Canine osteoarthritis (OA)
- Canine osteoarthritis (OA) affects about 25% of dogs and is the most common form of canine joint disease. The onset of OA can be as early as 1 year old. It is a chronic joint disease characterised by cartilage wear, bone surface abrasion and formation of bone tissue around the joint which leads to pain, lameness, and permanent decline in the quality of life. OA is usually the result of an orthopaedic condition such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or cranial cruciate ligament disease for example.
- Currently available treatments used by veterinarians are generally confined to surgery, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, cartilage-fortifying supplements, and physiotherapy. However, long term use of NSAIDs dramatically affects kidney function as well as the digestive tract; anti-inflammatory hormonal treatment (corticosteroids) reduces overall immunity of the animal (poor wound healing, clearance of infections), as well as leading to weight gain, predisposition to diabetes, etc; and more importantly conservative treatment does not provide regeneration and repair of damaged tissues.
