Orthopaedic conditions affecting mobility are among the most common welfare problems in dogs, causing chronic pain that significantly reduces quality of life.
Orthopaedic disease causes chronic pain that progressively limits mobility, exercise tolerance, and quality of life. Dogs with hip or elbow dysplasia experience pain during movement that reduces willingness to exercise, play, and engage socially. The condition worsens progressively as secondary osteoarthritis develops, and without adequate pain management, dogs endure continuous discomfort. Weight management is the single most impactful intervention for arthritic dogs, as excess body weight dramatically increases joint load. Breed health testing programmes for hip and elbow scoring have reduced but not eliminated the prevalence of these conditions in susceptible breeds.