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Do your caregivers understand that cats can suffer from osteoarthritis too? Do they know that pain can change their cat’s behavior and even result in litter box issues? The first step in helping these cats is to learn how to recognize that a cat is uncomfortable, and show caregivers how pain can change how cats interact with their families. The negative impact osteoarthritis has on a cat’s quality of life is profound, and if we can make a clear and compelling case that joint pain isn’t just a normal part of aging, then our relationship with our caregivers will be stronger, and their bond with their cat will be enhanced.
Learning Objectives
This talk will focus on how to identify and manage cats with osteoarthritis. Discussion will focus on:
- How visual tools can help cat caregivers recognize osteoarthritis
- Tips on how to communicate that cats are painful without assigning blame so caregivers don’t resist accepting the diagnosis
- The science behind why chronic, untreated pain is so debilitating
- How to make the case that pain is not a normal part of aging
- How managing chronic pain will enhance quality of life
- Strategies and treatments used to effectively manage cats with OA
- Why quality of life is vital to the human-animal bond
- How OA pain can lead to behavior changes that negatively impact the relationship caregivers have with their cats
Speaker Bio
Cathy Lund, DVM
Dr, Lund is the founder of City Kitty Veterinary Care for Cats, a cat practice located in Providence, Rhode Island. She is a Board member of the AAFP, and is a Past President of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. She was awarded the 2007 AVMA Meritorious Service Award for her work as Board President and Founder of the Companion Animal Foundation, a statewide, veterinary-based nonprofit organization that helps low-income pet caregivers afford essential veterinary care. She was veterinarian of the year in Rhode Island in 2010. She currently serves on several architectural and preservation commissions in the city of Providence, but her favorite activity is to promote the countless virtues of the purr-fect pet, the cat!
RACE Credits
This program 20-853167 is approved by the AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 1.00 CE Credits (1.00 max) being available to any one veterinarian: and/or 1.00 Veterinary Technician CE Credits (1.00 max). This RACE approval is for the subject matter categorie(s) of: Medical using the delivery method(s) of: Interactive-Distance. This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board’s CE requirements.