The District Vet by Dan Teich DVM

Your Cat May Have Arthritis

The District Vet

by Dan Teich, DVM

Osteoarthritis in cats is similar to that in people and dogs. OA, also referred to as degenerative joint disease, is where cartilage is worn down or damaged, and possible new bone formation develops around bony joints. This results in varying degrees of pain and swelling, leading to low grade inflammation and reduced range of motion. Simply put, it is uncomfortable. Cats can develop OA in all joints, but it

is most pronounced in the knee, elbow, and hip joints. OA can occur in the spine as well.

Cats generally do not express their discomfort to us humans. Or so we think. Many signs of OA in cats are simply brushed off as the cat being older or learning not to jump onto a particular piece of furniture. We also may think that cats are simply being lazy, but more likely than not, there’s underlying joint inflammation and arthritis. Older cats that become less active generally have arthritis.

The most common clinical signs reported by cat owners include hesitation or reluctance to jump up or down, hesitation to climb up or down stairs, decreased grooming, difficulty walking, behavior changes (seeking more solitude, or becoming aggressive), and inappropriate litter box habits. In addition about 1/3 of all cats with OA are more sensitive to being touched or picked up. Cats with OA are also less likely to groom; they simply cannot bend without pain, so they don’t.

Not addressing a cat’s underlying arthritis, aside from knowing that the cat is uncomfortable, may lead to further lack of activity and muscle mass loss, exacerbating the OA. When activity decreases cognitive decline may occur and this can impact the relationship that a person has with their cat. OA is a serious quality of life issue that frequently is not addressed. Diagnosis is made via history, physical examination, and frequently X-rays of affected joints. Not every cat will have visible abnormalities on X-rays, and in other cases, the X-rays may show severe signs, but the cat is not synchronous with the X-ray findings. History and physical exam are essential as is the response to treatment in confirming the diagnosis.

Treatment ideally involves a multimodal approach. For quite some time veterinarians have used a glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement to aid in arthritis treatment, along with pain medications, such as gabapentin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Adequan, a joint fluid precursor, given at home via injection, can help slow and mildly reverse OA in certain cases. None of these supplements or medications are approved and labeled by the FDA for use in felines.

Recently a new medication has been approved for use in cats to control the pain and lower inflammation associated with OA. Solensia, a monoclonal antibody given via injection once per month, greatly reduces the pain of OA. It works via binding to a molecule called nerve growth factor (NGF), a signaling protein that is produced by injured tissues. NGF binds to receptors on nerves, making them more sensitive to pain, and it causes other cells in the body to release pro-inflammatory factors, leading to more NGF production.

Monoclonal antibodies function similarly to natural antibodies in a cat’s body: they bind to a specific molecule, rendering that chemical unable to perform its function. Solensia binds to NGF, neutralizing it, while not affecting any other molecules or signaling mechanisms within the body. It has been shown that targeting NGF is effective at significantly decreasing OA pain while avoiding unintended effects. By decreasing the sensitivity to pain, the cat is more comfortable. The Solensia-NGF protein is then broken down and eliminated by the body with no ill effects.

Clinical effects may be seen in as little as a few days, but it is advised to not assess the full benefit until after several doses. In addition to the once monthly dosing and efficacy in over 77% of cats receiving Solensia, it is safe to give to cats with kidney and liver disease.

Solensia may be an important new tool to help control pain from arthritis in cats. It can be used with other modes of OA control, such as glucosamine/chondroitin supplementation and Adequan, as appropriate.

Older cats that appear to be slowing down or “learning” to not jump on the counter may be in pain and have arthritis. We now have a new tool to return their mobility and comfort. Ask your veterinarian if you have concerns that your cat has arthritis - they may be able to help.

Dr. Teich is the medical director for District Veterinary Hospitals in Navy Yard, Eastern Market and Brookland. Visit www.districtvet.com for more information. u

Sports Teams

by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. Technology giant 4. Links rental 8. Video game 14. Device for generating light 18. Where two streets meet 21. Discomfort 22. Home of “The Wizard of Westwood” 23. Team 25. Dudley Do-Right’s org. 26. Apportion 27. Musical notes 28. Photo nish 30. Show exibility 35. Decayed city 38. Bone, pre x 42. Quadrangle 46. Hall of fame 49. “Fat chance!” 50. Scooby-___ (cartoon dog) 51. Patriots’ Day month in Ma. 52. Team 54. Circumference segment 55. Knights’ equipment 57. Smooth over 58. Foreboding atmosphere 61. Hawaii’s Mauna ___ 62. Tattoo letters sometimes 64. Arctic, for one 67. 2001 computer 68. Eye parts 72. Cows 73. Good employees 76. At the very back of the boat 78. Let’s dance ___ ___ ! 80. Leap for Lipinski 81. In an undetermined way 83. Little ___ (small fry) 84. Passed out 86. Ballad 87. Martini addition 90. Two caddys 94. Madcap comedy 96. Suitable to ingest 99. Singer, Rawls 100. Team 104. Winds 106. NHL great 107. Young fellow 108. Repudiate 109. Snorkeling locale 111. Perspective 113. Punjab queen 115. Nation with many top marathon runners 116. Christensen of TV’s “Parenthood” 119. Year in Nero’s reign 121. Shadow 125. Newspaper term 128. Team 135. Early Atari video game 136. Skulls 137. Alexander the Great’s kingdom area 138. Deuce beater 139. Bottomless pits 140. “___-Team” 141. Med. specialty

Down:

1. SALT subject 2. “A slope to the sea” (Scottish) 3. Shed 4. Evidence collectors 5. Equip with repower 6. Friend of Pooh 7. Road crew supply 8. Following, with “to” 9. Cuckoo 10. Executive 11. Madeira wine 12. In a mixed up state 13. Where the chicks are 14. Fishing gear 15. Duke’s grp. 16. Questionable marketing companies

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com

17. Milk soaked bread 19. Ransack 20. Shannon of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 24. Row boat equipment 29. Grew fond of 31. Dead on arrival, for short 32. Paving supplies 33. Unadulterated 34. Diva delivery 36. Makes annoyed 37. Australian state: Abbr. 39. Regarding the text referred to 40. Peck at 41. “I see” words 42. Dutch cheese 43. “Me neither” 44. Caesar’s comic partner 45. Sesame Street character 47. Bellini opera 48. Pique 53. Male donkey 56. One of the planets 59. Finish, of a sort 60. Somewhat civilized race 62. Scale notes 63. Neighbor of Minn. 65. “The Ice Storm” director Lee 66. New 69. Punk music genre 70. Speci cally 71. Kitchen pot 73. Boy child 74. Fire 75. Browsing through 76. Medical group, for short 77. Puckish 79. Cable inits. 82. Spreads 85. Wall Street gure 88. H.S. subject 89. Digital tome 91. Blackthorn fruit 92. Went like the wind 93. Roam the internet 95. Animation platform (abbr.) 96. Black in color 97. In addition to 98. Legendary tales 100. Stars and Bars org. 101. Darlin’ 102. Leaves used in soups and stews 103. Fruit like a grape 105. Sneaky and smart 110. 4:1, e.g. 112. Having shelf projections 114. Early evictee 117. Aztec comparable 118. Roadside 120. Thinker’s conclusion 122. Rice who wrote “The Vampire Chronicles” 123. Pack ___ (quit) 124. Future J.D.’s hurdle 125. Pick, with “for” 126. ___ favor 127. Helm dir. 129. Switch settings 130. Outer limit 131. Jazz pianist King Cole 132. MIT, for one 133. Realize 134. City in central Oklahoma

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