Cat MobilityA lame dog is a lame dog, but is it always so obvious in a cat? Let’s face it, most cats spend the day fast asleep. Opening an eye and stretching a leg out constitutes a brisk work out for many of out feline companions. Vets are only fairly recently beginning to realise that stiffness, arthritis and the long term joint pain that goes with it are far more common than we had realised. Arthritis is painful and reduces quality of life if not properly treated. Otherwise known as Degenerative Joint Disease, it can be triggered by anything that causes inflammation or degradation of the joint tissues. Natural wear and tear causes regular and prolonged low grade trauma to the joints. This can be made worse by excessive weight, poor joint conformation, extreme activity or injuries. Specific injuries such as ligament tears lead to joint instability and these will accelerate the degenerative process.
How can you tell if your cat has arthritis? If your cat is showing some of these signs, this might not just be laziness, this could be pain. We recently saw a cat who’s owner thought he was just getting old and tired and she brought him in for a check up. We ended up X-raying him and found he had terrible arthritis – now with the correct treatment he is suddenly much more active, much happier and not lying around on the bed so much. “You’ve taken years off him!” was his owner’s delighted comment. How can you help your older cat? - ask your vet to carry out a thorough physical examination - this might include X rays of affected joints - use prescription pain relief as recommended by your vet - use chondroprotective supplements containing glucosamine and Chondoitin help support the repair and maintenance of old, injured or diseased joints. The inflammatory process can lead to the production of destructive enzymes in the joints that contribute to a vicious circle of degeneration. Excessive wear of the joint cartilage, inadequate repair of the articular surfaces, inadequate production of the lubricant joint fluid and repair of the tissues of the joint capsule. - adding extra Fish Oils to the diet is one way of helping reduce inflammation, naturally. Fish Oils have a natural anti-inflammatory action, and can be found in combination with specific plant oils in a number of products. Don't be alarmed if the pack says these are for skin conditions - we use the anti-inflammatory action for arthritis treatment as well! - consider physiotherapy - particularly passive joint manipulation to help mobility as the tissues around the joints thicken and become increasingly fibrotic and stiff. - your vet might be able to offer acupuncture (yes, cats will tolerate it!) - don’t forget that many pets are increasingly mineral deficient due to mineral depletion in the soil where their food is produced. If you supplement their food with Vitamins and Minerals you will be ensuring that this is not going to be a problem for your cat. MultiVitamin and Mineral supplements provide essential micro-nutrients such as Vitamins C and E and a range of minerals such as Zinc and Copper, crucial for active body repair. We like to add powerful anti-oxidants for cats to help mop up some of the nasty free radicals involved in joint degeneration. - weight control is essential – yet another reason for staying Fit not Fat! - don't forget to provide easy access to warm and comfortable sleeping places, and make sure that it's easy to get to food, water and litter trays - getting around is not as easy as it used to be Together, these simple actions can help bring real relief and help reduce the doses of drug medication that your pet may otherwise need to stay active and pain free.
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