There is a new therapy for cats with arthritis that is very exciting! It is called Solensia and is a once-a-month monoclonal antibody injection, making it extremely safe for your cat!
Arthritis develops in cats as early as 6 years of age. By age 12, over 90% of cats have radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. But cats are very good at hiding their pain and you have to be very observant to notice changes in their behavior.
Cats are “vertical creatures” – they are always jumping up on things, like to be high above the action (or at least sitting on your lap), run up stairs quickly, and get on mantels to knock things off. If you see your cat mostly in horizontal planes, then they are likely painful.
Does your cat stop halfway up a flight of stairs? They are resting because it hurts to go up fast. Does your cat jump up on the table only if there is a chair available to jump onto first? Does your cat misjudge a jump or hesitate before making a jump? These are all signs of pain. Check out: https://www.zoetispetcare.com/checklist/osteoarthritis-checklist-cat for more on determining if your cat is painful.
So what about this Solensia and why am I so excited about it?
Solensia is a monoclonal antibody made up of cat protein. It is a BIOLOGIC, a protein not a chemical medication. It does one thing in the cat’s body: bind the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which is involved in the regulation of pain.
By decreasing the amount of NGF, we decrease the sensation of pain in the cat. Suddenly, your cat is running up the stairs, jumping nimbly into your lap, and knocking things off the counter again!
The injection is given in the hospital once a month, which keeps the NGF levels well-regulated and prevents your cat from getting painful between injections.
Studies have shown that 77% of cat owners report seeing an improvement in signs of pain over 3 months.
We recommend getting your cat a series of 3 injections, as it takes 2 doses to achieve a “steady state”, but you may see improvement within a week after the first injection. Some cats who have had long-standing chronic pain may continue to be guarded in their movements because they expect movement to hurt, but eventually, they realize they can move more freely, too.
Another great thing about this treatment is that it is fine to use in cats with kidney failure, heart disease, or even cancer. It won’t interfere with any other medications the cat may be taking. It is also very safe with few side effects (potentially vomiting or a little pain and the injection site).
If you would like to get your older kitty some pain relief, please ask us about Solensia!
Dr. Scarlett
