THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND MEDICAL-MANAGEMENT OF CANINE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is a condition characteri sed by degeneration of articular cartilage often associated with the f ormation of new bone at joint surfaces or margins. Commonly encountere d in dogs, osteoarthritis may have a gradual onset, but may also occur acutely. Osteoarthritis is can be a primary disease of joint cartilag e, but is more often secondary to abnormal stresses on joints. This ar ticle describes the pathogenesis and progression of cartilage degenera tion as well as the dietary, lifestyle and pharmacological management of osteoarthritis. Recent pharmacological developments allow the clini cian not only to control clinical signs of the disease, but also to sl ow the progression of cartilage degeneration.