ALL OLDER CATS EXPERIENCE JOINT PAIN. IT IS EASY TO TREAT.
Cats don’t tell us when they have joint pain. They hide it and simply sleep more or get more irritable or reduce their activity. We wrongly conclude that these behaviour changes are just normal parts of aging but they’re not. They can indicate that your cat is in pain.
When given non-steroid anti-inflammatories such as meloxicam, cats with joint pain (caused by osteoarthritis) become more active and less irritable. But many older cats also have impaired kidney or liver function and can’t safely be given non-steroid anti-inflammatories for their joint pain.
A relatively new and equally or more effective treatment for osteoarthritis joint pain in older cats is available at the London Vet Clinic. We see fast, sustained improvement in three out of four cats we give a monthly injection of a ‘monoclonal antibody’ called Solensia, designed specifically for cats.
Solensia (generically called frunevetmab) neutralises NERVE GROWTH FACTOR (NGF) which is a key contributor to joint pain and inflammation. Neutralising NGF reduces pain. Solensia functions very much like naturally occurring antibodies, with minimal involvement of the kidneys or liver and minimal gastrointestinal impact.
The best way for us to help you determine whether your older cat has joint pain is to watch a video you make of your cat’s activity at home. Together with a good history taking from you, this is the best precursor to actually examining your cat. If on examination we conclude that the video and history evidence strongly point to age-related osteoarthritis, then rather than putting your cat through the inconvenience of x-ray confirmation we start Solensia therapy.
Expect to see increased activity, such as a resumption of easily jumping on furniture within days of the first injection. When this happens we continue with monthly injections. After the initial consultation fee, the cost of one of the London Vet Clinic nurses giving monthly injections (including VAT) is £79.
If you feel your cat might benefit from the use of this new and exciting treatment please make a short telephone video of your cat jumping or climbing at home and send it to bruce@londonvetclinic.co.uk or ring us on 02077232068 for an appointment.
(The canine equivalent of Solensia (called Librela) is remarkably effective. We has seen sustained pain relief for more than two years in older dogs given monthly Librela injections.)
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