DJD-associated pain in cats: what can we do to promote patient comfort?

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) has a high prevalence in domestic cats and can be associated with pain. This pain should be addressed wherever possible.

All practitioners are faced with cats that are mobility impaired due to DJD-associated pain.

Cats of all ages and breeds, and either sex, can experience DJD-associated discomfort.

Recognizing DJD and assessing DJD-associated pain in cats is a challenge. Owner observations of activity and behavior, careful observation and a logical and thorough orthopedic evaluation are key. Current understanding of the etiology of feline DJD and the mechanisms of DJD-associated pain is incomplete, making the rational choice of treatments a further challenge.

Evidence is emerging on the prevalence of feline DJD, and on how to assess the associated pain and mobility impairment. There is a lack of information on the etiology of feline DJD and a relative lack of data on the efficacy of putative treatments.