Arthritis In Cats Paws
Arthritis in cats can be particularly hard to spot.
Arthritis in cats paws. Cats with arthritis may be painful when handled. Weight management is a cornerstone of successful arthritis therapy for cats just as in people and dogs. We give advice on how to deal with arthritis in cats for the best possible quality of life. Some cats are more likely to develop arthritis due to their breed.
Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints. Old age arthritis or osteoarthritis is a rapidly growing area of feline medicine. Causes of arthritis in cats. If medication is needed we all know how difficult daily dosing of meds can be in a cat.
He could also suggest giving her supplements. Cat arthritis symptoms early symptoms of arthritis in cats are often found in the animal s range of motion. Arthritis in cats can develop for a number of reasons. However cats are very adept at hiding any illness especially pain as this would be seen as a sign of weakness in the wild.
Recent studies have shown that up to 90 of cats aged over 12 years are showing signs of osteoarthritis hardie et al 2002. Though arthritis cannot be cured there are various remedies and procedures that can help ease the pain for your cat. Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs for a couple of reasons. Similarly weight management requires two things.
Paws and effect a cat advice blog answering letters from readers about cat health and behavior issues since 2003. Arthritis treatment for cats. Once you have a positive arthritis diagnosis your veterinarian might send you home with medications to help control her pain. The pain resulting from arthritis may cause a decreased appetite for some cats.
Many arthritic cats simply become less active. Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted. Some cats with arthritis will stop grooming themselves resulting in an unkempt haircoat. Exercise and food management.
He may want to take a separate picture of that paw to get a good look at it. Consult your veterinarian for advice if you believe your cat is suffering from arthritis. If one paw in particular seems to be bothering her let your vet know. And cats have peculiar problems when it comes to using anti inflammatories the mainstay of treating arthritis.
This kind of arthritis is usually because of an inherited weakness in the cartilage. Both obesity and arthritis in cats are on the rise with arthritis cases increasing 67 percent from 2006 to 2011 according to banfield s 2011 state of pet health report.