Nutrition and nutraceuticals in the changing management of osteoarthritis for dogs and cats

Abstract

O steoarthritis is a progressively painful disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation with loss of proteoglycan and collagen, subchondral bone sclerosis, periarticular proliferation of new bone, and chronic inflammation of synovial membranes. 1 7] Cats in particular may not show clinical signs typically associated with osteoarthritis, and even subtle changes in a cat's behavior at home may be caused by osteoarthritis-associated pain. Veterinarians should closely evaluate patients' joints at every annual examination and discuss signs of osteoarthritis and pain with clients. To prevent disease progression as early as possible, discussions about osteoarthritis should take place for patients as young as 1 year of age. Careful evaluation and client education are essential to identifying osteoarthritis in its earliest stages.