Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) can be either primary (caused by wear and tear or age-related disease) or secondary (caused by injury to the joint). Secondary OA is very common in dogs and is generally the result of elbow or hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, or cranial cruciate ligament injury, all of which lead to instability or abnormal loading of the affected joint and ultimately loss of cartilage and bone spur formation in the affected joint. This article discusses the diagnosis and management of OA in dogs.