Feline Osteoarthritis - What Every Cat Owner Ought To Know

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease resulting from the wear and tear of the cartilage in the joints. While it can strike people of any age group, including children, the degenerative nature of osteoarthritis makes it more common among the elderly.

But it is not just humans who can be affected by osteoarthritis. Cats can also be afflicted by this disease. Cats also experience the same wear and tear of their joints, especially as they advance in age. The condition can be compounded further if the cat is excessively overweight.

A cat can not tell its owner, however, if it is experiencing any joint pain. Thus, it is up to its owner to determine if his or her cat may be suffering from osteoarthritis. The obvious signs of osteoarthritis in cats, aside from old age and too much excess weight, are:

1. A noticeable limp or a difference in the way the cat walks;

2. Unwillingness to jump up or down any height; and

3. Listlessness or nervousness, sometimes outright aggression.

Once the condition of osteoarthritis has been specifically diagnosed by the veterinarian, the cats owner can turn to many forms of treatment to relieve the cat of joint pain. Home therapies include special diets and exercise that will make the cat slim down in case it is overweight. Massage applied to the affected area is also good in relieving joint pain resulting from osteoarthritis.

Common forms of drug treatments given to cats suffering from osteoarthritis are corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are good for relieving joint pain. However, these drugs work only by blocking pain signals to the brain. They do not really do much in terms of treating osteoarthritis itself. Also, there are now existing research materials that state that corticosteroids and NSAIDs have other dangerous side effects like liver and kidney failure in cats.

What are now seen to be truly effective alternatives for treating cats with osteoarthritis are supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine is widely held to be an effective therapy against osteoarthritis because it assists in rebuilding cartilage tissues that have been damaged by the disease. Chondroitin goes hand-in-hand with glucosamine because it prevents enzymes that are destructive to cartilage tissues. Also, chondroitin works to lubricate the joints and lessen the pain. Recent studies show glucosamine and chondroitin in combination effectively work in fighting osteoarthritis at the source of the ailment itself.