Research Communications of the 27(th) ECVIM-CA Congress: Intercontinental, Saint Julian's, Malta, 14th to 16th September 2017

One hundred and sixteen apparently healthy mature clientowned cats were included (age > 6 years). All cats were kept exclusively indoors. These owners reported no lameness was observed of these cats over the last six months. All cats underwent a full physical examination and orthopedic evaluation of the appendicular and axial skeleton (signs of pain, instability, effusion and crepitus, performed by the same assessor). Body condition score (BCS, 5-point system) was also assessed. Each cat was gently restrained for radiographic examination without sedation. Radiographs of both shoulders, elbows, carpi, coxofemoral joints, stifles, and tarsi were evaluated. Among 116 cats, 111 (95.7%) cats had at least one appendicular joint affected with radiographic osteoarthritis. The prevalence of DJD in shoulders, elbows, carpi, coxofemoral joints, stifles, and tarsi were 15/116 (12.9%), 86/116 (74.1%), 82/116 (70.7%), 17/116 (14.7%), 71/116 (61.2%), and 11/ 116 (9.5%), respectively. Results of multivariate general linear model analyses indicated that DJD in elbows and coxofemoral joints was associated with BCS (P = 0.008 and P = 0.014, respectively). DJD in hocks was associated with BCS, gender and neutering (P = 0.039). Sixty six (56.9%) cats had decreased mobility, and further discriminant analysis indicated that decreased mobility was associated with presence of DJD in hocks (P = 0.014); whereas 21 (18.1%) cats hesitated to jump down, and further discriminant analysis indicated that hesitation of jump down was associated with presence of DJD in elbows (P = 0.009). Presence of DJD and decreased mobility was not associated with age or body weight.