Prevalence of spondylosis deformans in the feline spine and correlation with owner-perceived behavioural changes

Abstract

This study found that feline spondylosis is common and that spondylosis of the lumbosacral region may be accompanied by behavioural changes.

Spinal hyperostosis in humans and companion animals

“…These types were described to be comparable with those seen in human ankylosing hyperostosis (former name for DISH) (Wright 1982a(Wright , 1982b. Recent reports of the prevalence of spondylosis and DISH in a group of pedigree dogs and in a group of cats used a comparable system as is depicted in Figure 4 (Kranenburg et al 2010;Kranenburg et al 2011;Kranenburg et al 2012). Other studies of canine vertebral hyperostosis did not specifically distinguish between these two different disorders, i.e., spondylosis and DISH (Morgan et al 1967;Read & Smith 1968;Wright 1982b;Langeland & Lingaas 1995;Carnier et al 2004).…”

“…In cats, spinal segments T4-T10 are described to be most frequently affected by spondylosis (Beadman et al 1964;Read & Smith 1968;Clarke et al 2005;Clarke & Bennett 2006;Lascelles 2010;). More extensive new bone formation was found more frequently in the caudal part of the vertebral column (Hardie et al 2002;Clarke et al 2005;Kranenburg et al 2012). …”

“…Recently, spondylosis of the caudal spine was found to be related with behavioural changes such as decreased willingness to greet its owners, less reluctant to being petted, increased aggressiveness and a poorer perceived quality of life as interpreted by the cat's owners (Kranenburg et al 2012). The owners of the cats with spondylosis were unaware of this at the time they filled in the questionnaire and the cats did not have any known orthopaedic comorbidities (Kranenburg et al 2012). The feline model with DJD may be used in a randomized placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of pharmaceutical and/or nutritional treatment options that are available for spinal hyperostosis in humans and spondylosis in cats.…”

“…To investigate this coping mechanism in cats, studies use questionnaires of owner perceived changes of the cat's behaviour (Sharp & Wheeler 2005;. Recently, spondylosis of the caudal spine was found to be related with behavioural changes such as decreased willingness to greet its owners, less reluctant to being petted, increased aggressiveness and a poorer perceived quality of life as interpreted by the cat's owners (Kranenburg et al 2012). The owners of the cats with spondylosis were unaware of this at the time they filled in the questionnaire and the cats did not have any known orthopaedic comorbidities (Kranenburg et al 2012).…”

“…The Resnick criteria (Table 1) have been used most often and are suggested to be the golden standard in companion animals also (Greatting et al 2011). The new bone formation can also be diagnosed using CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Kranenburg et al 2012) (Figure 6). …”