Arthritis can be a serious condition, but with cosequin cats' symptoms have been shown to improve. Although arthritis can be a long-term condition, there are treatments to help lessen the symptoms and improve your cat's mobility and quality of life.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition which affects the cartilage between two bones in a joint. It is a degenerative condition which thins the cartilage and can leave the joints swollen and painful. Arthritis usually occurs in older cats but it can occasionally affect younger ones too.
Symptoms of Arthritis in Cats
There are a number of symptoms associated with cat arthritis. Your cat may not exhibit all of them but the most common signs to look out for are:
- Limping or altering their posture to avoid putting weight on one part of their body
- Resistance to moving around or walking
- Distress, discomfort or pain
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Feverish
Causes of Arthritis
There are two different types of arthritis that can affect cats. Osteoarthritis is the most common. This is a kind of arthritis that develops with age and is a result of wear in the joint. It can also affect younger cats if they suffer trauma. It can also occur if the cat is overweight, as the extra load puts more stress on the joints.
The other is rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune condition which occurs when the cat's immune system attacks its own tissue. This type of arthritis is much less common than osteoarthritis, although it can affect cats of any age.
How Can Cosequin Help Arthritis?
Cosequin is a mixture of glucosamine and chondroitin, two compounds which help reduce inflammation in the joint and replenish lost cartilage. This helps the swelling and also eases and pain or discomfort your cat may feel. As well as helping in the short-term, Cosequin can also be an effective cat medicine over a long period of time. It has no side effects, so it can be used for long periods of time to help reduce the effects of arthritis.
Cosequin is a relatively natural drug and can be taken as a supplement by both humans and animals. It comes in capsule form so you can feed it to your cat directly, or put the powder in its food if it has trouble swallowing pills.
Living With Arthritis
The outcome of your cat's treatment depends on how early you catch its arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with a mixture of steroids and antibiotics as your vet sees fit. However, cosequin is popular as it has no side effects. If your cat is overweight, it's a good idea to limit its calorie intake and make sure it gets enough exercise, as this will help relieve arthritis symptoms.
With the right kind of exercise and diet, cats can live a normal life even if they have suffered from arthritis. Cosequin is useful as it can continue to be used as a supplement, even after your cat has recovered from its condition.