Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic pain condition in dogs, affecting millions of animals whose suffering is frequently underrecognized and undertreated.
Canine arthritis represents one of the most pervasive and underaddressed welfare crises in companion animals. The prevalence is staggering — tens of millions of dogs live with varying degrees of chronic joint pain. The stoic nature of dogs means pain goes unrecognized for years: owners interpret reduced activity as "slowing down with age" rather than pain-driven behavioral change. By the time owners seek veterinary attention, significant joint damage has often accumulated. Even when diagnosed, pain management is often suboptimal — dogs receive inadequate analgesia or owners stop treatment due to cost or side effect concerns. New therapeutic options including monoclonal antibody treatments targeting pain signaling offer promising welfare improvements. Weight management is the single most impactful preventive intervention, as every excess kilogram dramatically accelerates joint damage.