Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Osteoarthritis in cats diagnosed by X-rays and signs
By Godfrey, D R·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2005·Nine Lives Veterinary Practice for Cats·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Osteoarthritis in cats: a retrospective radiological study.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats over one year old underwent X-rays for various reasons, and about 22% showed signs of osteoarthritis (OA) in their joints. Interestingly, many of these cats did not display any noticeable symptoms of OA, which suggests that pet owners might not always recognize the signs of this condition. The study found that older cats were more likely to have radiographic evidence of OA. This highlights the importance of regular check-ups, as some cats may have OA without obvious signs.
People also search for: cat osteoarthritis symptoms · signs of arthritis in older cats · treatment for cat joint pain
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To provide basic information about natural feline osteoarthritis (OA) as part of more extensive studies. METHODS: A retrospective study of cats (greater than one year of age) radiographed for any reason at a first opinion and referral veterinary practice was performed. Cats were classified as either having or not having radiographic OA. Computerised histories were searched for records of potential causes and clinical signs of OA. The genders and ages of the affected cats were compared with a control population using chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Of 491 cats, 292 (59 per cent) had undergone a diagnostic radiograph of at least one synovial joint. Sixty-three of 292 cats (22 per cent) showed evidence of radiographic OA; 21 (33 per cent) of which also had clinically evident OA. A potential cause of OA had been recorded in only seven of 63 cats (11 per cent). The population of cats with radiographic evidence of OA was older than the control population (P<0.001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Radiographic OA was found in 22 per cent of the test population. In many cases there was no clinical evidence of OA recorded in the history, suggesting that either there is little correlation between clinical and radiographic OA or that clinical signs of OA in cats may not have been observed or recorded. Idiopathic/primary OA was common.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16167592/