Joints
Canine osteoarthritis: guiding treatment through a multimodal approach
Summary taken from Proposed Canadian Consensus Guidelines on Osteoarthritis Treatment Based on OA-COAST Stages 1-4
- Published on September 1, 2026
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The Canadian OA treatment guidelines were created from a diverse group of experts, driven by the shared understanding of the need for providing direction for veterinarians on selecting appropriate therapies based on COAST stage for a patient experiencing OA. Due to the inflammatory nature, chronicity, potential neurogenic component and continued progression of the disease, OA requires a multimodal approach.
The pillars of a multimodal approach to osteoarthritis management
The management options for OA are constantly evolving as new therapies and research emerge, and this document captures the current or soon to be arriving options for Canadian veterinarians in 2022. It aims to provide insights into the treatment choices of experts and is grouped based on consensus into core and secondary treatments.
The panel felt that for every OA patient, their multimodal plan should involve client education, a weight management plan, optimized nutrition including omega 3 fatty acids, exercise, and beginning in stage 2, pain management.
Additional secondary therapies or modalities can then be layered on, based on OA stage, individual patient need and veterinarian or pet owner preference.
OA stages based on Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST)
The right treatment, for the right patient
A cautious and rigorous characterization of the pain syndrome affecting the patient must guide the veterinarian to the best choice of therapeutics. With the fundamental understanding that the multimodal approach should always be aimed at slowing the progression of OA, maintaining patient mobility and above all, maximizing patient comfort and quality of life.
A multi-modal approach to mobility support
Mobility support has the highest chance of being successful when a targeted multi-modal approach combines different therapeutic targets.
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REFERENCES
Mosley C, Edwards T, Romano L, TruchettiG, Dunbar L, Schiller T, et al. Proposed Canadian Consensus Guidelines on Osteoarthritis Treatment Based on OA-COAST Stages 1–4. Front Vet Sci. 2022;9:830098. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.830098