Is Osteoarthritis a Disease of Young Dogs? Rethinking Risk Across All Life Stages

Course overview

Osteoarthritis is often framed as a condition of older dogs - but the evidence challenges that assumption. Nearly 40% of dogs across all ages, breeds, and body weights show signs of OA pain, yet fewer than half are ever diagnosed and only a third are treated. Emerging data from dogs as young as 8 months, combined with what we know about the unique genetic history of domestic breeds, reveals that OA risk begins far earlier than most practitioners expect. This session examines the biological and epidemiological evidence supporting OA as a disease of all life stages, reviews the pain physiology driving clinical signs, and applies key concepts through a real-world case study. Attendees will leave with a practical screening framework to identify, assess, and address OA pain across every canine patient in their practice.