Why is canine osteoarthritis so complex?

When it comes to treating pet patients, a constant challenge that remains is their inability to communicate what is wrong with them like a human could. Because of this, it can be tricky to track progressions and see the quality of life of patients suffering from a disease like canine osteoarthritis. To combat this, a lot of factors need to be thought of and considered when it comes to a patient who potentially has this disease.

During an interview with dvm360, David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, explains some of the reasons why canine osteoarthritis is a complex disease for veterinary professionals, plus why it is crucial to diagnose and treat this disease early.

David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA: So the problem is when we diagnose osteoarthritis, it tends to be in the latter course of the disease. So we've lost a lot of time that we could have managed it. Unlike in people, osteoarthritis in the dog tends to come from secondary effects such as developmental orthopedic diseases. So it's not an old dog disease, and dogs don't get osteoarthritis just because they get old. And in fact, about 40% of dogs from about 8 months to 4 years, have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis.¹

Reference

Young dogs and arthritis - Canine Arthritis Management. Accessed January 23, 2024. https://caninearthritis.co.uk/what-is-arthritis/young-dogs-and-arthritis/