Health A-Z
Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)
Owner and veterinary guidance with linked treatments and source citations.
Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)
Species: Cat
Breeds Affected: All breeds (very common in senior cats)
Clinical review: Veterinary reviewer metadata is not available yet.
Guidance by audience
Use the global Pet owner/Vet toggle in the header. Each mode shows only what that audience needs.
For Pet Owners
Quick summary
A chronic degeneration of the joints marked by cartilage loss and bony changes, leading to pain and decreased mobility. It is extremely common in cats over 12 years of age. Track appetite, hydration, stool/urine changes, energy level, and symptom pattern over time.
Red flags
Call your vet today: Persistent or worsening symptoms. Emergency now: Collapse, severe breathing issues, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain.
What to expect at the vet
Diagnosis should combine history, exam findings, and condition-specific testing.
Prevention checklist
Reduce preventable risk through hygiene, vaccination/preventives when applicable, and routine veterinary follow-up.
For Veterinarians
Diagnostics
Diagnosis should combine history, exam findings, and condition-specific testing.
Differentials
Differential diagnosis considerations are not available yet.
Treatment considerations
Management is multimodal. Weight management, environmental modifications (eg, soft bedding, ramps, low-sided litter boxes), and gentle exercise are important. Pain control is typically achieved using NSAIDs at the lowest effective dose, and frunevetmab (Solensia®) is now available as a monthly injection for osteoarthritis pain in cats. Supplements may also be used.
Follow-up strategy
Follow-up strategy is not available yet.
What To Do Now
Escalate care quickly if symptoms worsen, persist, or include emergency warning signs.
| Urgency | Signs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Call your vet today | Persistent or worsening symptoms | Call your veterinarian the same day for guidance and exam scheduling. |
| Emergency now | Collapse, severe breathing issues, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain | Seek emergency veterinary care immediately. |
Prevention Checklist
Reduce preventable risk through hygiene, vaccination/preventives when applicable, and routine veterinary follow-up.
Treatments and Medication Links
Use these medication pages as a reference for options your veterinarian may discuss.
Detailed treatment strategy remains in the Vet view to avoid duplicate narrative blocks.
| Medication | Role | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carprofen | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Meloxicam | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Bedinvetmab | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Deracoxib | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Grapiprant | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Firocoxib | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Betamethasone | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Etodolac | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ content is not available for this condition yet.
Data Sources
Last updated: February 16, 2026, 11:12 AM UTC
View source list
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Owner_summary · clinical_reference
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/searchresults?query=Osteoarthritis+%28Degenerative+Joint+Disease%29Reference search for condition background. -
Triage · clinical_reference
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/searchresults?query=Osteoarthritis+%28Degenerative+Joint+Disease%29Clinical triage framing. -
Vet_summary · clinical_reference
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/searchresults?query=Osteoarthritis+%28Degenerative+Joint+Disease%29Clinical workflow reference. -
Diagnosis · guideline
https://capcvet.org/?s=Osteoarthritis+%28Degenerative+Joint+Disease%29Guideline discovery link. -
Prevention · public_health
https://www.cdc.gov/search/?query=Osteoarthritis+%28Degenerative+Joint+Disease%29Public health discovery link. -
Treatment_overview · guideline
https://capcvet.org/?s=Osteoarthritis+%28Degenerative+Joint+Disease%29Treatment guideline discovery link.
Revision History
View revision log
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structured_enrichment2026-02-16 11:12 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-16 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-15 11:11 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-15 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-14 11:10 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-14 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-13 11:11 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-13 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-13 04:45 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-12 22:47 · etl
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