Osteopathy in Cats: Some New Insights…
As we've highlighted in a previous article, one of the primary reasons for seeking veterinary osteopathy is arthritis, often associated with age.
In this context, cats are often brought in for consultation at a later stage because their lightness and natural flexibility allow them to compensate for this condition for a long time without obvious clinical signs.
In such cases, we are far from a preventive context or early intervention. Osteopathy won't directly affect established arthritic lesions, which are irreversible. However, opting for osteopathy offers numerous benefits that contribute to comfort and well-being for your cat:
Firstly, restoring mobility to "fixed" structures and enhancing overall movement.
Decreasing pain, notably by alleviating ligament, muscular tensions, self-sustained contractions, and addressing underestimated neuralgic pains (linked to nerve impairment).
Stabilizing their health condition by limiting recurrences and the frequency of painful episodes.
Improving overall management of your cat, complementing other treatments used in conventional medicine.
Did you know?
In cases of arthritis, osteopathy can reduce the need for potential painkillers and can even alleviate your pet's discomfort on its own. In a broader sense, osteopathy naturally fits into various locomotor and spinal pathologies (joints, bones, vertebrae, ligaments, tendons, muscles...) and in post-operative care after orthopedic surgery to enhance recovery and minimize postural compensations.
However, it's not limited to musculoskeletal issues or elderly animals. The applications are much broader and more extensive.
As a reminder, there's no age restriction or minimum age for osteopathy. It can be highly beneficial during growth-related issues or certain abnormalities appearing in very young animals after birth. Results tend to be more effective when addressed early on.
Did you know?
The "swimmer kitten syndrome," characterized by an inability to support themselves on their limbs, appearing in a star-shaped position with a flattened thorax causing organ compression, can be treated with osteopathy.
Osteopathy is also very useful in numerous medical indications due to its visceral techniques.
The aim is to restore an organ's mobility. What does this imply? Imagine the spine as a large closet holding organs. Although interconnected and attached to vertebrae through various systems, they must still be able to slide over each other and deform to a certain extent due to respiratory movements and abdominal and intercostal muscles. Hence, any restriction in an organ's mobility or tension in its attachments, through which nerve fibers and blood vessels pass, creates constraints that, eventually, have varying functional repercussions.
Thus, osteopathy can be considered in all "idiopathic" conditions, i.e., those where no cause has been identified. It might also be indicated in some chronic or recurring diseases. In the absence of an established cause or if present lesions are reversible, it can be curative. In more advanced cases, it contributes to your pet's comfort and stabilization in conjunction with traditional medicine for better care.
Did you know?
In cases of idiopathic cystitis, common in cats, bladder issues might solely result from a mispositioning of the bladder. Tensions, for instance, in its lateral ligaments, could create a "fold" conducive to urinary infections. Hence, considering an osteopathic perspective might explain recurring aspects.
In summary, osteopathy can be applied in numerous scenarios for cats, such as:
- Locomotor issues: limping, paralysis...
- Growth-related problems
- Urinary conditions: idiopathic cystitis, inappropriate elimination...
- Digestive conditions: vomiting, diarrhea, gastric ulcers...
- Respiratory conditions: feline asthma, chronic rhinotracheitis...
- Dermatological conditions: chronic wounds, chronic ear infections...
- Neurological conditions: balance disorders, "epilepsy," idiopathic Claude Bernard Horner syndrome...
- Supporting chronic kidney failure
- Supporting diabetes by using visceral techniques on the pancreas.
In all these situations, it's challenging to determine what came first: Are the osteopathic fixations encountered causes or consequences of the observed pathology? There's no definite answer, but it's evident that osteopathy can yield positive results. It stands as a therapeutic option not to overlook, especially in cases of no improvement or relapses.
Feel free to seek advice from your veterinarian, who can guide you to a veterinary osteopath.
Dr. BEGU C., Veterinarian
