Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How sensory testing compares in healthy cats and cats with arthritis
By Addison, Elena S & Clements, Dylan N·Published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·2017·The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Hospital for Small Animals, Division of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, UK, United Kingdom·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Repeatability of quantitative sensory testing in healthy cats in a clinical setting with comparison to cats with osteoarthritis
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy cats was tested for their sensitivity to temperature and pain to see how consistent the results were compared to cats with osteoarthritis (a type of joint pain). The healthy cats showed moderate repeatability in their responses, while the cats with osteoarthritis had lower sensitivity and less frequent paw lifts when exposed to cold temperatures. This suggests that testing for temperature sensitivity could help veterinarians identify and monitor joint pain in cats. The study indicates that while some tests may not clearly differentiate between healthy and affected limbs, others can be useful for diagnosis.
People also search for: cat osteoarthritis symptoms · how to tell if my cat is in pain · cat joint pain treatment · temperature sensitivity in cats · diagnosing arthritis in cats
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability of quantitative sensory tests (QSTs) in a group of healthy untrained cats (n = 14) and to compare the results with those from cats with osteoarthritis (n = 7). Methods Peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse were measured on a pressure plate system. Thermal sensitivity was assessed using a temperature-controlled plate at 7°C and 40°C. Individual paw lifts and overall duration of paw lifts were counted and measured for each limb. Paw withdrawal thresholds were measured using manual and electronic von Frey monofilaments (MVF and EVF, respectively) applied to the metacarpal or metatarsal pads. All measurements were repeated twice to assess repeatability of the tests. Results In healthy cats all tests were moderately repeatable. When compared with cats with osteoarthritis the PVF was significantly higher in healthy hindlimbs in repeat 1 but not in repeat 2. Cats with osteoarthritis of the forelimbs showed a decrease in the frequency of paw lifts on the 7°C plate compared with cats with healthy forelimbs, and the duration of paw lifts was significantly less than healthy forelimbs in the first repeat but not in the second repeat. Osteoarthritic limbs had significantly lower paw withdrawal thresholds with both MVF and EVF than healthy limbs. Conclusions and relevance QSTs are moderately repeatable in untrained cats. Kinetic gait analysis did not permit differentiation between healthy limbs and those with osteoarthritis, but thermal sensitivity testing (cold) does. Sensory threshold testing can differentiate osteoarthritic and healthy limbs, and may be useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of this condition in cats in the clinical setting.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x17690653