Arthritis affects the majority of dogs over 8 years old. Early recognition, appropriate treatment, and lifestyle management can maintain quality of life and reduce suffering for years beyond initial diagnosis.
Canine arthritis is a silent welfare problem at enormous scale. Millions of dogs live with chronic joint pain that could be significantly reduced with appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Because dogs do not complain in obvious ways, and because behavioral changes from arthritis - reduced activity, reluctance to jump, shorter walks - are commonly attributed to normal aging, diagnosis is often delayed by years. Early recognition changes outcomes: pain management before significant degeneration occurs is more effective, and appropriate weight management slows disease progression. The welfare imperative is routine screening for arthritis in all middle-aged and senior dogs, not just those showing obvious lameness.