Arthritis is a condition where one or more joints become swollen or inflamed. It can affect the hips, elbows, knees, and neck.

There are two types of arthritis:

1. Primary – Rheumatoid Arthritis: this is a progressive and uncommon disease where the immune system attacks healthy joints
2. Secondary – Osteoarthritis: the cartilage around a joint gets damaged, so new bone forms around the joint. This has no cartilage protecting it, and causes stiffness and pain

CAUSES:

While arthritis normally affects older cats, and worsens with age, cats of any age can have it.

Primary:

• Old age
• Injury
• Auto-immune diseases (the immune system attacks its own body)

Secondary:

• Old age
• Injury
• Disease: hip dysplasia, ligament rupture, joint infection
• Obesity

SIGNS:

• Painful joints
• Swollen joints
• Joint stiffness
• Lameness, taking longer to get to its feet, unable to jump or climb
• Loss of appetite
• Depression

DIAGNOSIS:

In order to properly diagnose your cat with arthritis, your veterinarian will begin with the following:

• Review of medical history
• Physical exam: flexing the joints and listening for abnormal joint sounds, as well as looking for swelling or heat in your cat’s limbs

You veterinarian may also perform the following tests:

• CBC blood test(complete blood count): measures the total amount of red and white blood cells in the body
• X-rays of the affected areas: to determine the type of arthritis
• Joint Tap: draining and studying joint fluid

TREATMENT:

The course of treatment depends mainly on what is causing the disease.

• Infection: antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications
• Obesity: diet change

If treatments are not helping the pain:

• Surgery: fragments of cartilage or bone in the joint can be removed to decrease swelling, and in extremely painful cases, the affected joint may be removed
• Dietary supplements: stimulates new cartilage growth in the joints and can alleviate some discomfort
• Veterinarian-developed exercise routine: too much exercise for an arthritic cat can cause severe pain; however, too little exercise will make your cat’s joints even stiffer
• Medications: long-term steroids and anti-inflammatory use may alleviate the symptoms

PREVENTION:

There is no known prevention.

PROGNOSIS:

There is no cure for arthritis, but your veterinarian can give you treatment options so you cat can live a comfortable life. You should pay attention to your cat’s movements, as catching arthritis early leaves more options for your cat to live comfortably.