Arthritis is one of the most common ailments seen in middle aged to older pets.
Arthritis in cats back legs.
A sick animal in the wild is vulnerable to predators so any sign of weakness must be hidden.
Feline arthritis can be caused by injury infection an autoimmune disorder or degenerative problems involving the joints.
Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints.
Cats can hide their pain or show very subtle vague signs of pain.
Signs of arthritis in cats.
The pain resulting from arthritis may cause a decreased appetite for some cats.
However some culprits such as brain tumors and kidney disease can be fatal if untreated.
Many drugs are just not safe for use in cats.
So if your cat is slowly becoming weaker on its back legs the problem should be investigated.
And cats have peculiar problems when it comes to using anti inflammatories the mainstay of treating arthritis.
By lorie huston dvm.
If medication is needed we all know how difficult daily dosing of meds can be in a cat.
If a cat seems stiff or painful has swollen joints loses muscle mass or has a hard time moving around it might have arthritis.
Cats tend to hide signs of pain quite effectively which makes sense if you consider their ancestry.
How to spot arthritis in cats.
This instinct makes it difficult for owners to know their cats is affected and whether treatment is necessary.
Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs for a couple of reasons.
Arthritis causes changes within the affected joints that are painful for the affected pet.
Some cats with arthritis will stop grooming themselves resulting in an unkempt haircoat.
This is a painful condition that occur as a result of joint inflammation.
Cats with arthritis may be painful when handled.
Cats can develop arthritis for a variety of reasons including aging obesity trauma and occasionally genetic or heritable conditions.
Being less active may not roll on back or stretch as previously did a change in the.
Arthritic cats may have difficulty accessing the litter box and may urinate or defecate outside of the litter box.
Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted.
Even younger cats under the right circumstances can suffer from arthritic changes.
Gradual onset hind leg problems in cats are often caused by milder illnesses such as arthritis.
Keeping a cat in good shape through proper diet can help relieve the symptoms.
