Current insights into feline osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a painful condition which affects the majority of older cats but is often not recognised because of differences in the ways that affected cats exhibit the signs of chronic joint pain compared to dogs. There are also inherent challenges to the physical examination of cats which add to the difficulty of reaching a diagnosis, including the small size of their appendicular joints and a reluctance to allow manipulation and palpation of painful joints. Furthermore, even when osteoarthritis is identified, it is frequently not treated or is not treated effectively, in part as a result of concerns regarding adverse effects and costs of treatment as well as the practical difficulties of daily dosing with medication. Understanding the gait and behaviour changes that are characteristic of osteoarthritis is a key part of the diagnostic process and is more sensitive than radiography in identifying the presence of the disease. Once the condition has been diagnosed, a wide range of well-tolerated treatment options exist, allowing a multi-modal treatment approach to be adopted and tailored to the needs of the cat and the owner, which will deliver effective pain management in an affordable way and will not become a daily stressor to either party.