Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondrosis cause significant pain in large and giant breed dogs. Genetic screening and weight management reduce but cannot eliminate these conditions.
Large breed dogs with orthopedic disease experience chronic pain that begins in some cases before the end of their first year of life. The stoic nature of many large breeds means significant disease progresses unrecognized for months. Obesity dramatically worsens orthopedic disease outcomes by increasing joint loading and inflammation. Despite clear evidence for genetic transmission, breeding registries remain voluntary in most countries and non-health-tested dogs continue to be bred. The welfare burden of orthopedic disease in large breeds is enormous, affecting millions of dogs globally with pain that is preventable through better breeding practices and manageable through modern veterinary pain medicine.