title: A study of owner observed behavioural and lifestyle changes in cats with musculoskeletal disease before and after analgesic therapy.
abstract: This study describes the use of a simple questionnaire-based tool to identify behavioural/lifestyle changes that are associated with chronic pain in the cat. These changes were grouped into four behavioural domains (mobility, activity, grooming and temperament). Twenty-three cats with chronic musculoskeletal pain as determined by clinical examination were included. The owners of these cats were asked to complete a questionnaire before and 28 days after the start of analgesic treatment (meloxicam). This included a global assessment of changes in behaviour and assessment of the degree of behavioural change observed within each of the defined domains. The attending veterinary surgeon was independently asked to provide a global score before and after treatment. Both owners and veterinary surgeons reported significant changes in behaviour/lifestyle after analgesic therapy. There was no difference between the owners and veterinary surgeons global assessments at baseline but there was at day 28 (P=0.02). The owners' scores decreased from a median of 5 at baseline to 3 at 28 days (P=0.0004) while the median veterinary surgeon scores decreased from 5 to 2 at 28 days (P<0.0001). There was a statistically significant reduction in the owners' scores for each of the four domains with the greatest reduction occurring in the activity category (P=0.0001). This study shows that owner assessment of changes in their cat's behaviour/lifestyle is an important method of identifying chronic pain in their pets.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Comparative Medicine, Division of Companion Animal Studies, University of Glasgow Veterinary Faculty, Bearsden Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1 QH, United Kingdom. D.Bennett@vet.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morton
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077239:Meloxicam