My buddy has recently had X rays for a stomach issue and I was told he has arthritis. How can I tell if he is in pain?
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arthritis. ...
- Thread starter bubbasdad
- Start Date
You'll have to be observant and watch his movements. My 12 yo Boo has arthritis and lumbosacral disc degeneration. I first noticed when he would move more slowly going up and down the stairs. Going down, he started doing the "bunny hop" where both back feet hit each step at the same time. It was easier on his hips. Moving away or hissing when touched or pick up can indicate discomfort. I don't pick up Boo much anymore. He'll let out a meow and will struggle. Not making good clearance when jumping up to high places can be a sign. Boo will now use the chest at the foot of the bed as a halfway point since it sits lower than the bed.
Did the vet recommend a supplement for joint health? Boo is on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement under the care of a vet, and I think it helps.
Did the vet recommend a supplement for joint health? Boo is on a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement under the care of a vet, and I think it helps.
Watch for limping and slow motion walking. When Callie was diagnosed with it in her hips, she wasn't jumping, nor was she moving at a normal faster, smooth gait. Also, stiffness after being sedentary for awhile is another sign. You can provide heated beds or pet bed warmers. I like the ones from K & H brand, as they keep a lower temperature when the kitty isn't sleeping on it, but warm up to a cat's normal body temp when it's being slept on. I wrap mine up in a towel and place in the cat's bed. I also gave Callie Cosequin supplements that come in a capsule, but open it up and sprinkle the contents over canned food. Those helped tremendously and I don't think she was even in pain enough to need any kind of prescription pain killer.
Here's the link to the K&H website. They don't sell directly to consumers, but they do have links to lots of places that do sell them online. http://www.khmfg.com/catproducts
Here's the link to the K&H website. They don't sell directly to consumers, but they do have links to lots of places that do sell them online. http://www.khmfg.com/catproducts
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Well hello there my fellow Calgarian!
How old is your guy, and where is the arthritis? Have you noticed any changes in how he moves around? Even if there are no symptoms, the vast majority of cats over the age of about 12 have some degree of arthritis, so supplementing his diet with nutraceuticals may not be a bad idea. Here is a good article on some of the choices available: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/articles/rx-for-arthritis/
Also making sure he's at an appropriate weight can really help. Other treatment options, depending on the severity of the arthritis, could include acupuncture, laser therapy, osteopathy, Adequan injections, and maybe eventually pain medication (but stay away from NSAIDS like Metacam, which can cause irreparable kidney damage).
Find it easiest if I describe what I observed with my previous cat Pal as she developed arthritis and lumbo sacral degeneration.
Initially she was just a bit slower walking, and stopped jumping up on furniture so much. Her sister cat started to get the better of her in their play fights and chases.
As her arthritis became more severe her gait changed so she looked quite rigid as she walked. Her back was always slightly arched and her rear limbs looked stiff and she tended to avoid bending them (my friend's boys used to call her the robot cat
).
She would try to climb up on to furniture and stop and look at me so I knew it was getting difficult and more painful. I put smaller furniture down so she could manage to climb in smaller steps. She managed that for several years after her arthritis started. She also started to like being carried around more, I suspect because that was the easiest and most comfortable way for her to have a high level view (and be safe from her sister pouncing on her from behind).
She started to have more difficulty grooming and although she could reach most places it was harder and she did so less regularly. It would be a good idea to monitor grooming for regularity and any missed 'spots'.
When her joints were very stiff she would miaow for me to pick her up on to furniture as she could not manage even small steps, and when she wanted to lay down she would shuffle about and edge her way down so it was quite obvious she was not comfortable / in pain at that point. I made sure she always had lots of warm, soft, bed and resting spaces around the floor of the apartment so she could rest on a soft spot which ever room she was in.
After about 4 years her hind quarters became more rigid and more obviously wasted. This progressed over a period of maybe 6 years.
Pal never cried out at any time and never flinched if I touched her over any of her joints but I was sure that she was in quite high levels of pain at times. She always wanted petted and stroked all over. I know some cats will experience severe pain in specific points, and may flinch or growl and bite if being touched causes pain to worsen.
I always checked to make sure she was managing to negotiate the step in to her litter tray as know sometimes it can be necessary to lower this. What did happen as she got very frail was that she had trouble turning around in the tray and developed a tendency to stand with her butt hanging out over the tray. (I had to laugh as she was trying so hard to fit in there). She was trying her best to be clean in her toilet habits but struggled so I just started putting puppy training mats outside the litter tray so they caught any spillages and prevented any odour building up.
In the later stages of her life she was very stiff but seemed happy on her soft floor spots and being lifted on and off furniture where ever I was sitting or laying. She suddenly lost power in her hind legs one day and the vet suspected a bony spur pressing on her spinal cord. The power returned to some degree and she got a little mobility back but at that point, despite pain medication, her mobility looked so slow and painful, and she looked so tired that I felt she no longer had the energy or motivation to struggle on.
Pal seemed to be a happy cat who was active, interested in her environment and wanted close human companionship until she crossed the RB at almost 22. By then she had had arthritis for about 11 years. She would still play and show interest in her toy mice, and anything I was doing of course, though it was considerably less active than in her youth and involved no running or jumping. Once her sight was reduced she still showed interest in play where it had auditory and tactile elements and she could lay on her side to respond.
Initially she was just a bit slower walking, and stopped jumping up on furniture so much. Her sister cat started to get the better of her in their play fights and chases.
As her arthritis became more severe her gait changed so she looked quite rigid as she walked. Her back was always slightly arched and her rear limbs looked stiff and she tended to avoid bending them (my friend's boys used to call her the robot cat
She would try to climb up on to furniture and stop and look at me so I knew it was getting difficult and more painful. I put smaller furniture down so she could manage to climb in smaller steps. She managed that for several years after her arthritis started. She also started to like being carried around more, I suspect because that was the easiest and most comfortable way for her to have a high level view (and be safe from her sister pouncing on her from behind).
She started to have more difficulty grooming and although she could reach most places it was harder and she did so less regularly. It would be a good idea to monitor grooming for regularity and any missed 'spots'.
When her joints were very stiff she would miaow for me to pick her up on to furniture as she could not manage even small steps, and when she wanted to lay down she would shuffle about and edge her way down so it was quite obvious she was not comfortable / in pain at that point. I made sure she always had lots of warm, soft, bed and resting spaces around the floor of the apartment so she could rest on a soft spot which ever room she was in.
After about 4 years her hind quarters became more rigid and more obviously wasted. This progressed over a period of maybe 6 years.
Pal never cried out at any time and never flinched if I touched her over any of her joints but I was sure that she was in quite high levels of pain at times. She always wanted petted and stroked all over. I know some cats will experience severe pain in specific points, and may flinch or growl and bite if being touched causes pain to worsen.
I always checked to make sure she was managing to negotiate the step in to her litter tray as know sometimes it can be necessary to lower this. What did happen as she got very frail was that she had trouble turning around in the tray and developed a tendency to stand with her butt hanging out over the tray. (I had to laugh as she was trying so hard to fit in there). She was trying her best to be clean in her toilet habits but struggled so I just started putting puppy training mats outside the litter tray so they caught any spillages and prevented any odour building up.
In the later stages of her life she was very stiff but seemed happy on her soft floor spots and being lifted on and off furniture where ever I was sitting or laying. She suddenly lost power in her hind legs one day and the vet suspected a bony spur pressing on her spinal cord. The power returned to some degree and she got a little mobility back but at that point, despite pain medication, her mobility looked so slow and painful, and she looked so tired that I felt she no longer had the energy or motivation to struggle on.
Pal seemed to be a happy cat who was active, interested in her environment and wanted close human companionship until she crossed the RB at almost 22. By then she had had arthritis for about 11 years. She would still play and show interest in her toy mice, and anything I was doing of course, though it was considerably less active than in her youth and involved no running or jumping. Once her sight was reduced she still showed interest in play where it had auditory and tactile elements and she could lay on her side to respond.
My Poppy is supposed to have arthritis from a trauma injury, but other than a clumsy gait, we can't tell.
She gets krill oil to cut the inflammation that we're told must certainly be there.
She gets krill oil to cut the inflammation that we're told must certainly be there.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
Thank you all for your advice and suggestions. I have noticed he is coming down the stairs slowly and carefully. He is about 8 years old and is only just now showing signs of his age, however we have very distinct play sessions where he will run about the house like he's a kitten(and the pre poop warm up lap and post poop celebration laps) Thanks again I will look into the supplements before any type of prescription pain remedies.
Hahahahaha!!
Ah, so that's what Mouse does after he leaps out of his litter!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #10
I'm thinking the only bits of your buddy's body that's going to get exercise here are his paw pads as he kneads in to your lovely equipment - or would it be the sleep muscle when he decides he's comfy enough to drift off? Great to have a cat gym buddy - Have you tried getting him to walk towards his food on the running machine with you yet or are you not that cruel?
