Chronic pain in dogs is best managed through multimodal approaches combining pharmacological, physical, and environmental interventions tailored to individual needs.
Multimodal chronic pain management recognizes that pain has multiple mechanisms requiring multiple therapeutic approaches. Dogs on single-agent NSAID therapy for osteoarthritis may still experience significant neuropathic pain, muscle tension, and movement-induced discomfort that respond to different interventions. The welfare investment in comprehensive pain management - regular reassessment, drug combinations, and physical therapies - produces meaningful quality-of-life improvements that owners consistently observe as behavioral changes: increased activity, better sleep, and return of social engagement.