Multiple forms of inflammatory joint disease affect dogs beyond osteoarthritis, including immune-mediated and infectious causes requiring different management approaches.
Inflammatory joint disease causes intense, often multi-joint pain that is disproportionate to the apparent clinical signs in stoic dogs. The distinction between inflammatory and degenerative joint disease is welfare-critical because treatment approaches differ fundamentally - NSAIDs appropriate for OA are insufficient for IMPA which requires immunosuppression, and missed septic arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction. Systematic investigation including synovial fluid analysis, CRP measurement, and infectious disease screening enables appropriate targeted treatment, significantly improving welfare outcomes compared to empirical management.