Arthritis can be a very painful condition for cats, and pain medication is the only treatment option. Cosequin is a supplement for cats with joint problems. It protects the joints and cartilage.
Joint Support
The joints are exposed to a lot of stress on a daily basis. They have to bear the entire weight of the cat, and if the cat is overweight, the stress is increased. A majority of senior cats suffer from joint inflammation, and this is an untreatable, extremely painful condition.
Maintaining healthy joint cartilage is important in preventing arthritis. Cosequin can promote cartilage production and maintain the health of the existing cartilage.
What Is Cosequin?
Cosequin is a dietary supplement that is recommended by vets for cats with arthritis. It's a joint supplement that contains glucosamine, manganese ascorbate and chondrotin sulfate. In addition, it contains chicken and tuna flavors, which will make the supplement tastier and easier to administer to cats.
The active ingredients in Cosequin protect the joint cartilage and will ensure that the cat has no inflamed joints. The medicine will slow down the effect of the enzymes that destroy cartilage, so it's recommended even for cats that don’t have arthritis yet.
Arthritis or the inflammation of joints is a common disease that affects 90% of cats over the age of 12. There is no available treatment for arthritis. Vets recommend pain management and weight loss to reduce the stress on the joints. Cosequin is among the few approved joint support medications available for cats. There are no side effects in administering Cosequin, as this is a nutritional supplement. In rare cases, it can cause an upset stomach.
Symptoms of Feline Arthritis
Arthritis is likely to occur after the age of 10 to 12. Your cat will have difficulty in moving or jumping. You may also notice limping and the hesitation to perform certain activities.
Consult your vet when you see any of these symptoms. You can start administering cosequin even before you get a proper diagnosis, as a preventive measure. Cosequin will start to be effective a few weeks after you start to administer it.
Other Uses of Cosequin
Cosequin is used also to maintain bladder health in pets. The active ingredients will protect the bladder wall. The wall of the bladder is protected by a lining and an additional layer that has a similar consistency as the joint cartilages. This layer prevents urine and other possible toxic compounds from damaging the lining. This use of cosequin is less frequent.
Cosequin is available in capsules. You can administer them to your cat as such, or open them and spread the powder on top of your cat’s food. The powder is meat flavored, so the cat will not reject it. Talk to your vet about dosage and frequency of administration.