Dog Degenerative Joint Disease: Osteoarthritis and Pain Management

Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20 percent of adult dogs, causing chronic joint pain that is frequently underrecognised and undertreated, significantly reducing quality of life particularly in older dogs.

Key Facts

Canine osteoarthritis involves progressive degradation of joint cartilage, causing pain, reduced range of motion, and functional decline
An estimated 80 percent of dogs over eight years of age show some degree of osteoarthritis on radiographs
Dogs mask pain effectively — owners frequently attribute signs of arthritis to "slowing down with age" rather than treatable pain
Validated pain assessment tools including the Canine Brief Pain Inventory and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs scale are available but rarely used by owners
Modern treatment includes NSAIDs, monoclonal antibodies targeting nerve growth factor, physiotherapy, weight management, and environmental modification

Welfare Considerations

Osteoarthritis causes chronic, daily welfare impairment in a large proportion of the dog population. The pain of degenerative joint disease is persistent and worsens over time without intervention. Dogs living with untreated osteoarthritis reduce their activity, sleep more, engage less in play and social interaction, and show subtle behavioural changes that owners may not connect to pain. The normalisation of reduced activity in older dogs delays treatment that could meaningfully improve quality of life. The development of monoclonal antibody therapies targeting NGF (such as bedinvetmab) has transformed options for pain management in dogs with limited NSAID tolerance. Even with effective treatment, environmental modifications — ramps, orthopedic bedding, slip-resistant flooring — are important welfare interventions that improve daily comfort.

What You Can Do

Do not assume reduced activity in older dogs is normal ageing — discuss with your vet whether arthritis assessment is warranted
Use standardised pain assessment questionnaires to objectively track your dog's pain over time
Work with your vet on a multimodal pain management plan combining medication, weight management, and physiotherapy
Modify your home environment: provide ramps to furniture, orthopedic bedding, and slip-resistant flooring
Maintain your dog at a healthy body weight throughout life — excess weight is the most significant modifiable risk factor for osteoarthritis development