Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lameness in older cats from degenerative joint disease
By Perry, Karen L·Published in Companion Animal·2014·The Royal Veterinary College, Lecturer in Small Animal Orthopaedics, Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK, United Kingdom·View original on Crossref →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: The lame cat: the challenge of degenerative joint disease
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old cat was brought in for limping and signs of pain, which may be due to degenerative joint disease (DJD), a common issue in older cats. The veterinarian recommended a combination of treatments, including changes to the cat's environment, physical therapy, dietary adjustments, weight loss, and medication to manage pain. If these methods don't help, surgery could be considered. With the right management plan, many cats can find relief and improve their quality of life.
People also search for: why is my cat limping · cat joint pain treatment · older cat arthritis management
Abstract
Degenerative joint disease (DJD) has a high prevalence in cats and can be associated with pain. The feline population is an ageing one, and, as age is a major risk factor for both increasing prevalence and severity of feline DJD, it is critically important that veterinarians can recognise and treat it appropriately. History and physical examination findings differ to those in dogs, and radiographs can be difficult to interpret as cats do not form as much radiographic pathology as other species. A multi modal management plan comprising environmental modulation, physical therapy, dietary modulation, weight reduction and drug therapy where required is appropriate in the first instance but where clinical signs cannot be controlled with medical management, surgical options are available.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2014.19.11.582