Arthritis and other chronic pain conditions affect the majority of senior dogs and cats, yet remain significantly undertreated due to difficulties in recognizing animal pain.
Chronic pain in senior pets is a major welfare issue that is systematically undertreated. Owners often attribute reduced activity and mobility to 'getting old' rather than to treatable pain. Cats especially are stoic pain hiders — their arthritis often goes undiagnosed until severely advanced. Veterinary pain assessment requires proactive screening rather than waiting for owners to report concern. New treatments including anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibodies (like Librela for dogs) offer remarkable pain relief for osteoarthritis. The welfare gap between available treatment and actual provision is substantial.