Arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis, or OA) is an extremely common, painful disease that affects about 25%¹ of dogs. It doesn’t matter if the dog is young or old, big or small, purebred or mixed.

Unfortunately, OA is a painful, progressive disease that cannot be cured. But the good news is that pain can be managed with a prescription course from your veterinarian, and your dog can be made more comfortable. Even better news is that we’re learning more every day about canine OA. So, let’s start with what’s known to-date about osteoarthritis.

What Is Osteoarthritis?

‘Osteo’ means ‘bone,’ ‘arthra’ means joint, and ‘itis’ means inflammation. Altogether, osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition of one or more joints. OA is a result of poor joint structure from birth, traumatic injury or, most commonly, normal wear and tear on the joints as the dog ages. Obesity can contribute to OA pain or make it worse.

All of these triggers are considered by your veterinarian when they design a treatment plan for your dog.

Pain Management for OA

The pain of OA is progressive: without intervention, it will worsen over time. But there are pain-management medicines made just for dogs. Most commonly, your veterinarian will prescribe a canine nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It’s important to only use these medicines as prescribed by your veterinarian because some medicines work better together than others and human medicines like aspirin can be toxic to dogs. It's helpful to have questions for your vet about your pet's medication. This is where your veterinarian’s expertise is critical and why it’s important to keep your veterinarian up-to-date with all medicines, supplements, and other treatments that your dog has been given.

Bottom line: Your dog’s pain can be relieved. Remember, your dog’s history is key to determining an effective treatment plan, and you know a lot about your dog.

Share What You Know With Your Veterinarian, Including:

You know your dog best and can provide your vet with crucial insight during your dog’s exam. We recommend filling out our short and simple OA checklist and share it with your veterinarian. What you learn can make a big difference to your dog!