Management of osteoarthritis in cats.

OA is a disease of the geriatric cat. Clinical signs include weight loss, anorexia, depression, urinating outside the litter box, poor grooming, and lameness. Radiographs, synovial fluid analysis, and synovial biopsy are used to distinguish this disease from the various forms of inflammatory arthritis that affect the cat. Management consists mainly of environmental manipulation. Aspirin, butorphanol, corticosteroids, and nutritional supplements are used for chronic treatment of painful OA in cats.