Osteoarthritis affects approximately 25% of dogs over 7 years old, making it one of the most prevalent chronic pain conditions in companion animals. The 2026 landscape has been transformed by new anti-NGF biologic therapies offering sustained pain relief without NSAID side effects.
Osteoarthritis causes persistent, often severe pain that affects every aspect of a dog's daily life: sleep, movement, interaction, and mood. Because the condition develops gradually, owners frequently normalise declining activity as ageing rather than recognising treatable pain. Validated outcome measures including the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) and Canine Brief Pain Inventory enable owners to track pain severity objectively. Multimodal management combining anti-NGF biologics with physiotherapy, weight management, and environmental modification (ramps, orthopedic beds, non-slip flooring) provides the best welfare outcomes. Undertreatment of chronic pain in dogs represents one of the most significant and addressable welfare problems in companion animal medicine.