Osteoarthritis (OA): The Big Picture
- OA causes pain and disability.
- OA affects all components of the synovial joint.
- There is no cure for OA.
- There are treatment options for OA.
- Non-surgical treatments include use of NSAIDS and nutraceuticals, the modification of nutrition, increase exercise, and physical therapy.
- Surgery is also an option for end stage disease (ex., FHO, THR).
- Prevention is key in the fight against canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and OA:
- Accurate prediction of OA requires a reliable screening method implemented early in life.
- Genetic control and selective breeding are substantiated effective means of reducing the severity of CHD and the development of OA in subsequent generations of animals.
- Environmental factors such as diet, activity level, and pharmaceuticals can influence the onset of OA.
- Surgery is also an option (ex., TPO, JPS). However, the safety and efficacy of preventative surgical procedures have not yet been studied adequately.