Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis. In: Veterinary Focus 17(3); 2007

0steoarthritis (OA) is a slowly-progressive degenerative joint disease characterized by a loss of joint cartilage and the subsequent exposure of subchondral bone (1). This eventually results in a self-perpetuating insidious disorder characterized by joint pain. New bone formation occurs in response to the chronic inflammation, and local tissue damage in an attempt to limit both movement and pain. Macroscopically, there is loss of joint cartilage, a narrowing of the joint space, sclerosis of subchondral bone, and the production of joint osteophytes (2) (Figure 1). KEY POINTS Developmental orthopedic diseases and associated osteoarthritis are the most common articular diseases in dogs