Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic pain condition in dogs, affecting an estimated 20% of the adult population, yet it is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated due to dogs masking pain effectively.
Canine osteoarthritis represents an enormous and largely hidden welfare burden. The masking of pain in dogs — an evolutionary adaptation that conceals vulnerability from predators — means that dogs with significant joint pain continue walking, eating, and greeting owners while experiencing chronic discomfort. The typical owner interpretation of a dog that is "slowing down with age" frequently describes untreated arthritis in a dog that could benefit substantially from treatment. Validated pain assessment tools (Helsinki Chronic Pain Index, Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs scale) allow systematic evaluation of pain burden, but their use is not routine in general practice. Post-treatment owners consistently report dramatic behavioural improvements — increased playfulness, willingness to climb stairs, longer walks — suggesting that pre-treatment baselines were significantly impaired. Welfare-conscious veterinary care includes proactive arthritis screening in at-risk breeds from middle age onward, with treatment initiated early rather than waiting for severe clinical signs.