Dottie P. Laflamme, DVM, PhD, DACVN

Part of the 2011 Nestlé Purina Veterinary Symposium publication

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the most prevalent joint disorder in dogs. Mild osteoarthritis may cause subtle gait changes or intermittent lameness. As osteoarthritis severity progresses, the dog may become less active, show visible lameness, experience difficulty rising or lying down, express pain, or experience difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate.

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most prevalent joint disorder in dogs, affecting as many as 20% of adult dogs. Osteoarthritis is associated with inflammation and increased degradation or loss of proteoglycans from the extracellular matrix, resulting in a morphologic breakdown in articular cartilage.