Osteoarthritis affects one in five dogs over one year old, making effective long-term pain management a critical welfare challenge for companion animal owners.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in companion dogs, yet it is chronically underdiagnosed and undertreated. Studies show that owners often attribute reduced activity and behavioural changes to 'old age' rather than pain, delaying treatment by months or years. Chronic unmanaged pain causes not just physical suffering but also behavioral changes including aggression, withdrawal, and reduced social interaction - affecting the human-animal bond. A multimodal approach combining weight management, appropriate exercise modification, pharmacological pain relief, physiotherapy, and environmental adaptation offers the best welfare outcomes across the lifespan.