Osteoartrite em felinos domésticos: Cuidados integrados e estratégias para promoção do bem-estar

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by deterioration of diarthrodial articular cartilage. It is a painful and self-perpetuating condition that results in stiffness and decreased joint mobility, and may affect one or more joints in a symptomatic or subclinical manner. With aging, OA is one of the main conditions that promote behavioral and mobility changes in older cats, and it is a pathology that is difficult to diagnose in this species due to their instinct to show few signs of weakness and pain. Based on a literature review on osteoarthritis in felines and its therapeutic options, this review aims to deepen and explore the management strategies and treatment options currently available to promote comfort and quality of life for domestic felines affected by this condition. Because it is a progressive and irreversible disease, palliative treatment for OA should primarily promote pain relief and provide well-being for the patient, with the possibility of combining pharmacological treatments, nutritional and environmental management, physiotherapy and acupuncture, and the need for surgical interventions. The prognosis is variable and individual, depending on factors such as the degree of severity and evolution of the clinical condition, as well as the choice of treatment and the response obtained, with multimodal therapy being an approach with extremely positive results for felines affected by osteoarthritis.