SA272 - Suffering in Silence: Osteoarthritis & Chronic Pain in Cats

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM

Location: Oceanside B, Level 2

Earn 1 CE Hours

Presenter(s)

Ralph C. Harvey, DVM, MS, DACVAA (he/him/his)

Chair, Veterinary Advisory Board
PainTrace/BioTraceIT Corporation
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Handouts

Moderator(s)

Joyce A. Login, DVM

ZOETIS
Princeton, NJ, United States

Osteoarthritis pain in cats is ubiquitous, under-diagnosed, and under-treated. Recognition and assessment of pain in cats have improved significantly in recent years. While NSAIDs are the foundation of treating OA pain in other species, none are US-FDA approved for chronic use in cats. A new therapeutic anti-NGF monoclonal antibody is safe and effective for treating OA pain in cats. Overcoming obstacles to medicalizing cats with OA pain requires improved partnering with clients.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize osteoarthritis as an under-diagnosed and under-treated issue in cats
Describe techniques for assessing pain in cats
Evaluate the use of new medications to effectively treat OA pain in cats
Appreciate enhancing and prolonging the human-animal-bond through better management of OA pain