Joint disease, particularly osteoarthritis, is the most common chronic painful condition in dogs, affecting quality of life and requiring multimodal long-term management.
Osteoarthritis causes chronic pain that progressively reduces mobility, activity, and quality of life. The gradual onset means owners frequently attribute reduced activity to normal aging rather than treatable pain. Behavioral indicators including reluctance to climb stairs, reduced greeting behavior, and changes in sleeping position are more reliable welfare indicators than vocalization. Multimodal pain management combining weight control, physiotherapy, analgesics, and environmental modification provides the most effective welfare improvement. New biological therapies targeting nerve growth factor reduce pain through a different mechanism to NSAIDs, providing additional options. Regular quality of life assessment helps owners recognize when escalation of treatment is needed. Early diagnosis and intervention improves long-term outcomes.