Penn Veterinary Medicine | University of Pennsylvania

Osteoarthritis

Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD): The Big Picture

• DJD causes pain and disability.
• DJD affects all components of the synovial joint.
• There is no cure for DJD.
• There are treatment options for DJD.
  • Non-surgical treatments include use of NSAIDS and nutraceuticals, the modification of nutrition, increase exercise, and physical therapy.
  • Surgery is also an option for end stage disease (ex., FHO, THR).
• Prevention is key in the fight against canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and DJD:
  • Accurate prediction of DJD requires a reliable screening method implemented early in life.
  • Genetic control and selective breeding are substantiated effective means of reducing the severity of CHD and the development of DJD in subsequent generations of animals.
• Environmental factors such as diet, activity level, and pharmaceuticals can influence the onset of DJD.
• Surgery is also an option (ex., TPO, JPS). However, the safety and efficacy of preventative surgical procedures have not yet been studied adequately.