Feline Polyarthritis

Feline polyarthritis is an immune-mediated disease that affects only male cats. Cats are generally affected between the ages of 1 1/2 years and 4 1/2 years, with female cats being completely unaffected by the disease. Feline polyarthritis may affect any breed of cat and is associated with the condition erosive polyarthritis.

  1. Identification

    • According to The Free Dictionary.com, the definition of feline polyarthritis is inflammation or arthritis that involves two or more joints in the cat's body. The arthritis may migrate to other joints in the body and is a chronic condition that may progressively worsen with age.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms that are most commonly associated with feline polyarthritis are chronic lameness, anorexia (loss of appetite), reluctance to walk or exercise, weight loss and depression. Occasionally, feline polyarthritis causes deformities in the joints in the body that are affected by the disease. This is more common in cats that are diagnosed with the erosive form of polyarthritis. Feline polyarthritis can cause changes in the cat's joints that are similar in nature to rheumatoid arthritis in dogs.

    Causes

    • While the exact cause of feline polyarthritis is not known, there is a direct link between the disease and exposure to the feline syncytium-forming virus or FeSFV, as well as the feline leukemia virus or FeLV. According to Veterinary Medicine.dvm360.com, approximately 60 percent of cats with feline polyarthritis test positive for FeLV,and all cats affected by the disease test positive for FeSFV. The erosive form of feline polyarthritis causes changes in the cat's joints that are similar to rheumatoid arthritis in dogs.

    Diagnosis

    • In order to diagnose feline polyarthritis in your cat, your veterinarian will perform a physical evaluation and take a detailed medical health history of your cat. The veterinarian may palpate (feel) the affected joints to see if they are swollen or painful. Diagnostic tests such as X-rays and blood tests may be performed as well as synovial fluid analysis in order to confirm the diagnosis of feline polyarthritis.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for feline polyarthritis may include immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisolone. Cats with feline polyarthritis often require therapy for their entire lives, because of the chronic and progressive nature of the disease. Surgical intervention is not recommended in cats with feline polyarthritis. The prognosis for cats with this disease is good with medication and proper medical management of the condition.