ELIMINATE THE HURDLES: IDENTIFYING AND TREATING CHRONIC PAIN IN CATS DR. TAMARA GRUBB, DVM, PHD, DACVAA
In this VETgirl Zoetis small animal webinar, Dr. Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA explores ways to prevent pain ‘cat-tastrophe’ in a webinar entitled Eliminate the Hurdles: Identifying and Treating Chronic Pain in Cats.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Osteoarthritis (OA), a form of degenerative joint disease (DJD) is the most common cause of chronic pain in mammals, including cats. Up to 40% of all cats are estimated to have OA/ DJD, with that number increasing to approximately 90% in senior cats (>12 years of age). Unfortunately, cat owner- identified chronic pain is uncommon and <1% of cats are presented to veterinarians for analgesia. Left untreated, pain can lead to adverse health, behavior and welfare issues. What are the hurdles to identifying and treating chronic pain in cats? 1. Cats; 2. Cat owners; 3. Need for pain exams; 4. Current treatment options. Here are some tips for overcoming the hurdles and racing to the finish to provide pain Cats hide everything, including pain. Regardless of the eons of domestication, the behavior of many mammals, including (especially?) cats still exists in the evolutionary prey/ predator space of being preyed upon if unable to avoid a predator, as could occur in a state of pain. Thus, hiding pain was once an important component of survival. Now, unfortunately, this behavior serves as a hurdle for pain identification. In addition, cats are largely sedentary and at least semi-nocturnal so they inadvertently conceal many outward signs of pain by sleeping when the owner is awake. Although these facts can’t be changed, knowledge of the relief for cats! 1 BELIEVE IT!
and mobility changes in cats are more frequently manifest in vertical movement, like difficulty climbing and jumping. Behavior Changes (e.g., hiding if previously social; urinating/defecating outside the litterbox if previously house-trained; failure to eat or groom; etc.) are often manifestations of a variety of maladies – including pain. Unfortunately, pain has not traditionally been high on the list of differentials for these changes when, in fact, pain is a common inciting cause. Even if medical (or other) causes for behavior changes are discovered, the potential presence of pain should be explored as co-existing pain can exacerbate the adverse effects of disease. (continued)
facts can make us more observant when cats are awake and ambulatory. 2 RECOGNIZE THE MOST COMMON MANIFESTATIONS OF OA/ DJD PAIN IN CATS: CHANGES IN MOBILITY AND BEHAVIOR Changes in Mobility are universal manifestations of OA/DJD pain in most species but cat mobility changes are more difficult to recognize when compared to those in dogs. OA most commonly presents as unilateral disease in dogs, creating the classic limping gait. OA in cats is more commonly bilateral, perhaps creating abnormalities in gait, but not a classic limp that might be easily recognized as pain. In addition, cats spend a great deal of time moving vertically
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