Arthritis In Cats Paws

Many arthritic cats simply become less active.

Arthritis in cats paws. Paws and effect a cat advice blog answering letters from readers about cat health and behavior issues since 2003. If medication is needed we all know how difficult daily dosing of meds can be in a cat. If one paw in particular seems to be bothering her let your vet know. Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs for a couple of reasons.

Once you have a positive arthritis diagnosis your veterinarian might send you home with medications to help control her pain. Arthritis in cats can develop for a number of reasons. Though arthritis cannot be cured there are various remedies and procedures that can help ease the pain for your cat. Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints.

Some cats with arthritis will stop grooming themselves resulting in an unkempt haircoat. Normal wear and tear of joints over time can lead to arthritis later in life. 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. Recent studies have shown that up to 90 of cats aged over 12 years are showing signs of osteoarthritis hardie et al 2002.

Cat arthritis symptoms early symptoms of arthritis in cats are often found in the animal s range of motion. Similarly weight management requires two things. We give advice on how to deal with arthritis in cats for the best possible quality of life. Exercise and food management.

Weight management is a cornerstone of successful arthritis therapy for cats just as in people and dogs. Some cats are more likely to develop arthritis due to their breed. Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted. This kind of arthritis is usually because of an inherited weakness in the cartilage.

He may want to take a separate picture of that paw to get a good look at it. Causes of arthritis in cats. Cats with arthritis may be painful when handled. Arthritis treatment for cats.

However cats are very adept at hiding any illness especially pain as this would be seen as a sign of weakness in the wild. And cats have peculiar problems when it comes to using anti inflammatories the mainstay of treating arthritis. The pain resulting from arthritis may cause a decreased appetite for some cats. He could also suggest giving her supplements.

Arthritic cats may have difficulty accessing the litter box and may urinate or defecate outside of the litter box. Old age arthritis or osteoarthritis is a rapidly growing area of feline medicine.