Arthritis In Cats
Arthritis is a very complex condition involving the abnormal change and degeneration of the joints.
Like humans, it is most commonly seen in older cats. It’s a progressive disease which if left untreated will worsen and cause substantial pain and discomfort.
Causes of arthritis in cats
• Abnormal conformation (defects from birth)
• Infection (septic arthritis)
• Immune related (rheumatoid arthritis)
• Stress or injury to the joints.
Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose which type of arthritis your cat has.
Infectious arthritis can be due to a number of micro organisms, it can follow damage to the joint or infection via the bloodstream. The affected joint often becomes swollen and very painful and your cat may suffer from a fever and stop eating.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis the joint cartilage becomes damaged and wears away faster than it can regenerate. The bone underneath this cartilage can become exposed and very inflamed. Eventually the joint capsule surrounding the joint becomes thickened and loses its elasticity. The joint then becomes very stiff and immobile. The joint degeneration restricts movement and nerve endings become sensitised to pain. The cat will then use the joint less, which in turn makes the problem worse. The animal becomes very stiff and inactive and as result can often become obese. This added weight puts more stress on already struggling joints making them degenerate even further.
Signs of arthritis
Initially the signs that your cat is suffering from arthritis might be hard to notice. Some of the signs to look out for which may indicate your animal is in pain are:
• Reluctance to exercise
• Less interest in playing
• Stiffness after periods of rest
• Unwillingness to climb stairs
• Sleeping more than usual
• Weight gain
Diagnosis
If you suspect that your cat is suffering from arthritis and seems in pain then it is important that you seek veterinary advice. Your vet may want to do tests to determine the cause of the joint pain to select the appropriate treatment. If the cause of the pain is related to damage or abnormal conformation of the joint then there may be a surgical option to correct the abnormality.
A blood test can distinguish rheumatoid arthritis although this isn’t always performed since it is quite a rare form of arthritis. If your vet suspects infectious arthritis then they may want to sample some of the joint fluid for analysis. X-rays will allow your vet to assess joint change in arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Treatment
Treatment is aimed at reducing the pain and inflammation in affected joints in order to increase mobility. The most common veterinary treatments are anti-inflammatory drugs which often show very marked improvements. These are often required long term in cats suffering from severe arthritis. The most commonly used are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s). The long term use of these drugs in cats isn’t recommended due to potential damage to the kidneys.
Management of arthritis in cats
There are three very important aspects of managing arthritis
• Weight control
• Exercise regime
• Dietary supplements
Arthritis and obesity often go hand in hand. Overweight cats are more likley to get arthritis. It is extremely important to control your cats weight. It is better to exercise little and often with arthritis instead of long periods of exercise. If your cat is very stiff after exercise then your current regime may be too much. Try three short periods a day of 15 minutes each to start with, and if that is easily coped with then you can increase the frequency or the length of exercise.
A range of dietary supplements are available for cats. These include nutraceuticals such as glucosamines and chondroitin which are well known chondroprotective agents (protect the cartilage). They act by providing substances in high concentrations which can be used to repair and maintain joint tissue. These substances have had good success in the long term management of arthritis.
Some people have also found success using alternative therapies such as massage, physiotherapy, acupuncture and homeopathy.