Feline Arthritis: Effective Solutions

There are many ways to help fight feline arthritis but not all of them can alleviate your cat’s conditions. Hence, it is important to understand feline arthritis and the methods available to treat the disease to provide your cat the best applicable solution. Choose from a wide variety of options and see how your cat will respond to it.

Cats have nine lives. Or so goes the myth. This myth may have been based on cat’s ability to twist and turn in difficult and knotty places, thanks to their remarkable skeletal system. But just like humans, cats grow old too and they develop diseases brought by old age like feline arthritis.

Feline arthritis or cat arthritis is a degenerative disease in the joints caused by wear and tear. As a typical bone structure, the meeting point of a cat’s bones, known as cartilage, provide optimum protection that ensures bone flexibility.

As cats grow old, cartilage wears out as well. With this, bones tend to rub on each other, which will eventually cause inflammation. This type of arthritis gradually develops as cats grow old. However, feline arthritis could also be caused by accidents or injuries.

Overcoming Pain

Preventing feline arthritis is not an accurate discipline but you can help them ease the pain. You can start by confirming your cat’s condition. Radiographs or x-rays are the best and the most common methods used to diagnose feline arthritis. In this method, the present condition of arthritis is identified and some possible causes.

Also, since arthritis is not a single condition and is not caused by a single factor either, it is important to diagnose the joint fluid known as synovial fluid to verify the number and the types of cells present to generate a solid information on the kind of arthritis present in your pet’s bones.

If the disease is confirmed, it is important to generate effective solutions that will help alleviate the pain. Pain is the most destructive and evident factor present in feline arthritis. Cats will find it difficult to move and they can be very sensitive to touch if they have feline arthritis.

So to ease the pain, here are some effective solutions:

Pain Relief Medication

Pain relievers are the most common and most obtainable solution for cats with arthritis. Unlike humans, cats may find it difficult to endure pain. Hence, they can be irritable and sensitive to touch.

Pain relievers used in humans can also be used in cats - works well with dogs too. However, experts say that pet owners should take caution in administering pain relievers to their cats due to the possible side effects.

Also, some pain relievers such as aspirin can cause adverse effects on cats. Cats are generally sensitive to aspirin so it is best if you consult your veterinarian first about administering this particular pain reliever...