Chronic pain from arthritis, dental disease, and other conditions is prevalent and undertreated in companion dogs. Improved recognition and multimodal management significantly improves quality of life.
Chronic pain management in companion dogs has advanced dramatically in the past decade, creating a significant gap between what is now possible and what most dogs actually receive. The new anti-NGF monoclonal antibody therapy (Librela) represents a genuine step-change — monthly injections that block nerve growth factor signalling provide sustained pain relief for arthritic dogs with excellent tolerability and without the gastrointestinal risks of NSAIDs. Combined with physical rehabilitation therapy, environmental modification, and traditional analgesics, the multimodal approach can provide quality of life for arthritic dogs that was previously unavailable. The barrier is recognition: dogs that "still eat well" and "wag their tails" are commonly assumed to be comfortable when they may be experiencing significant chronic pain that they have learned to mask. Owner education about subtle pain indicators — hesitation before stairs, reduced greeting enthusiasm, sleep changes, reduced play — is the most important single lever for improving chronic pain management in the dog population.