What Can Be Done to Treat Arthritis in Cats?

A recent study shows that more than 20% of the older cats in the USA suffer from arthritis. Arthritis in cats causes their joints to deteriorate and cause pain in the tendons, most commonly due to their old age and athleticism. Arthritis is found normally even in people due to less movement and also in other pets mostly due to their high age, high level of activity and also their fatness. Other reasons causing feline arthritis can be due to stress or mental trauma. Osteoarthritis arthritis in the most commonly found kind in cats where the joints wear and tear due to age causes inflammation and dislocation of joints, severe pain, limping, stiffness and lameness.

Due to the technological advancement, arthritis in cats can now be properly treated with the help of effective medicines and natural remedies that will help maintain the vitality and health in future. Although it has been noted that in some cases the disease is not curable due to the stage of the disease, nature of arthritis and cat's physical condition at the time when the disease was spotted. Unlike dogs, cats are difficult to be identified when having pain or when limping, because slow movement is already an issue of old age and it is difficult to be distinguished with arthritis. However the following symptoms will help you diagnose any probable condition of arthritis in cats. There might be a different walking style, signs of limping or inflexibility, having more sleep, unwillingness to jump, urinating or defecating outside the space allotted, losing weight, appearing thinner due to muscle loss and other mental attitude changes such as more depression and annoyance.

To diagnose the arthritis properly, your veterinarian would examine the cat thoroughly at all stances after considering any possible symptoms. Additional blood tests, screening, X-Rays and joint juices would be taken from the affected joint and a detailed analysis procedure would be performed. The vet also may have to control the joints in order to know the state of stiffness and the necessary steps that would have to be taken.

Cats suffering from Osteoarthritis can be treated in a number of ways such as medicinal and natural treatments as well as physical in-home therapies. It can be difficult for cat owners to see their pets under distress. Even before their treatment, cats suffering from arthritis can be comforted through low-surfaced orthopedic beds, short-sided litter boxes and healthy food to compensate the strength lost due to arthritis. Cure for arthritis in cats is most commonly provided with the long-term use of dietary supplements such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin and fatty acids. These are components in the fluid of the joints and cartilage in a cat's body and regular quality dosage of these drugs can lead to fast recovery of the joints tissue damage. Steroids such as Tramadol, corticosteroids such as Prednisone, and anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs such as Metacam work as quick pain relievers but their expenditure has dropped due to their side effects. Such medications are popular among athlete-pet owners. Acupuncture, acupressure, swimming, massage, exercise, encouraging more activity and other such physical therapy supplemented with an above-stated medication greatly increases the chances of recovery and even strengthens the body, giving you a more energetic and in shape cat that you wanted, always wandering around and being with you during your loneliness.