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

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Degenerative joint disease (DJD) has a high prevalence in domestic cats and can be associated with pain. This pain should be addressed wherever possible. AUDIENCE: All practitioners are faced with cats that are mobility impaired due to DJD-associated pain. PATIENT GROUP: Cats of all ages and breeds, and either sex, can experience DJD-associated discomfort. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: 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 BASE: 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. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.