Osteoarthritis in Pets: Understanding Pain and how Peaceful Veterinary Care can help.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common and misunderstood chronic pain conditions affecting aging pets. It develops slowly, but its impact on daily comfort, mobility, sleep, and overall quality of life can be profound. Because animals instinctively mask pain, OA often goes undiagnosed until signs become impossible to ignore.

At Peaceful Veterinary Care, our mission is to support comfort, dignity, and gentle transitions for pets in their homes while providing families with clarity, compassion, and realistic pain-management solutions.

What is Osteoarthritis?

OA is a degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammation, cartilage breakdown, and chronic pain. Unlike temporary injuries, osteoarthritis does not resolve, it is a lifelong, progressive condition. While it is most common in senior dogs and cats, it can also affect younger pets due to genetics, past trauma, obesity, or orthopedic disease.

The pain of OA comes from the body’s own inflammatory response and the diminishing protection inside the joint, rather than a single acute injury event. This makes it especially challenging because symptoms fluctuate and worsen gradually over time.

Recognizing Pain in Dogs and Cats

Pets express joint pain differently from humans, and many signs are mistakenly attributed to “just getting old.”

Common signs of OA pain include:

• Slowing down on walks or lagging behind

• Trouble with stairs, jumping, or getting into the car

• Increased sleeping or isolating

• Irritability when touched: especially around hips, spine, or legs

• Muscle loss over the shoulders or thighs

• Licking or “chewing” at painful joints

• Restlessness or pacing (especially at night)

• Accidents in the house or avoiding the litter box due to painful entry

If you notice these changes, it’s not your pet choosing to slow down, it’s their body asking for relief.

Targeted Pain Relief: A New Era in OA Care

In the last few years, a new category of medications has transformed how veterinarians treat chronic joint pain: monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies. Unlike NSAIDs or oral pain medications that affect the entire body, these treatments specifically target pain pathways involved in osteoarthritis.

Two FDA-approved options now exist for dogs and cats:

Dogs: Librela

Librela is a monthly injection that targets and neutralizes nerve growth factor (NGF), a key amplifier of osteoarthritis pain in dogs. By blocking this signal, Librela directly reduces joint pain and improves mobility without relying on liver or kidney metabolism.

Cats: Solensia

For cats, joint pain treatment was historically limited, especially for those who cannot safely take NSAIDs. Thankfully, Zoetis also developed Solensia.Solensia is the first and only once-monthly mAb therapy for feline OA pain. Much like Librela in dogs, Solensia targets NGF and helps cats regain ease of movement, comfort, and confidence in everyday activities.

How These Treatments Change Quality of Life

Because OA pain is chronic, the goal isn’t sedation, it’s restoration of comfort and function. We frequently see improved:

• Mobility & endurance on walks

• Ability to climb, jump, and play

• Sleep quality (less pain-driven restlessness)

• Mood, social engagement, and appetite

• Litter box use for cats who previously avoided painful entry

Unlike traditional pain meds that may dull behavior or create side-effects, targeted NGF therapies allow pets to simply feel better without feeling different.

Pain Management in Hospice & Senior Care

OA does not only affect movement, it affects identity. A pet who can’t follow you room-to-room or enjoy their routine is a pet who may feel like they are losing themselves. This is why pain control is one of the foundational pillars of hospice care.

At Peaceful Veterinary Care, we combine therapies like:

• Gentle mobility support plans

• Weight-appropriate nutrition guidance

• In-home comfort assessments

• Targeted pain-relief options including Librela and Solensia

• Companion medications when needed (gabapentin, amantadine, etc.)

• Integrative modalities such as acupuncture and physical therapy partnerships

Our approach is always individualized to both the medical condition and the emotional bond that surrounds it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these safe for liver or kidney-compromised pets?

Yes, unlike NSAIDs or pills that require metabolism, mAb therapies work by binding directly to NGF and are not processed through major organs.

Will these sedate my pet?

No, these reduce pain but do not dull cognition, personality, or alertness.

Do they cure arthritis?

They do not reverse joint disease, but they significantly reduce the pain caused by it, allowing pets to move more comfortably.

Can they be combined with other meds?

Often, yes, depending on your pet’s medical complexity. We build multimodal pain plans when appropriate.

When Pain Becomes Part of the Conversation

Osteoarthritis is not a minor condition, it is a major driver of chronic suffering when left untreated. The good news? We now have better tools than ever before.

If you think your pet may be struggling, ask yourself:

Are they slowing down because they’re aging, or aging because they’re in pain?

If you’re unsure, Peaceful Veterinary Care is here to help you explore that question, in the safety and comfort of home.

You don’t have to choose between pain and personality anymore.

Now, you can choose comfort, clarity, and more meaningful days together. And if you're ever uncertain, we can guide you gently, realistically, and with unwavering love for the lives we care for.

💙 Because comfort matters. Every day. In every home.