Managing osteoarthritis in dogs — the most common cause of chronic pain requiring lifelong welfare attention.
Degenerative joint disease (DJD/osteoarthritis) causes chronic pain that pervades many dogs' daily lives, often unrecognised by their owners. The insidious onset and dogs' stoic nature means significant joint pain is frequently attributed to 'just getting old' rather than recognised as a treatable welfare problem. Dogs with chronic arthritis pain show subtle behavioural changes — sleeping more, playing less, being reluctant to greet family members — that owners may not connect to pain.
The welfare burden of untreated chronic arthritis is substantial. Every step on a painful joint causes discomfort. Weather changes cause flares of inflammation and pain. The inability to perform normal activities — play, exploration, social interaction — reduces quality of life and may contribute to secondary anxiety and behavioural changes.
Effective multi-modal management dramatically improves welfare. Weight management (the single most impactful intervention), appropriate low-impact exercise, NSAIDs, joint supplements (omega-3, green-lipped mussel), gabapentin for neuropathic pain, and physiotherapy/hydrotherapy each contribute to pain relief and function maintenance.