Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
DJD-associated pain in cats: what can we do to promote patient comfort?
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Lascelles, B Duncan X & Robertson, Sheilah A
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Degenerative joint disease (DJD), which causes pain and discomfort, is common in cats of all ages and breeds. It can make them less mobile, and recognizing the signs of DJD and the pain it causes can be difficult for both pet owners and veterinarians. Observing your cat's activity and behavior closely, along with a thorough examination by a vet, is important for understanding their condition. While there is growing information about how common DJD is in cats and how to assess the pain it causes, we still don't fully understand what causes it or how well some treatments work. Overall, addressing the pain from DJD is crucial for improving your cat's comfort and quality of life.
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Degenerative joint disease (DJD) has a high prevalence in domestic cats and can be associated with pain. This pain should be addressed wherever possible. AUDIENCE: All practitioners are faced with cats that are mobility impaired due to DJD-associated pain. PATIENT GROUP: Cats of all ages and breeds, and either sex, can experience DJD-associated discomfort. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: Recognizing DJD and assessing DJD-associated pain in cats is a challenge. Owner observations of activity and behavior, careful observation and a logical and thorough orthopedic evaluation are key. Current understanding of the etiology of feline DJD and the mechanisms of DJD-associated pain is incomplete, making the rational choice of treatments a further challenge. EVIDENCE BASE: Evidence is emerging on the prevalence of feline DJD, and on how to assess the associated pain and mobility impairment. There is a lack of information on the etiology of feline DJD and a relative lack of data on the efficacy of putative treatments.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20193911/