I have written several times on this blog about canine osteoarthritis (OA), including treatments such as rehabilitation, joint injections, NSAIDs, Librela, and other options available to help dogs stay comfortable and active.
A new article by Bird et al. takes a different approach. Instead of studying one specific treatment, the researchers surveyed veterinarians to learn how they currently manage arthritis in dogs and what they are seeing in everyday practice.
The results were interesting because they showed that veterinarians often have very different approaches to treating arthritis, especially depending on their training and experience.
There Is No Single Treatment for Arthritis
One of the biggest findings was that there is no single treatment that every veterinarian uses, as most reported using a multimodal approach. This means combining several therapies instead of relying on just one medication or procedure.
Arthritis is a complex disease. It affects joints, muscles, mobility, strength, body weight, and overall quality of life. Because of that, many dogs benefit from multiple treatments working together.
Weight Management Still Matters
One of the strongest messages from the survey was the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight.
Extra weight puts additional stress on already painful joints. Even modest weight loss can improve comfort and mobility for many dogs.
This finding should not be surprising. In my own practice, keeping dogs lean is one of the most important parts of any arthritis treatment plan.
Exercise Is Important
Years ago, many people believed dogs with arthritis should simply rest. Today, we know that controlled exercise is often beneficial.
Regular walks, strengthening exercises, rehabilitation programs, and home exercise plans can help maintain muscle mass and support painful joints.
The goal is not to eliminate activity. The goal is to find the right amount of activity for each individual dog.
Medications Continue to Play a Major Role
Many veterinarians reported using medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), gabapentin, amantadine, Galliprant (grapiprant), and Librela (bedinvetmab).
These medications can help many dogs feel more comfortable and improve their mobility.
However, no medication works perfectly for every patient. Each dog responds differently, which is why ongoing monitoring is important.
What About Supplements?
One interesting finding involved joint supplements, also called nutraceuticals, like the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin.
The study found omega-3 fatty acids remained popular recommendations among all veterinarians, but veterinarians with advanced training in sports medicine and rehabilitation were less likely to recommend glucosamine and chondroitin products.
This likely reflects the growing body of research showing stronger evidence for omega-3 fatty acids than for glucosamine and chondroitin.
While some dogs may appear to benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin, the overall scientific evidence supporting these supplements remains limited compared with many other arthritis therapies.
Joint Injections Are Becoming More Common
Another interesting finding was the growing use of therapies injected directly into joints.
These treatments included corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and polyacrylamide hydrogel products such as Arthramid.
Interest in these therapies continues to grow because they offer options beyond traditional oral medications and may help some dogs maintain comfort and function for longer periods.
Training Influences Treatment Choices
One of the most interesting findings in the study involved differences between veterinarians with different backgrounds and levels of training.
Veterinarians with specialty training in sports medicine and rehabilitation were more likely to recommend rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise, and joint injections as part of a treatment plan. They were also less likely to recommend glucosamine and chondroitin supplements compared with many other veterinarians.
This highlights something important. The more advanced training veterinarians receive in managing arthritis and mobility problems, the more likely they are to use a broad range of treatment options rather than relying on a single therapy.
What About Side Effects?
The researchers also had a secondary goal. They wanted to learn what veterinarians were seeing in practice regarding side effects associated with some commonly used arthritis medications.
For Librela, the most commonly reported concerns involved weakness, balance problems, coordination changes, and other neurologic signs. Increased drinking and urination were also commonly reported.
For Galliprant, the most commonly reported side effects were vomiting and diarrhea.
It is important to understand what this part of the study means and what it does not mean.
The survey cannot prove that a medication caused a particular side effect. Instead, it tells us what veterinarians reported observing in their patients.
Studies like this can help identify areas that deserve further investigation and future research.
My Take
As a board-certified specialist in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, I found one of the most interesting findings of this study to be the differences between veterinarians based on their training and experience.
Bird et al. found that veterinarians with advanced rehabilitation and sports medicine training were more likely to recommend rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise, and joint injections. They were also less likely to use Librela compared with many other respondents.
To me, this reflects an important shift in how we think about arthritis.
Arthritis is not simply a pain problem. It is a whole-body mobility disease. It affects muscles, strength, balance, endurance, function, and quality of life.
That means successful treatment often requires more than just a monthly injection or a daily medication. Weight management, appropriate exercise, rehabilitation, home modifications, and targeted joint therapies can all play important roles.
This does not mean medications are unimportant. Many dogs benefit greatly from medications. Instead, it reinforces the idea that the best arthritis treatment plans are usually comprehensive and individualized.
What Does This Mean for Dog Owners?
The biggest takeaway from Bird et al. is that arthritis management is rarely as simple as finding one pill, one injection, or one treatment.
The most successful plans often combine several approaches, including:
• Maintaining a lean body condition
• Regular exercise and rehabilitation
• Pain medications when appropriate
• Joint injections as a targeted therapy
• Environmental modifications at home
• Regular reassessment and adjustment of the treatment plan
Arthritis is a lifelong disease, but that does not mean dogs cannot enjoy an excellent quality of life.
Many dogs with arthritis continue to walk, hike, play, compete in sports, and enjoy time with their families for years when a comprehensive treatment plan is put in place.
The study by Bird et al. also reminds us that veterinary medicine continues to evolve. As new therapies become available and more research is published, veterinarians will continue refining how we care for dogs with arthritis.
For dog owners, the message is encouraging. We have more tools available today than ever before. The challenge is not finding a treatment. The challenge is finding the right combination of treatments for each individual dog.
You can read the whole article here – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2026.1814641/full?utm_source=F-NTF&utm_medium=EMLX&utm_campaign=PRD_FEOPS_20170000_ARTICLE
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