| Cats are known for their crazy antics and acrobatics, | | | | underdevelopment of products dedicated to |
| but take a look at an older cat and you quickly realize | | | | managing feline osteoarthritis," says Dr. Eric Troncy, |
| the difficulty these geriatric pets have in performing | | | | professor at the University of Montreal. He says MRI |
| even the simple tasks they used to do every | | | | is much more sensitive in showing structural changes |
| day-jumping onto a favorite couch or pouncing at a | | | | in the limbs of cats, which can help veterinarians |
| toy mouse. Many of these feline friends suffer more | | | | identify joint disease. |
| than just the aches and pains of old age. They have | | | | Cats with osteoarthritis often have an altered gait |
| a condition called osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint | | | | and put more weight on their unaffected limbs. So, |
| disease that progresses with age and affects about | | | | researchers are also developing a pain scale and a |
| 75 percent of senior cats. | | | | quality-of-life scale, using quantitative gait analysis and |
| With Morris Animal Foundation pilot-study funding, | | | | telemetered locomotor activity monitors to record |
| researchers at the University of Montreal are | | | | how the disease affects the animal's function levels. |
| studying osteoarthritis in a new way, by looking at | | | | This is the first study aimed at validating both the |
| both the behavior and anatomy of cats with the | | | | objective and subjective pain of osteoarthritis, and |
| disease. The scientists are using magnetic resonance | | | | Dr. Troncy hopes the results will help his team |
| imaging (MRI) technology to look at joint damage in | | | | develop an effective treatment for this painful |
| the hip lumbar region, elbows and knees of a dozen | | | | condition. Currently, there is no approved method for |
| felines. In animals with the disease, the normal | | | | alleviating the long-term pain of joint disease in cats, |
| cartilage cushion in the joint breaks down, and the | | | | but the results of the study may allow researchers |
| bones rub against each other, often causing bone | | | | to look at drugs or nonconventional painkillers to help |
| spurs. Unfortunately, evidence of joint disease | | | | manage the disease. |
| doesn't always show up on traditional X-rays, and it | | | | "This would represent a huge change for cat |
| can be difficult for even an experienced veterinarian | | | | osteoarthritis management and welfare," says Dr. |
| to make the correct diagnosis. | | | | Troncy. With proper disease management, older cats |
| "Underdiagnosis of the disease is leading to | | | | may find themselves with a bit more spring in their |
| undermanagement of osteoarthritis in cats, and also | | | | steps. |