Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20% of dogs over one year old and is largely manageable through appropriate exercise, weight management and joint support from early adulthood.
Osteoarthritis is so prevalent in dogs that prevention deserves as much attention as treatment. Weight management throughout life — the most evidence-based preventive intervention — dramatically reduces both the likelihood of developing OA and its severity when established. Appropriate exercise that maintains muscle without excessive joint stress, omega-3 supplementation and avoiding extreme joint-loading activities in puppies during skeletal development all contribute to better long-term joint health. The welfare goal is reducing the years of chronic pain that unnecessarily accompany aging for many dogs.