Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common is joint disease in pet cats on X-rays
By Lascelles, B Duncan X et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2010·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cross-sectional study of the prevalence of radiographic degenerative joint disease in domesticated cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that 92% of domestic cats showed signs of degenerative joint disease (DJD) on X-rays, which can lead to pain and stiffness. This condition was common even in younger cats, but it became more prevalent as cats aged. The most affected joints were the hips, knees, and elbows, and the spine was also frequently involved. Since DJD can cause discomfort, it's important for cat owners to monitor their pets for signs of joint pain, especially as they get older. Regular veterinary check-ups can help manage this condition effectively.
People also search for: cat joint pain signs · how to help my cat with arthritis · symptoms of degenerative joint disease in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in a randomly selected sample of domestic cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. ANIMALS: Client-owned cats. METHODS: Cats (n=100) from a single practice and equally distributed across 4 age groups (0-5; 5-10; 10-15, and 15-20 years old) were randomly selected (regardless of heath status) and sedated for orthogonal radiographic projections of all joints and the spine. Quasi-Poisson regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between patient demographics, blood biochemistry, hematologic and urine analysis variables, and DJD severity. RESULTS: Most (92%) cats had radiographic evidence of DJD; 91% had at least 1 site of appendicular DJD and 55% had > or = 1 site of axial column DJD. Affected joints in descending order of frequency were hip, stifle, tarsus, and elbow. The thoracic segment of the spine was more frequently affected than the lumbosacral segment. Although many variables were significantly associated with DJD, when variables were combined, only the association between age and DJD was significant (P<.0001). For each 1-year increase in cat age, the expected total DJD score increases by an estimated 13.6% (95% confidence interval: 10.6%, 16.8%). CONCLUSION: Radiographically visible DJD is very common in domesticated cats, even in young animals and is strongly associated with age. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: DJD is a common disease of domesticated cats that requires further investigation of its associated clinical signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20561321/