Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is a progressive, incurable condition affecting millions of dogs, requiring proactive lifetime management to maintain quality of life.
Osteoarthritis causes chronic pain that progressively limits dogs' ability to engage in activities central to their welfare - play, social interaction, normal movement, and restful sleep. The progressive nature means that welfare management must be proactive and continuously adjusted as the disease advances. Dogs adapt their behavior to avoid painful movements, meaning owners may not recognize the extent of functional limitation without careful observation. Objective measures including activity monitors and validated pain scales improve detection of welfare compromise beyond subjective owner assessment. The welfare opportunity in osteoarthritis management is substantial - with comprehensive multimodal treatment, many dogs maintain excellent quality of life for years despite the underlying disease progression. Early intervention when joint changes first develop provides the greatest long-term welfare benefit.