Cat Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis is one of those conditions that people tend to ignore until it happens to them. Most people don’t understand just how much arthritis can affect someone’s lifestyle. The joint pain and swelling that occurs is a major problem that must be treated with constant medication and rest. Now as difficult as it is for humans to understand the problem, just imagine how difficult it can be for a cat owner to understand the problem of cat arthritis. Most pet owners treat their pets well, but it can be hard to understand a condition that they aren’t aware of. Since cats can’t talk, finding out if your cat has arthritis can be a difficult task. However, in this article we’ll talk about some ways that you can check your cat and how a veterinarian goes about diagnosing cat arthritis so that you can be aware of potential problems in your cat.

The warning signs of cat arthritis are joint pain and swelling that would cause your cat to be less active or walk with a limp. If you notice a persistent limp or slow movement by your cat, then you should consider taking it to the vet for X-Rays. Your veterinarian will know what to look for in the joints and connective tissue and will be able to diagnose cat arthritis easily. However, if the problem has just begun, then it might be a little bit more difficult because the joints haven’t grown awkwardly enough to be picked up on an X-Ray.

Now if your cat has been hit by a car or suffered from an accident, then your vet will do X-Rays regardless. This will help him to understand the full extent of the injury and he’ll be able to see if your cat is at risk for deformed bones or joints. If this is the case, your cat will probably need medications for quite some time.

The medications used to treat arthritis in cats are the same that humans use, mainly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s). If necessary, your vet will pursue surgery as a last resort. This is usually necessary to fix bones and connective tissue that is severely damaged or malformed. Although cat arthritis is a rare disease, it can happen easily if your cat is overweight, so make sure you watch your cat’s diet and exercise patterns closely. If your cat is overweight and is noticeably limping, then helping your cat to exercise and a better diet can fix the problem on its own. However, if the problem has persisted for a while, then it might take medication to heal. The best person to ask about the diagnosis of cat arthritis is your veterinarian, so make sure you schedule regular checkups to talk about potential medical problems with your cat.