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
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

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
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Read More

Treatment of Musculoskeletal Disease in Cats

Bennett D, Morton C: A study of owner observed behavioural and lifestyle changes in cats with musculoskeletal disease before and after analgesic therapy, J Feline Med Surg 11:997-1004, 2009.

A questionnaire-based tool was used in this study to identify behavioral and lifestyle changes that are associated with chronic pain in the cat. The changes were grouped into four behavior domains (mobility, activity, grooming and temperament). Twenty-three cats with chronic musculoskeletal pain determined by physical examination were included. Subsequently, owners of these cats were asked to complete a questionnaire before and 28 days after the start of analgesic treatment (meloxicam). A veterinary surgeon was asked to provide an independent global score before and after treatment. In this study, the baseline global scores for the veterinary assessments were very close to the owners’ scores, suggesting that owners were providing a useful clinical history that correlated well with the veterinary surgeon’s physical examination. Both owners and veterinary surgeons reported significant changes in behavior and lifestyle after analgesic therapy. The authors conclude that the changes in behavior that occurred following analgesic intervention were the consequence of treatment of pain, though they could not exclude the possibility of a placebo effect. All four domains showed a reduction in scores, while the greatest reduction in owners’ scores for each of the four domains was in the activity category. [VT]

Related articles:
Gunew MN, Menrath VH, Marshall RD: 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 10:235-41, 2008.

Lascelles BD, Hansen BD, Roe S et al: Evaluation of client-specific outcome measures and activity monitoring to measure pain relief in cats with osteoarthritis, J Vet Intern Med 21:410-16, 2007.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
New for 2010: subscribe to our e-newsletter

Bennett D, Morton C: A study of owner observed behavioural and lifestyle changes in cats with musculoskeletal disease before and after analgesic therapy, J Feline Med Surg 11:997-1004, 2009.

A questionnaire-based tool was used in this study to identify behavioral and lifestyle changes that are associated with chronic pain in the cat. The changes were grouped into four behavior domains (mobility, activity, grooming and temperament). Twenty-three cats with chronic musculoskeletal pain determined by physical examination were included. Subsequently, owners of these cats were asked to complete a questionnaire before and 28 days after the start of analgesic treatment (meloxicam). A veterinary surgeon was asked to provide an independent global score before and after treatment. In this study, the baseline global scores for the veterinary assessments were very close to the owners’ scores, suggesting that owners were providing a useful clinical history that correlated well with the veterinary surgeon’s physical examination. Both owners and veterinary surgeons reported significant changes in behavior and lifestyle after analgesic therapy. The authors conclude that the changes in behavior that occurred following analgesic intervention were the consequence of treatment of pain, though they could not exclude the possibility of a placebo effect. All four domains showed a reduction in scores, while the greatest reduction in owners’ scores for each of the four domains was in the activity category. [VT]

Related articles:
Gunew MN, Menrath VH, Marshall RD: 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 10:235-41, 2008.

Lascelles BD, Hansen BD, Roe S et al: Evaluation of client-specific outcome measures and activity monitoring to measure pain relief in cats with osteoarthritis, J Vet Intern Med 21:410-16, 2007.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
New for 2010: subscribe to our e-newsletter

Read More

Cats and Arthritis

Robertson, S. A. (2008). "Osteoarthritis in cats: What we now know about recognition and treatment." Vet Med 103(11): 611-616.

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is a common cause of chronic pain in middle-aged and older cats. It is now known to be much more common in cats than previously thought. Clinical signs include unwillingness to jump, stiff gait, decreased grooming, house soiling, irritability, and hiding. Unlike dogs, lameness is not necessarily a common clinical sign of osteoarthritis in cats. Elbows and hips are most commonly affected, and many cats have disease in more than one joint. Pathologic changes, many detectable on radiographs, include deterioration of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, bone remodeling, soft tissue changes, and low-grade nonpurulent inflammation. Treatment includes weight reduction if applicable, and environmental changes such as making the litter box more accessible. Medical therapy may include nutraceuticals, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics. Non-pharmacological interventions include passive range of motion exercises and acupuncture.
>> Full text article

Related articles:
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.
>> PubMed Abstract

Lascelles, B. D., B. D. Hansen, et al. (2007). "Evaluation of client-specific outcome measures and activity monitoring to measure pain relief in cats with osteoarthritis." J Vet Intern Med 21(3): 410-6.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Robertson, S. A. (2008). "Osteoarthritis in cats: What we now know about recognition and treatment." Vet Med 103(11): 611-616.

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is a common cause of chronic pain in middle-aged and older cats. It is now known to be much more common in cats than previously thought. Clinical signs include unwillingness to jump, stiff gait, decreased grooming, house soiling, irritability, and hiding. Unlike dogs, lameness is not necessarily a common clinical sign of osteoarthritis in cats. Elbows and hips are most commonly affected, and many cats have disease in more than one joint. Pathologic changes, many detectable on radiographs, include deterioration of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, bone remodeling, soft tissue changes, and low-grade nonpurulent inflammation. Treatment includes weight reduction if applicable, and environmental changes such as making the litter box more accessible. Medical therapy may include nutraceuticals, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics. Non-pharmacological interventions include passive range of motion exercises and acupuncture.
>> Full text article

Related articles:
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.
>> PubMed Abstract

Lascelles, B. D., B. D. Hansen, et al. (2007). "Evaluation of client-specific outcome measures and activity monitoring to measure pain relief in cats with osteoarthritis." J Vet Intern Med 21(3): 410-6.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More

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