Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs, affecting an estimated 20% of dogs over one year of age, yet it remains widely under-diagnosed and under-treated.
Osteoarthritis causes persistent, often severe chronic pain that profoundly affects quality of life. The subtlety of canine pain expression means that many dogs suffer in silence for months or years before owners recognise the problem. A dog that has stopped jumping onto the sofa or is slower on walks may simply be dismissed as aging, when in fact they are in chronic pain that is highly treatable. Regular veterinary screening using validated pain assessment tools can identify affected dogs earlier. Effective multi-modal analgesia dramatically restores comfort and activity levels, allowing dogs to engage again with behaviours that are intrinsically rewarding. Untreated arthritis is an avoidable source of sustained suffering.