Immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) is a painful inflammatory condition affecting multiple joints simultaneously in dogs, often confused with infectious arthritis, requiring systematic diagnosis and immunosuppression.
IMPA causes severe acute welfare suffering — dogs that cannot bear weight on multiple limbs experience profound mobility restriction and constant pain. The rapid improvement seen with corticosteroid treatment is dramatic and confirms the degree of prior suffering. Side effects of high-dose immunosuppression — increased hunger, thirst, urination, and muscle weakness — cause secondary welfare impacts. The chronic nature of the condition, with frequent relapses requiring repeated high-dose treatment courses, creates a long-term welfare management challenge. Regular monitoring of joint health and blood parameters allows early intervention during relapses, minimising the duration and intensity of welfare impairment with each episode.