Osteopenia in Cats
Osteopenia is a loss of bone mineral density in cats that affects the strength of their bones. Having osteopenia means that there is a risk that the cat may develop full osteoporosis and suffer painful injuries.
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Causes
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Like in humans, cat bones become thinner with age. Bones lose minerals, structure and mass, giving them an overall weakness and increased risk of breaking.
Symptoms
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There are no reliable outward symptoms, but as the bone grows weaker, the risk of breaks increases. Cats will sometimes become more lethargic to prevent injury
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Diagnosis
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Osteopenia is diagnosed most effectively with a dual-energy x-ray absorption scan, although this is very expensive. A sample of bone can also be collected for chemical testing.
Treatment
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Osteopenia in cats is treated by veterinarians by using hormone-replacement shots. These help to invigorate the cat's system and allow for mineral absorption to strengthen the bones.
Prevention
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To maximize the density of a cat's bones, prevention of osteopenia comes from getting proper amounts of calcium, Vitamin D from both a healthy diet and exposure to the sun, and an active lifestyle filled with exercise.
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References
- Whole Health for Happy Cats: A Guide to Keeping Your Cat Naturally Healthy, Happy, and Well-Fed (Quarry Book); Sandy Arora and Regina Schwabe; 2006
- The Veterinarians' Guide to Your Cat's Symptoms (Veterinarians Guide); Michael S. Garvey D.V.M., Anne E. Hohenhaus D.V.M., John E. Pinckney D.V.M., and Katherine A. Houpt D.V.M.; 1999
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of eva
