Feline Osteoarthritis: Introduction (part 1)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease most frequently recognized in geriatric cats but may be found in any cat suffering from joint abnormality or injury. It is a common radiographic finding in older cats, with a prevalence of up to 90% in appendicular joints.

Veterinary professionals encounter different challenges such as recognizing altered gait in the feline patient, assese pain response, achieve accurate diagnosis and formulate adequate treatment plan. However considerable progress has been made in the past years.

Feline joint disorders are often overlooked, underestimated and undiagnosed, perhaps because of inconsistency between clinical signs and radiographic OA changes, in addition to the fact that cats are extremely agile and appear to manage pain and pathological changes within their joints better than their canine counterparts.
There is a growing awareness that osteoarthritis in cats is more frequent than previously predicted.

Ongoing and relentless professional education and review articles contributed to this phenomenon in addition to motivated owners that are also seeking appropriate pain management for their cats, both for surgical procedures and for chronic conditions such as degenerative joint disease (DJD).

Our ability as veterinary professionals to recognize, prevent, and manage feline pain is constantly improving and is becoming a prominent component and essential skill in our day-to-day clinical work.

Next:

Part 2: etiology, risk factors, breed predisposition and clinical signs

Part 3: diagnosis, radiographic features, treatment.

Sources:

Allan GS. Radiographic features of feline joint diseases. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2000 Mar;30(2):281-302,
Kerwin SC. Osteoarthritis in cats. Top Companion Anim Med. 2010 Nov;25(4):218-23. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2010.09.004.
Bennett D, Zainal Ariffin SM, Johnston P. Osteoarthritis in the cat: 2. how should it be managed and treated? J Feline Med Surg. 2012 Jan;14(1):76-84.
Bennett D. Canine and feline osteoarthritis. In: Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC. eds. Textbook of veterinary internal medicine. 7th edn. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier, 2010: 750. 
Hardie EM, Roe SC, Martin FR. Radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease in geriatric cats: 100 cases (1994–1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220:628–32.
German AJ, Ryan VH, German AC, Wood IS, Trayhurn P. Obesity, its associated disorders and the role of inflammatory adipokines in companion animals. Vet J 2010; 185:4–9.
Slingerland LI, Hazewinkel HAW, Meij BP, Picavet Ph, Voorhout G. Cross-sectional study of the prevalence and clinical features of osteoarthritis in 100 cats. Vet J 2011; 187:304–9.
Clarke SP, Bennett D. Feline osteoarthritis: a prospective study. J Small Anim Pract 2006; 47:439–45.
Bennett D, Morton CA. A study of owner observed behavioural and lifestyle changes in cats with musculoskeletal disease before and after analgesic therapy. J Feline Med Surg 2009; 11:997–1004.