A New Treatment for Arthritis in Cats – Copper Hill Animal Clinic

Historically, managing chronic pain in cats has been difficult. Although various medications are available for dogs who suffer from the disease, many of those drugs are not tolerated by cats.
Osteoarthritis is the disease which is associated with the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. As animals age, the loss of cartilage allows the bones to rub against each other. The affected bone in that joint becomes inflamed. The pain associated with this change will worsen over time. You may notice that your cat will find it more difficult to jump up or down, walk or run at a normal speed, or engage in normal play. Other changes could include lack of comfort when being handled, staring, fixed gaze, and self-mutilation.
If you have a cat over the age of 12, the likelihood that they have arthritis is high. A study in 2002 showed evidence of arthritis in 90% of cats over 12 that were included in the study. (Hardie EM, et al.)
A new medication called Solensia recently became available in the United States for cats with arthritis. This is a drug that blocks pain by binding to a specific protein called nerve growth factor (NGF). Because it is so selective, it may be safer than other drugs used to control pain.
If you are concerned that your kitty may be suffering from arthritis pain, we would be happy to help. Though no drug is entirely without risk, Solensia has been shown to have remarkably few side effects associated with its use. My own senior cat was one of the first we tried it on at Copper Hill Animal Clinic, and I was very impressed with the results. No kitty should have to live in pain!