - in cats has led to investigation of the clinical signs, radiographic findings, and treatments. Cats are well known for their ability to compensate for orthopedic diseases and clinical signs of arthritis are more difficult to detect in this species and are different than those seen in dogs. OA has an important impact on mobility, activity and well-being. This study evaluated 100 cats over the age of 6 years. Each cat had a physical examination and had radiographs taken of the front and hind limbs. Owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their cat's behavior. OA was most common in the shoulders, elbows, hips and tarsal joints. The majority of cats (61%) had OA in at least one joint, and 48% had OA in more than one joint. Factors related to the presence of OA included advancing age, decreased mobility and grooming, and increased inappropriate elimination. This study supports findings of other studies in the last 10 years and reinforces the fact that OA is very common in middle-aged and older cats, and is associated with behavior changes. [SL]

Related articles:
Lascelles B. Feline degenerative joint disease. Vet Surg 2010;39:2-13.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Dietary Therapy for Feline Arthritis

Lascelles BDX, DePuy V, Thomson A et al: Evaluation of a therapeutic diet for feline degenerative joint disease, J Vet Intern Med 24:487, 2010.

Cats with degenerative joint disease (DJD) or arthritis commonly have radiographic evidence of its presence. DJD is often associated with pain and pain can result in decreased mobility. This study set out to test a diet high in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content and supplemented with green-lipped mussel extract and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for its pain-relieving and activity-enhancing effects in cats with painful, mobility-impairing DJD. Forty client-owned cats were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, prospective study. Outcome measures were subjective owner and veterinarian assessments, and objective activity monitoring (accelerometry). Results showed that activity significantly increased in the cats fed the test diet over a control diet. Evidence is also accumulating that diets high in DHA and EPA might be beneficial in preventing obesity and promoting weight loss by creating an appropriate physiological environment. [VT]

Related articles:
Lascelles BD, Robertson SA: DJD-associated pain in cats: what can we do to promote patient comfort?, J Feline Med Surg 12:200, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
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Lascelles BDX, DePuy V, Thomson A et al: Evaluation of a therapeutic diet for feline degenerative joint disease, J Vet Intern Med 24:487, 2010.

Cats with degenerative joint disease (DJD) or arthritis commonly have radiographic evidence of its presence. DJD is often associated with pain and pain can result in decreased mobility. This study set out to test a diet high in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content and supplemented with green-lipped mussel extract and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for its pain-relieving and activity-enhancing effects in cats with painful, mobility-impairing DJD. Forty client-owned cats were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, prospective study. Outcome measures were subjective owner and veterinarian assessments, and objective activity monitoring (accelerometry). Results showed that activity significantly increased in the cats fed the test diet over a control diet. Evidence is also accumulating that diets high in DHA and EPA might be beneficial in preventing obesity and promoting weight loss by creating an appropriate physiological environment. [VT]

Related articles:
Lascelles BD, Robertson SA: DJD-associated pain in cats: what can we do to promote patient comfort?, J Feline Med Surg 12:200, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

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Meloxicam for Feline Arthritis

Gunew, M. N., V. H. Menrath, et al. (2008). "Long-term safety, efficacy and palatability of oral meloxicam at 0.01-0.03 mg/kg for treatment of osteoarthritic pain in cats." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 235-241.

Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that typically affects the elbow, hip, and shoulder joints of as many as 1 in 5 senior cats. Affected cats may have a variety of clinical signs, such as difficulty in jumping, lameness, resentment of handling and stiff gait. However, many owners do not recognize the significance of these clinical signs and may attribute them to aging changes. Although this is a common disease, reports of long-term osteoarthritis therapy in cats are rare. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have proven efficacy in dogs and humans but there are limited published data on the use of NSAIDs in the long-term management of this condition in cats. This prospective study aimed to assess the long-term safety and palatability of oral meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.) and its efficacy in treating osteoarthritic pain in cats when given at a dose of 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg once daily. Forty cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis completed the trial with a mean treatment duration of 5.8 months. Gastrointestinal upset in 2/46 (4%) cats was the only adverse effect noted. Three of the cats had stable chronic renal insufficiency (IRIS stage 3). No deleterious effect on renal function was detected in cats studied. Owners subjectively assessed treatment efficacy as good or excellent in 34/40 (85%) of cases. The results of this study showed oral meloxicam to be safe and palatable long-term treatment for osteoarthritis in cats when given with food at a dose of 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Clarke, S. P., D. Mellor, et al. (2005). "Prevalence of radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease in a hospital population of cats." Vet Rec 157(25): 793-9.
>> PubMed abstract

Godfrey, D. R. (2005). "Osteoarthritis in cats: a retrospective radiological study." J Small Anim Pract 46(9): 425-9.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Gunew, M. N., V. H. Menrath, et al. (2008). "Long-term safety, efficacy and palatability of oral meloxicam at 0.01-0.03 mg/kg for treatment of osteoarthritic pain in cats." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 10(3): 235-241.

Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that typically affects the elbow, hip, and shoulder joints of as many as 1 in 5 senior cats. Affected cats may have a variety of clinical signs, such as difficulty in jumping, lameness, resentment of handling and stiff gait. However, many owners do not recognize the significance of these clinical signs and may attribute them to aging changes. Although this is a common disease, reports of long-term osteoarthritis therapy in cats are rare. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have proven efficacy in dogs and humans but there are limited published data on the use of NSAIDs in the long-term management of this condition in cats. This prospective study aimed to assess the long-term safety and palatability of oral meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.) and its efficacy in treating osteoarthritic pain in cats when given at a dose of 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg once daily. Forty cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis completed the trial with a mean treatment duration of 5.8 months. Gastrointestinal upset in 2/46 (4%) cats was the only adverse effect noted. Three of the cats had stable chronic renal insufficiency (IRIS stage 3). No deleterious effect on renal function was detected in cats studied. Owners subjectively assessed treatment efficacy as good or excellent in 34/40 (85%) of cases. The results of this study showed oral meloxicam to be safe and palatable long-term treatment for osteoarthritis in cats when given with food at a dose of 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Clarke, S. P., D. Mellor, et al. (2005). "Prevalence of radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease in a hospital population of cats." Vet Rec 157(25): 793-9.
>> PubMed abstract

Godfrey, D. R. (2005). "Osteoarthritis in cats: a retrospective radiological study." J Small Anim Pract 46(9): 425-9.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More