A Smarter, Systematic Approach to Managing Canine Osteoarthritis
Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common, yet under diagnosed, causes of chronic pain in dogs. That’s why CARE, in collaboration with Dr. Kristin Shaw and Dr. Hannah Capon (of Canine Arthritis Management), developed the OA Blueprint—a powerful, step-by-step framework designed to guide veterinary professionals and pet parents through the complete lifecycle of osteoarthritis care.
This blog post introduces each critical step in the OA Blueprint, with actionable insights and links to high-quality resources you can start using today.
Step 1: Awareness
Recognizing the early signs of osteoarthritis starts with education.
Veterinary teams and pet owners alike must understand what OA is and how to spot the early indicators of joint pain. From limping and stiffness to subtle behavior changes, awareness is the first line of defense in managing OA proactively.
How to build awareness:
- Display OA posters or looping videos in your clinic
- Share educational articles and social media content from caninearthritis.org
- Train staff using CARE’s free OA courses
By planting seeds of awareness in your community, you empower early detection and improve long-term outcomes.
Step 2: Screening
Make OA screening as routine as a heartworm test.
Too often, dogs are only diagnosed once their mobility is severely impaired. But with simple tools like client questionnaires and musculoskeletal screening exams, your clinic can identify signs of OA earlier—and start managing pain before it becomes debilitating.
Resources to help you start:
- Pain screening questions
- Mobility assessment examples
Step 3: Diagnosis
A thorough diagnosis means better outcomes.
An accurate diagnosis requires a full orthopedic exam—using low-stress handling—and ideally diagnostic imaging to confirm the presence and severity of joint disease. Keep in mind, not all mobility issues are due to OA. Neurologic, systemic, or other musculoskeletal conditions may present similarly but require different care.
Watch our orthopedic exam video in the membership section → Here
Step 4: Treatment Plan
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work. Individualized plans do.
Every dog deserves a customized OA management plan. That includes weight optimization, safe exercise guidelines, home environment adjustments, and—when needed—pain management.
We recommend using the CARE Quad framework to select evidence-based therapies tailored to the dog and pet parent’s needs. In early stages of OA, many dogs respond well to non-drug interventions like mobility work and environmental changes.
Step 5: Recheck
Don’t skip the follow-up—it’s where the magic happens.
Without rechecks, it’s impossible to know if your plan is working. That’s why we recommend monthly follow-ups for the first 3–4 months after starting treatment. Many rechecks can be done virtually or by a technician, but they’re vital to track progress and make adjustments.
Step 6: Lifelong Management
Osteoarthritis isn’t curable—but it is manageable.
Since OA progresses over time, plans must evolve. Dogs may develop new health concerns, lifestyle changes, or aging-related mobility issues that require updates to their care. Your role as a care team doesn’t end with a diagnosis—it continues for life.
Ready to Implement the OA Blueprint?
At CARE, we’re committed to providing free, evidence-based tools and training to veterinary teams and pet owners. Whether you’re just getting started or want to refine your clinic’s OA protocols, the OA Blueprint is your go-to guide.
Share this post with your team and on social media to help more dogs get the care they deserve.